Life Support of the Lebyazhinka VI Eneolithic Settlement Inhabitants (following the results of a comprehensive study of osteological materials)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2025.1.144.156Keywords:
archaeology, animal bones, Eneolithic, forest-steppe Trans-Volga region, hunting, fishing, fur trade, cattle breeding, season of animal slaughter, species compositionAbstract
The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of the osteological collection obtained during the study of a large dwelling at the Lebyazhinka VI Eneolithic settlement in the forest-steppe Trans-Volga region. Most of the animal bones are likely associated with the population that lived at the settlement in the Late Eneolithic and left Gundorovo-type pottery (so-called “inner ridge” pottery). It has been established that the basis of life support of the settlement inhabitants was highly developed hunting (for animals and birds) and fishing. The species composition of hunted mammals indicates the existence of a targeted fur trade at the settlement, which was confined to the cold season. Apparently, the meat of all the animals caught was used as food. Birds, fish, and turtles were hunted during the warm season. The meat diet also included a small amount of beef, lamb, and goat meat. It has been suggested that the population of the settlement did not breed cattle themselves, but traded them for fur from cattle-breeding tribes.
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Copyright (c) 2025 N.V. Roslyakova, O.P. Bachura, D.N. Shaymuratova, I.V. Askeyev, A.I. Korolev
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