This study applies high-resolution strontium isotope (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) analysis to livestock tooth enamel to examine ritual mobility, meat provisioning, and herding strategies at the Iron Age cult site of Monte Iato, western Sicily (6th–5th century BCE). The site represents a key inland socio-religious center for examining the interplay between ritual practice, community formation, and social networks. Sequential laser ablation of twenty faunal specimens—primarily cattle, supplemented by sheep, pig, and dog—indicates that approximately 45% of the sacrificed animals were locally raised, while 55% of the analyzed specimen originated from western and central Sicily, notably around the ancient town of Segesta, the modern towns Sambuca di Sicilia, and Santa Margherita di Belice as well as the ancient apoikia Akragas on the south-central coast. The increasing diversity and geographical range of the origins of the sacrificial animals reflects the growing regional importance of the mountain and provides the first archaeometric evidence that the cult site served as a supra-regional hub, hosting large communal feasts that drew animals and, thus, participants from beyond the immediate community. Intra-tooth isotopic variation reveals limited, short-distance movements consistent with localized pasture-based husbandry rather than long-range transhumance. Overall, the findings redefine Monte Iato’s role within the ritual and economic landscape of Iron Age Sicily, highlighting livestock as key vectors of both subsistence and ritual connectivity.

Excavations in the Eastern Suburb of Bronze Age Aegina Kolonna revealed the destruction deposit of two sequenced Early Mycenaean buildings (phase Late Helladic IIA; 16th century BC). The older building is interpreted as a widely undisturbed production site of purple-dye based on indicative finds such as ceramic sherds containing analyzable quantities of pigment, high amounts of mollusk shells, and a few functional facilities. Chemical analysis by HPLC and malacological determination revealed that the banded dye-murex (Hexaplex trunculus) was used almost exclusively. The presence of crushing tools and a waste disposal pit provide insight into the technical process of dye production. Additionally, skeletal remains of heavily burnt infantile and juvenile piglets, kids, or lambs were found in the purple workshop area. The evidence may be better explained by ritual activities aimed at promoting the highly meaningful event of purple production, rather than by normal food consumption practices.

Klemens Tschermak (1891–1975) begann das Studium der Veterinärmedizin 1911 in Wien und schloss dieses nach Kriegsdienstleistung im Jahr 1923 als Dr. med. vet. ab. Er arbeitete ab 1923 als amtlicher Tierarzt der Stadt Wien, wurde 1939 zwangspensioniert, dann als Vertretungstierarzt in Schlesien notdienstverpflichtet und 1945 als politisch unbelastet wieder in den Gemeindedienst übernommen, zuerst als provisorischer, dann als definitiver Veterinäramtsdirektor. Im Zeitraum 1939–1945 waren Tschermak und seine Familie Repressalien ausgesetzt. Einerseits war seine Frau Jüdin, anderseits war Tschermak durch Aktivitäten in sozialdemokratischen Vereinen und als Freimaurer (1925–1931) exponiert. Er war an zahlreichen Initiativen zur Erhaltung der Tiergesundheit beteiligt, vor 1939 vor allem im Rahmen der sozialdemokratischen Siedler- und Kleingartenbewegung, nach 1945 im Wiener Tierschutzverein. Nach 1945 lagen die Organisation der Versorgung der Tierärzte mit Medikamenten und Instrumenten sowie die Wiederinstandsetzung des Schlachthofes St. Marx in seinem Verantwortungsbereich. Von 1948–1964 lehrte er als Honorardozent für Schlachthofkunde an der Tierärztlichen Hochschule Wien. Initiativen zur Schaffung einer Tierkrankenkasse oder einer Wirtschaftsgenossenschaft der Tierärzte waren letztlich nicht erfolgreich, zeigen aber Dr. Tschermaks soziales Verantwortungsbewusstsein. Neben seinem fachlichen Engagement war Tschermak auch als Schriftsteller tätig und veröffentlichte zwei Dramen und drei Gedichtbände.

No Access'Einheimisch'-Werden auf dem Monte Iato (Westsizilien). Die frühe Phase des Heiligtums beim 'Aphrodite-Tempel' (575/50 – 460/50 v. Chr.)Thomas Dauth, Erich Kistler, Gerhard Forstenpointner, Ursula ThanheiserThomas Dauth, Erich Kistler, Gerhard Forstenpointner, Ursula Thanheiserhttps://doi.org/10.7767/9783205218401.193SectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail About Previous chapter Next chapter FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Download book coverMontafoner GipfeltreffenVolume 5 1. AuflageISBN: 978-3-205-21838-8 eISBN: 978-3-205-21840-1HistoryPublished online:October 2023 PDF download

In this study, we present not only a new and detailed anatomical description of the epaxial muscles and adjacent ligamentous and fascial structures in the African savanna elephant but also a structural and functional comparison with other Afrotherian mammals and some domestic quadrupeds. All structures were examined by means of standard anatomical techniques. The back of the largest land mammal is a crucial part of trunk construction according to the bow and string concept, which is applied also in other quadrupedal animals. The epaxial muscles of the African savanna elephant play an important role in the biomechanical properties of the entire back and in supporting and moving the heavy head. Situated in the short cervical region of the African savanna elephant is a large mass comprised of numerous muscle individuals together with a well-developed ligamentum nuchae. Parts of the mm. interansversarii ventralis cervicis form a strong muscle belly, which was named the m. intertransversarius longus. Whereas the head is held in a high or extended position most of the time during locomotion, the head and neck are highly mobile while the animal is foraging or socially interacting. Movements between the elements of the thoracic and lumbar spine are likely to be very limited due to the obvious rigidity of the bony vertebral column. Aponeuroses surrounding long epaxial muscles could contribute to an energy-saving mechanism, which is active during both stance and locomotion. The well-developed m. serratus dorsalis cranialis helps in facilitating effective breathing in an animal, which is equipped with an unusual pleural structure.

In this paper we investigate local foodways and ritual consumption in Iron Age Sicily through a study of cooking pots, integrating contextual, archaeozoological, archaeobotanical and chemical data. We focus on material from the central cult site of the settlement of Monte Iato, located in the hinterland of western Sicily, in order to explore the interaction between food, people, bio-/artefacts and environments as a process of formulating and reformulating social relationships and local power dynamics within specific social spaces and settings. We reveal different foodways and consumption practices within the same cult site, characterized on the one hand by long-standing traditions, with more or less constant and unchanging dishes, and on the other by the integration of external stimuli. We discuss the emergence of foreign- (Greek/Phoenician-) style cooking pots and ingredients as markers of an haute cuisine, developed with the aim of social differentiation.

In this paper we investigate local foodways and ritual consumption in Iron Age Sicily through a study of cooking pots, integrating contextual, archaeozoological, archaeobotanical and chemical data. We focus on material from the central cult site of the settlement of Monte Iato, located in the hinterland of western Sicily, in order to explore the interaction between food, people, bio-/artefacts and environments as a process of formulating and reformulating social relationships and local power dynamics within specific social spaces and settings. We reveal different foodways and consumption practices within the same cult site, characterized on the one hand by long-standing traditions, with more or less constant and unchanging dishes, and on the other by the integration of external stimuli. We discuss the emergence of foreign- (Greek/Phoenician-) style cooking pots and ingredients as markers of an haute cuisine, developed with the aim of social differentiation.

Strontium isotope analysis of human and faunal enamel has the potential to reveal human childhood origins, and herding and other movements of animals. Recent developments have included laser ablation sampling which dramatically increases the spatial resolution at which strontium isotopes can be measured. This allows time series of changes in strontium isotopes to be measured along the growth axis of enamel, giving a highly time-resolved measure of human and animal movement. Here we present the method and some examples of its application including our work attempting to identify the provenance of humans at the Bronze Age harbour site of Punta di Zambrone (possible inhabitants of the settlement or foreigners related to its destruction?) and to identify the extent of the agricultural catchment of this settlement through analysis of cattle, pig and other animal teeth. The Sr isotope results show a faunal catchment of approximately 15km, stretching from the coast to the inland high plain, and suggest that the individual SP1 was most likely local to the region.

Excavations at the Bronze Age site of Punta di Zambrone yielded faunal remains from two habitational phases of the settlement, comprising two small samples from the Early Bronze Age 2 (EBA 2, NISP=114) and the Recent Bronze Age 2 (RBA 2, NISP=137) layers of Area B and a large assemblage from massive ashy filling layers of Area C (RBA 2, NISP=3439). Additionally, a very small sample (NISP=63) came from earlier horizons of Area C, possibly representing the early Recent or even Middle Bronze Age. All three small samples show very similar patterns of species composition, characterised by the distinct predominance of bovine remains and balanced ratios of pigs and ovicaprines. The large RBA 2 sample from Area C differs strongly from the other assemblages, mainly in terms of livestock representation which shows balanced ratios of all main domestic species and a remarkably high percentage of canine bones which, additionally, show frequent traces of butchering. These features resemble closely patterns of husbandry from other Calabrian sites, in particular MBA Broglio di Trebisacce, however, the deposition of faunal remains, comprising also meaningful objects like bucrania or eagle bones, in a series of ashy layers might also indicate ritually motivated forms of consumption that may not necessarily reflect the regular livestock economy of the settlement.

As the longissimus dorsi muscle is the largest muscle in the equine back, it has great influence on the stability of the spine and facilitates proper locomotion. The longissimus muscle provides support to the saddle and rider and thereby influences performance in the horse. Muscular dysfunction has been associated with back disorders and decline of performance. In general, muscle function is determined by its specific intramuscular architecture. However, only limited three-dimensional metrical data are available for the inner organisation of the equine longissimus dorsi muscle. Therefore, we aimed at investigating the inner architecure of the equine longissimus. The thoracic and lumbar longissimus muscles of five formalin-fixed cadaveric horse backs of different ages and body types were dissected layerwise from cranial to caudal. Three-dimensional coordinates along individual muscle fibre bundles were recorded using a digitisation tool (MicroScribe®), to capture their origin, insertion and general orientation. Together with skeletal data from computed tomography (CT) scans, 3D models were created using imaging software (Amira). For further analysis, the muscle was divided into functional compartments during preparation and morphometric parameters, such as the muscle fascicle length, pennation angles to the sagittal and horizontal planes, muscle volume and the physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), were determined. Fascicle length showed the highest values in the thoracic region and decreased from cranial to caudal, with the cranial lumbar compartment showing about 75% of cranial fascicle length, while in most caudal compartments, fascicle length was less than 50% of the fascicle length in thoracic compartments. The pennation angles to the horizontal plane show that there are differences between compartments. In most cranial compartments, fascicles almost run parallel to the horizontal plane (mean angle 0°), while in the caudal compartment, the angles increase up to a mean angle of 38°. Pennation angles to the sagittal plane varied not only between compartments but also within compartments. While in the thoracic compartments, the fascicles run nearly parallel to the spine, in the caudal compartments, the mean angles range from 0–22°. The muscle volume ranged from 1350 cm3 to 4700 cm3 depending on body size. The PCSA ranged from 219 cm2 to 700 cm2 depending on the muscle volume and mean fascicle length. In addition to predictable individual differences in size parameters, there are obvious systemic differences within the muscle architecture along the longissimus muscle which may affect its contraction behaviour. The obtained muscle data lay the anatomical basis for a specific biomechanical model of the longissimus muscle, to simulate muscle function under varying conditions and in comparison to other species.

The study of sexual dimorphism in dog anatomy, especially with regard to skeletal elements, has received little attention. The present work focuses on elements of the canine stylo- and zeugopodium, less documented than the skull or pelvis in the literature. In order to identify only sex-dependent effects, we analysed a single breed: the German Shepherd Dog. Data come from 25 dogs, with a balanced sex ratio (12 males and 13 females). Four skeletal elements of the forelimb and hindlimb (humerus, radius, femur, tibia) were each measured using seven linear morphometric variables. Univariate and multivariate analyses were then performed on these 28 variables. For all measurements, males are on average larger than females, with a mean sexual dimorphism ratio of 1.07. Sexual dimorphism is significant for 92.8% of the variables. Except of femoral measurements, diaphyseal values show the highest grade of sexual dimorphism. The mean level of disparity is higher in the forelimb (1.08) than in the hindlimb (1.05). A significant dimorphism is shown for the first component of principal component analyses conducted on each skeletal element, and for the second component with humerus measurements. Discriminant functions for sex identification give success rates included between 82% for the radius and 93% for the femur, the latter providing the highest reported score for sex identification in dogs from any skeletal element. These complementary statistic methods highlight a more dimorphic forelimb in size and a more dimorphic hindlimb in shape.

This paper discusses the remains of several young sheep and goats found in a semi-articulated state within a single room at the Early Bronze Age site of cukurici Hoyuk, western Anatolia. Despite the relatively unusual nature of the assemblage within the context of the site, it is ultimately argued to be that of butchery waste. The interpretative value of such everyday refuse is then discussed in conjunction with site-wide zooarchaeological and ceramic information, with a particular emphasis on the effect of taphonomic factors in how such assemblages might be understood. The role of caprines both economically and socially is then explored looking at herd-management strategies, culturally contingent food preferences, butchery and cooking practices as well as inter-household interaction on the site. In particular the meaning of caprines being culled at a 'tender meat age' is considered in regards to what it can elucidate relating to the social organisation of the site.

Recent research has shown that the Bronze Age is a crucial period of dietary changes in Italy. Following this line of enquiry, the paper reports the results of stable isotope analysis (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) of faunal bone collagen as well as of collagen extracted from a few human bones dated to the Recent Bronze Age (13th/12th century BCE) and excavated at the coastal settlement of Punta di Zambrone (PdZ) in Calabria, southern Italy. They constitute the first such data on that period from the Italian south and can be used to determine an isotopic baseline of human food sources providing new insights on the diet of humans inhabiting Calabria. Overall, isotopic data of the faunal samples are fairly uniform, and there is no significant discrepancy to be observed between exclusively herbivorous animals (sheep/goats, bovine, and red deer) and those having a mixed diet, such as dogs and pigs. All the animals have similar δ 15 N values with only slightly higher values for dog (6.5‰ ± 1.1), and the average of δ 15 N for both domestic and wild animals fits well with published results for herbivorous mammals. Enriched δ 13 C values (range between −19.3‰ and −14.9‰) in most of the faunal samples suggest a terrestrial diet dominated by a mixing of C 3 and C 4 plants (e.g.. millet). The human diet also reflects an impact of C 4 plants in accordance with the archaeobotanic remains. In an interregional comparison, PdZ stands out in this respect among the sites of the Italian south. Human remains from northern Italian sites suggest a much stronger intake of C 4 plants than at PdZ.

Rescue excavations recovered a skeleton that resurrect the contemporary dramatic history of Austria in the 17th century as troops besieged Vienna in the second Osmanic-Habsburg war. Unique for Central Europe is the evidence of a completely preserved camel skeleton uncovered in a large refuse pit. The male individual of slender stature indicates a few but characteristic pathological changes revealing not a beast of burden but probably a valuable riding animal. Anatomical and morphometrical analyses suggest a hybrid confirmed by the ancient DNA analyses resulting in the presence of a dromedary in the maternal and a Bactrian camel in the paternal line.

In course of the archaeological survey of Ayasuluk/Ephesos region (Turkey), a shaft well situated at the area of an extensive medieval bathing complex was excavated. In the stratum corresponding to the reign Mehmed II the well-preserved skeletons of two humans, an equine and a canine were recovered. Anthropological analysis of the human skeletons indentified two males aged 22 (± 3) and 36 (± 5) years. The skeleton of the younger individual showed signs of various antemortal conditions, including a well-healed fraction of right arc of the fifth lumbar vertebra, and a marked asymmetry of the shoulder joints. The older individual exhibited significant peri/postmortem injuries at the elbows, with evident signs of peeling and external burning. Also, the few elements of the cranium recovered showed also indications of burning. Archaeozoological characterization of the complete skeletons of the equine and canine established evidence of well cared-for animals of high value. The time of disposal of this group coincides with uprising of the formerly ruling Aydnoullar clan against the Ottomans in power. The human individuals recovered from the well may have been members of Aydnoullar tribe or men in service of the latter, suffering severe torture and/or mutilation for siding with the rebels after defeat.

A broad variety of ritual behaviours involve the killing and/or consumption of domestic as well as game animals, and are functionally assigned to most important social procedures and ceremonies such as religious worship, activities of public administration or funerary rites and very often also to subsistence-oriented sacrifice. Material remains indicative of these ceremonies reveal specific aspects of the ritual procedure, but their significance is always dependent on the degree of scrutiny that has been spent during archaeological excavation and more so in the analysis of the finds. Focusing on ritual patterns in Mediterranean antiquity, the remains of burnt offerings and agglomerations of caprine horn cores are attested frequently by the zooarchaeological record. Even when literary descriptions of all of these sacrificial activities are available, obvious uncertainties about the actual procedure of burning meria and osphys and of the consecration of goat horns made experimental efforts necessary. Experimental approaches characterize a well established methodological tradition in archaeological and historical research, not only enhancing our understanding of poorly handed down evidence of ancient life, but also allowing the feasibility of reconstructive suggestions to be judged. On the other hand, obtaining evidence by means of experimental studies always has to take into account potential and maybe biasing phenomena of convergence. Talking in terms of evolutionary biology, the phenotypically similar appearance of archaeological findings and experimental results has to be understood as the outcome of two distinctly evolved and necessarily different processes.

Bioarchaeological investigations at Kolonna, Aegina (Early Helladic III to Late Helladic III)