International Journal of Osteoarchaeology最新文献

Horses played a crucial role in military, ritual, and labor activities in ancient China, but our knowledge of their feeding practices is mostly limited to literature records. To investigate how this important livestock was fed in the Zhou Dynasty (1046–220 bce), this study analyzed stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of fifty bone and five tooth samples from horses discovered in Sanmenxia, Luoyang, and Zhengzhou of Henan Province. Bone isotope data from the Western Zhou period (1046–771 bce) indicate a predominance of C₄ plants in the diet (δ¹³C = −7.6‰ ± 0.6‰, δ¹⁵N = 6.6‰ ± 0.5‰; n = 4), with millet grain and straw likely serving as supplementary fodder alongside grass. In contrast, tooth isotopic values (δ¹³C = −10.3‰ ± 2.9‰, δ¹⁵N = 6.2‰ ± 0.8‰; n = 5) suggest variable early-life diets, implying that horses buried together may have originated from different pastures but were later gathered and fed a common diet at a single location for a relatively long time prior to burial. Feeding strategies shifted significantly during the following Eastern Zhou period (770–220 bce). A marked decrease in bone carbon isotope values reflects a substantial increase in C₃ plant consumption (δ¹³C = −13.7‰ ± 2.3‰, δ¹⁵N = 6.4‰ ± 0.8‰; n = 46). Considering the archaeological context of this time period, wheat, barley, and their straw were likely incorporated into horse fodder beside wild grass. Intersite isotopic variations likely reflect diverse horse origins. Individuals interred in large pits probably derived from multiple sources, while those in smaller pits likely came from single farms. These findings provide valuable insights into the scale of horse husbandry and shift in fodder management practices, as well as the influence of the agricultural shift from millet to wheat in central China during the Zhou Dynasty.

The current research examines the health and medical treatment implications associated with an iron arrowhead found among the skeletal remains of an individual unearthed from the Parthian cemetery at Liyarsangbon, Iran. This site is dated to the period between 247 bc and ad 224, as determined through relative dating methods. Non-invasive testing methods, including XRF and Quantometer analysis, established the elemental composition of grave artifacts, while CT Hounsfield scans assessed damage around the arrowhead within the bone. The soil exhibited a pH level of 8.67, signifying its alkaline nature. Among the metallic residues surrounding the subject of investigation, iron was identified as the predominant metal, with average concentrations of 89.93 (XRF) and 90.93 (Quantometer). A Hounsfield unit measurement of 4000 suggested a metallic object within the bone. This study focuses on the production of iron artifacts and examines their practical effectiveness. The intricate design of the arrowhead, characterized by its sharp precision, underscores the advanced level of craftsmanship within the toolmaking industry and reflects a high degree of expertise in metallurgy. Its ability to penetrate deeply into the lateral condyle of the right tibia serves as a testament to the skill and technological sophistication involved in its creation. Conversely, the inability to remove the embedded arrowhead from the bone reveals the constraints and shortcomings in the surgical practices of this particular society, shedding light on the limitations of medical techniques during that era.

Over the last few decades, taphonomic analyses of micro- and mesovertebrate remains have demonstrated that the procurement of small, agile prey including birds by hominins began long before the Upper Paleolithic. It is now well established that Neanderthals exploited birds as food but also for nonedible (e.g., aesthetic, symbolic, or utilitarian) purposes. However, clarification is needed regarding the frequency of such practices in relation to the geographical and chronological framework. Les Ramandils Cave, located on the French Mediterranean coast, recorded Middle Paleolithic layers dated to MIS 5 and provided a rich archaeological assemblage that includes lithic tools, butchered faunal remains, and human bones. Hundreds of avian remains were also recovered. The aim of this paper is to determine the origin of the bird accumulation by applying commonly used zooarchaeological analysis methods to an assemblage of more than 900 unstudied bird bones, including microscopic observation of the bone surface modifications produced by any potential accumulator agent. Our results show that birds were brought inside the cave by various predators, including humans. Neanderthals exploited several families of birds for food but also for raw material collection, as suggested by cut marks located on inedible elements, among which is an ungual phalanx of a large bird of prey (accipitrid).

This study examines the zooarchaeological remains from Castelo Velho de Safara, southern Portugal, to explore subsistence strategies and economic practices during the Roman Republican occupation. Located on a naturally defensive platform, the site reveals a rich stratigraphic sequence spanning from the Chalcolithic to the early Roman Empire. The analysis of faunal remains recovered from Compartment 2 focuses on taxonomic identification, anatomical representation, age-at-death profiles, and bone surface modifications to understand the dietary habits and resource management strategies of its inhabitants. Results indicate a mixed subsistence strategy combining domestic species with significant contributions from wild animals, like red deer and rabbits. Butchery marks, fracture patterns, and burning evidence demonstrate systematic meat processing practices, while the presence of worked astragali and horn artifacts suggests cultural and functional activities beyond subsistence. These finds emphasize the role of hunting and animal husbandry in the site's economy. This study contributes to our understanding of human–environment interactions, subsistence strategies, and the cultural dynamics of militarized communities in the western Iberian Peninsula during the Roman Republican period.

This paper presents a comprehensive photographic atlas for the identification of sturgeon species in Europe based on skeletal elements. The atlas aims to facilitate accurate species identification of sturgeons from archaeological sites across Europe by providing photographs of key skeletal elements and main body measurements. These data were collected from examinations of 42 specimens representing eight sturgeon species and two intergeneric hybrids. The atlas covers 22 skeletal elements, focusing on those most commonly preserved in the context of archaeological sites and useful for species-level identification. This resource is intended to support archaeozoologists in their efforts to reconstruct past human activities, trade networks, and environmental conditions. It can also contribute to current conservation efforts by documenting the diversity and distribution of individual species-level taxa of sturgeons in the historical past of Europe.