Whose Bones are those? Preliminary Comparative Analysis of Fragmented Human and Animal Bones in the “Death Pit” at Domuztepe, a Late Neolithic Settlement in Southeastern Turkey

Animals and inequality in Chalcolithic central Anatolia

“…Moreover, the presence of nineteen plastered and painted skulls, elaborate figurines and a recently discovered wall painting, indicate a prominent role for ritual within this community (Ozbek, 2009;Öztan, 2010). That several of the plastered skulls present evidence for trauma also suggests levels of interpersonal violence previously unidentified in the region but which are now being corroborated from other finds in EC Anatolian communities (Bonogofsky, 2005;Kansa, 2009). Finally, the presence of stamp seals with stylistic parallels to those of the Halaf tradition in southeastern Anatolia suggest both involvement in inter-regional exchange as well as an early interest in administering the movement of goods (Özkan, 2001).…”

Identification of possible source areas of stone raw materials combining remote sensing and petrography

“…Domuztepe remains of the largest known Halaf period sites (at 20 ha in total area) in all of the ancient Near East (Campbell et al 1999). If the whole site was engaged simultaneously, as suspected by the excavators, at least for the later phases of the site, the population may have been as high as 1500 people, substantially larger than any other known Halaf -Chalcolithic site in Anatolia or contemporary Mesopotamia (Kansa et al 2009). The Halaf culture is traditionally defined through its elaborately painted pottery, stone bowls, as well as a number of other portable artefacts, which have long been speculated to originate from a centre in Northern Iraq.…”

Resource Exploitation at Late Neolithic Domuztepe

“…A further 1,995 fragments recovered from an expansive and complex burial deposit (the "Death Pit"), while referenced in this study, are described extensively elsewhere (Kansa, forthcoming a; Kansa et al 2009). From the number of identified specimens, domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus) predominate the assemblage at 51% overall, while cattle (Bos taurus) and pigs (Sus scrofa) make up 21% and 25%, respectively.…”

“…In addition to a relative abundance of dog bones, compared to the non-Death Pit contexts, there is a striking co-occurrence of dog and human remains. Furthermore, dogs and humans both had a high level of skull preservation in the Death Pit, and many show blunt-force trauma in the frontal/parietal area (see Kansa et al 2009). The importance of dogs to humans as protectors, companions, and hunting aides may have been emphasized through their similar treatment and burial together.…”

“…Two instances of feasting remains, the Death Pit and a bone spread in Operation III, show an abundance of butchered cattle bones, mirrored by a distinct dearth of pig bones (Kansa and Campbell 2004). In the Death Pit, the bones came from a minimum of eight prime-age females, reflecting a costly sacrifice of prime breeding stock (see Kansa et al 2009). Cattle would have been used in feasts not only for the symbolic expense they represented but also because they were huge meat packages, requiring either processing for storage or division among a large group of people.…”