Animal keeping in Chalcolithic north-central Anatolia: what can stable isotope analysis add?

Pickard, C., Schoop, U.-D., Bartosiewicz, L., Gillis, R. and Sayle, K. L. (2017) Animal keeping in Chalcolithic north-central Anatolia: what can stable isotope analysis add? Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 9(7), pp. 1349-1362. (doi: 10.1007/s12520-016-0386-0)

Abstract

Stable isotope analysis is an essential investigative technique, complementary to more traditional zooarchaeological approaches to elucidating animal keeping practices. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope values of 132 domesticates (cattle, caprines and pigs) were evaluated to investigate one aspect of animal keeping, animal forage, at the Late Chalcolithic (mid-fourth millennium BC) site of Çamlıbel Tarlası, which is located in north-central Anatolia. The analyses indicated that all of the domesticates had diets based predominantly on C3 plants. Pig and caprine δ13C and δ15N values were found to be statistically indistinguishable. However, cattle exhibited distinctive stable isotope values and, therefore, differences in diet from both pigs and caprines at Çamlıbel Tarlası. This difference may relate to the distinct patterns of foraging behaviour exhibited by the domesticates. Alternatively, this diversity may result from the use of different grazing areas or from the foddering practices of the Çamlıbel Tarlası inhabitants.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was supported by the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants (SG121910) and the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh. The excavations at Çamlıbel Tarlası were conducted as a collaborative project by the University of Edinburgh and the German Archaeological Institute. Thanks are extended to Professor Gordon Cook (SUERC). We are also grateful to Juliet Voon, Samantha Williamson, Lisa Bird and Caroline Hall-Eastman who helped select and prepare the samples for analysis.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sayle, Dr Kerry
• Authors: Pickard, C., Schoop, U.-D., Bartosiewicz, L., Gillis, R., and Sayle, K. L.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1866-9557
• ISSN (Online): 1866-9565
• Published Online: 30 September 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 9(7):1349–1362
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License