A biomolecular perspective on mobile pastoralism and its role in wider socioeconomic connections in the Chalcolithic South Caucasus (original) (raw)

Abstract

Highlights • Integration of Zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, ZooMS, and stable isotope data • Subsistence economy focused on sheep and goats herding • Low-investment plant cultivation and opportunistic foraging

Key takeaways

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  1. The study integrates zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, biomolecular techniques, and stable isotopes to analyze Chalcolithic pastoralism.
  2. Yeghegis-1 was occupied from approximately 4100 to 3500 cal BCE, emphasizing a low-mobility subsistence economy.
  3. Caprines (sheep and goats) dominate the faunal assemblage, constituting 93.4% of identified remains, indicating reliance on herding.
  4. Stable isotope data suggest a localized, year-round herding strategy, contrasting with previous models of seasonal mobility.
  5. The research challenges the notion that pastoral mobility primarily drove socioeconomic connections in the Chalcolithic South Caucasus.

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FAQs

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What evidence supports the significance of pastoral mobility in the Chalcolithic Caucasus?add

The research indicates that while pastoral mobility was crucial, it may not solely explain increased interregional connectivity, as shifts in demographic and technological factors also played a role.

How did the use of biomolecular techniques enhance understanding of herd composition?add

Utilizing zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS) identified taxa previously unresolved in fragmented remains, revealing sheep and goats as the predominant species, constituting 80% of identified fauna.

When were the Chalcolithic occupation layers at Yeghegis-1 dated?add

Radiocarbon dating from the site suggests occupation spanned approximately 4100 to 3500 cal BCE, indicating a 600-year continuous inhabitation.

What does stable isotope analysis reveal about pastured livestock management strategies?add

Stable isotope analysis indicates that Caprines retained a consistent C3 diet, suggesting localized, year-round herd management with limited mobility, contrasting with traditional transhumance models.

What implications do findings about plant remains have on agricultural practices in Yeghegis-1?add

Only 2% of identified plants were cultivated, pointing to low-investment farming and a subsistence model primarily based on pastoralism, supplemented by wild foraging.