Early Animal Management Strategies during the Neolithic of the Konya Plain, Central Anatolia: Integrating Micromorphological and Microfossil Evidence

Abstract

This paper examines the contribution of microscopic multi-proxy approaches to the study of early husbandry practices and animal diet by integrated micromorphological, phytolith, and calcitic dung spherulite analyses of midden deposits at the three neighbouring Neolithic sites of Boncuklu (9th-8th millennium cal BC), Pınarbaşı (7th millennium cal BC) and Çatalhöyük (8th-6th millennium cal BC) in the Konya Plain, Central Turkey. The results reveal considerable chronological and contextual variation in human-animal interrelations in open areas between different communities and sites. At Boncuklu, middens display well-defined areas where phytoliths and substantial accumulations of omnivore faecal matter low in spherulite content have been identified. By contrast, open spaces at the Late Neolithic campsite of Pınarbaşı comprise large concentrations of herbivore dung material associated with neonatal ovicaprine remains from spring birthing. Here, the deposits represent repeated dungburning events, and include high concentrations of dung spherulites and phytoliths from wild grasses, and leaves and culms of reeds that, we suggest here, derive from fodder and fuel sources. Late middens at Çatalhöyük are characterised by thick sequences derived from multiple fuel burning events and rich in ashes, charred plants, articulated phytolithsmainly from the husk of cereals, as well as the leaves and stems of reeds and sedgesand omnivore/ruminant coprolites, the abundance of the latter declining markedly in the latest levels of occupation. The application of this integrated microscopic approach to open areas has contributed to unravelling the complexity of formation processes at these sites, providing new insights into herding practices, diet, and the ecological diversity of Neolithic communities in Central Anatolia.

Livestock faecal indicators for animal management, penning, foddering and dung use in early agricultural built environments in the Konya Plain, Central Anatolia

“…This high-resolution spot sampling was conducted for suspected coprolitic materials collected during fieldwork at all three sites (e.g. Matthews 2005a;Shillito et al 2011;García-Suárez et al 2018). In addition, a method of 'microsampling' block sub-samples from thin-section blocks before impregnation enabled direct comparisons between detailed quantitative microfossil contents and micromorphological observations (Matthews et al 2004;Shillito 2011Shillito , 2017García-Suárez et al 2018).…”

“…Matthews 2005a;Shillito et al 2011;García-Suárez et al 2018). In addition, a method of 'microsampling' block sub-samples from thin-section blocks before impregnation enabled direct comparisons between detailed quantitative microfossil contents and micromorphological observations (Matthews et al 2004;Shillito 2011Shillito , 2017García-Suárez et al 2018). Further information was then obtained on the defecator's diet and food regime by the identification of a varied range of faunal and vegetal remains in thin-section and in spot samples.…”

“…Faecal remains have been more recently investigated in middens at the earlier settlement of Boncuklu and the Late Neolithic occupation of the Pınarbaşı rockshelter by applying similar integrated micromorphological and microfossil methodological approaches (García-Suárez et al 2018, accepted-b). Midden deposits in all three sites are characterized by depositional sequences with finely stratified layers and components that are difficult to resolve in the field, making the application of integrated micro-contextual methods highly relevant to the investigation of their complex depositional and post-depositional pathways (Baird et al 2012;Shillito and Matthews 2013;García-Suárez et al 2018). In the field and in thin-section, omnivore faecal materials may be identifiable as a distinctive orange/yellow fine material with inclusions such as embedded bone fragments and plant remains such as hackberry pericarps.…”

“…Recent studies focusing on the analysis of integrated micromorphological and plant and faecal microfossil evidence from dung assemblages in open areas from the study sites have contributed to understanding animal management strategies in this region, providing new insights into early farming in the Konya Plain through time (Baird et al 2018;García-Suárez et al 2018). At Boncuklu and Pınarbaşı micro-contextual studies have not identified in situ penning locations, although herbivore dung remains have been documented at both sites associated with firerelated activities.…”

“…This review focuses on a selection of sites in this core region in which a range of dung deposits have been found: the early agricultural settlement of Boncuklu (8300-7800 cal BC), the Çatalhöyük East Mound (7100-5950 cal BC) and the Late Neolithic occupation of the Pınarbaşı rockshelter (6500-6000 cal BC) (e.g. Matthews et al 1996;Matthews 2005a, b;Shillito et al 2011;García-Suárez 2017;García-Suárez et al 2018). It aims to evaluate the contribution of interdisciplinary sampling strategies and analytical advances to the development of high-resolution studies of livestock dung using integrated micromorphological, phytolith and dung spherulite analyses, and organic biomarker analyses, coupled with comparative ethnoarchaeological references from the Central Anatolian plateau (Anderson and Ertuğ-Yaras 1998;Yalman 2005;Portillo and Matthews accepted).…”