Central Asian economies and ecologies in the Late Bronze Age : geometric morphometrics of the caprid Astragalus and zooarchaeological investigations of pastoralism
Sheep and goat formed the foundation of pastoral activity across the Central Asian steppe through the Bronze Age. Theories of pastoral activity have assumed that flocks were uniform in association with ethnic groups that crossed the steppe with new ceramic forms and technologies. This study investigated differences between flocks of sheep and goat across the eastern Kazakh steppe in the Late and Final Bronze Age to elucidate the potential for animal exchange and mobility. Geometric morphometric techniques were applied to archaeological astragali from Ovis aries and Capra hircus. The methods for measurement and analysis were carefully developed to control only for inherited characteristics that relate to environmentally driven adaptations in the movement of the hind limb. Efficiency of movement in this limb is tied to survival and reproductive success of animals. Specimens were selected from three archaeological sites located in different ecozones across the steppe to maximize ecological variability. Geometric morphometric results revealed that flocks of sheep exhibited unique astragalus morphology, indicating that crossbreeding and exchange did not occur between sites. These sites were also subjected to full
Haruda, Ashleigh Francis
Geometric Morphometrics ; Sheep ; Goat ; Astragalus ; Central Asia ; Late and Final Bronze Age
Central Asian economies and ecologies in the Late Bronze Age : geometric morphometrics of the caprid Astragalus and zooarchaeological investigations of pastoralism. Sheep and goat formed the foundation of pastoral activity across the Central Asian steppe through the Bronze Age. Theories of pastoral activity have assumed that flocks were uniform in association with ethnic groups that crossed the steppe with new ceramic forms and technologies. This study investigated differences between flocks of sheep and goat across the eastern Kazakh steppe in the Late and Final Bronze Age to elucidate the potential for animal exchange and mobility. Geometric morphometric techniques were applied to archaeological astragali from Ovis aries and Capra hircus. The methods for measurement and analysis were carefully developed to control only for inherited characteristics that relate to environmentally driven adaptations in the movement of the hind limb. Efficiency of movement in this limb is tied to survival and reproductive success of animals. Specimens were selected from three archaeological sites located in different ecozones across the steppe to maximize ecological variability. Geometric morphometric results revealed that flocks of sheep exhibited unique astragalus morphology, indicating that crossbreeding and exchange did not occur between sites. These sites were also subjected to full
central_asian economy ecology late_bronze_age geometric_morphometrics zooarchaeological investigation pastoralism sheep_goat form foundation pastoral activity across central_asian steppe bronze_age theories pastoral activity assume flock uniform association ethnic_group cross steppe new ceramic form technology study_investigate difference flock sheep_goat across_eastern steppe late_final bronze_age elucidate potential animal exchange mobility geometric morphometric technique_apply archaeological method measurement analysis carefully develop control inherit characteristic relate environmentally drive adaptation movement limb efficiency movement limb tie survival reproductive success animal specimens select archaeological_site locate different across steppe ecological variability geometric morphometric reveal flock sheep exhibit unique morphology indicate exchange occur site site also subject full