Seasonality and season of birth in early Eneolithic sheep from Cheia (Romania): methodological advances and implications for animal economy |
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Authors: | Carlos Tornero,Adrian Bălăşescu,Joë l Ughetto-Monfrin,Valentina Voinea,Marie Balasse |
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Affiliation: | 1. Archéozoologie, Archéobotanique – Sociétés, Pratiques et Environnements, UMR 7209 CNRS/MNHN, CP56, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France;2. National Museum of Romanian History, Calea Victoriei nr.12, Sector 3, 030026 Bucharest, Romania;3. The National History and Archaeology Museum, Piata Ovidiu nr.12, 900745 Constanta, Romania |
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Abstract: | Cheia (early 5th millennium cal BC) is a prehistoric village in the Dobrodgea province in Romania. Its occupation is attributed to the Early Eneolithic period or Hamangia III phase. The exploitation of animal resources is heavily dominated by husbandry. Although cattle are dominant, they were complemented by caprines, mainly sheep, exploited for tender meat (as highlighted by a 6–12 months age class peak in the mortality profile). Sheep reproduction patterns were investigated through stable isotope analyses in order to characterize the annual rhythms of slaughtering for tender meat acquisition while informing a more general picture on sheep demographical management and animal husbandry at the settlement. Results from δ18O analysis on second and third molar enamel were modeled and compared with modern reference populations. Sheep births took place over less than four months, from late winter to early summer. From this it could be concluded that tender meat could be provided most of the year, excepted over short period in early summer. Finally, comparison of datasets obtained on the M2 and M3 suggests that the M2 presents a more accurate representation of birth seasonality due to lower inter-individual variability in the chronology of tooth growth. |
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Keywords: | Stable oxygen isotopes Tooth enamel bioapatite Sheep Seasonality of birth Season of birth Hamangia culture Early Eneolithic Romania Cheia |
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