International Journal of Osteoarchaeology最新文献

{"title":"Duck, Duck, Goose: Varying Goose Proportions in Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene Southwest Asia","authors":"Nerissa Russell","doi":"10.1002/oa.70057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70057","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Water birds, especially Anseriformes, predominate in most Early Holocene assemblages in Southwest Asia. However, the ratio of geese to ducks varies substantially. I survey Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene avian assemblages to explore whether the variability in relative proportions of geese, most of which breed far to the north and would be present only during migration and winter, was due to shifting migration and wintering patterns in response to climate change, local environmental conditions, or human selection. The results paint a complex picture, with signs of changes in migration or wintering location apparent in some goose species, local environmental effects in some locations, and human choices apparent at some sites. Judging from body part distributions, geese were not always eaten even when taken in substantial numbers; their feathers may often have been valued over their flesh, although they are large, meaty birds that occur in abundance in autumn and winter. In some cases, different choices were made at settlements that are quite nearby and with apparently similar landscapes.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"36 1","pages":"61-76"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146224070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bone Arrow Points Manufacturing in Prehispanic Sierras de Córdoba, Argentina","authors":"Matías E. Medina,&nbsp;Sebastián Pastor,&nbsp;Gisela Sario","doi":"10.1002/oa.70056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70056","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Bone raw material was crucial for diverse activities during the Late Prehispanic Period of the Sierras de Córdoba (~1220–330 cal BP, Argentina). Still, publications dealing specifically with bone technology were scarce for decades. This research presents a technological analysis of the manufacturing techniques used in producing bone arrow points, one of the most numerous bone tool types generated by the people with a mixed foraging and cultivation economy who inhabited this neighboring Andes low-altitude mountain range. The study assumes that the carefully planned bone projectile points represent a manufacturing tradition characteristic of a specific time period over a wide geographical area. The aim is to identify the raw material chosen and the process of obtaining bone arrow points by studying a museum collection that originated from the Southern Punilla Valley. The specimens were examined using the technological approach, which included the finished projectile points and any by-products of the production process. Results indicated that the preferred skeletal part was <i>Lama</i> sp. metapodials, which were divided into smaller, workable blanks through longitudinal splitting using direct percussion and transverse cutting. Then, blanks were regularized or flattened by grinding on an abrasive stone surface. Further whittling and scraping were used to shape the preforms into symmetrical arrowheads. Final treatment included smoothing and bright polishing, creating a shiny surface that overlaps previous manufacturing traces. Despite the complex collection history, the assemblage provided reliable data on the main characteristics of raw material management and technological procedures within the Late Prehispanic Period bone industry. Further comparison with other archaeological assemblages from South America may help identify why specific skeletal parts and manufacturing methods were selected for making bone arrow points. This could offer insights into the implications of various alternatives and trace critical areas for future research.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"36 1","pages":"77-87"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146216894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Osteometry of Duck Species in Northwestern Europe—A Reassessment of Woelfle's (1967) Dataset","authors":"Per G. P. Ericson,&nbsp;Nadja Pöllath","doi":"10.1002/oa.70051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study revisits and expands upon Elisabeth Woelfle's (1967) foundational analysis of bone morphology and osteometry, which has long been a key reference for zooarcheological identification of duck species in northwestern Europe. By examining Woelfle's unpublished measuring protocols and incorporating 523 newly measured specimens, we evaluate the reliability of traditional skeletal measurements. Our results highlight significant inconsistencies in inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of several commonly used metrics. We identify nine problematic measurements and propose revised definitions to improve standardization and recommend abandoning poorly defined metrics. This revision aims to refine osteometric practices for ducks and potentially other avian taxa, to ensure greater accuracy in zooarcheological identifications. All measurement data, including digitized versions of Woelfle's original data, are made publicly available to support further morphological and comparative studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"36 1","pages":"39-60"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/oa.70051","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146223973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Biodistance Study of Mobility, Biological Kinship, and Lifestyle in Central Mainland Greece During Classical and Hellenistic Times","authors":"Anna Karligkioti,&nbsp;Vasileios Aravantinos,&nbsp;Alexandra Charami,&nbsp;Efthymia Nikita","doi":"10.1002/oa.70055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70055","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>During Classical and Hellenistic times, mainland Greece witnessed profound historical and sociopolitical changes, including warfare, urbanization, and extensive exchange networks that shaped the broader Graeco-Roman world. Boeotia played an active role in these developments, with Thebes emerging as a major regional power until its destruction by Alexander the Great in 335 <span>bce</span>. Following this event, its population was displaced to adjacent cities, with some returning after Thebes was rebuilt by Kassandros two decades later, whereas Macedonian and later Roman presence in the area further contributed to population movements. These sociopolitical dynamics make Thebes an ideal case for studying human mobility in the region. This study employs biodistance analysis based on dental nonmetric and metric data to examine the degree of phenotypic heterogeneity within the NE cemetery of Thebes across the Classical and Hellenistic periods. The study also explores intracemetery biological kinship patterns and evaluates whether biological relatedness influenced burial organization and whether a common lifestyle was shared among biological relatives. Results indicate only limited phenotypic differentiation between periods, suggesting that population movement had a modest effect on the local gene pool and/or that exogamy was restricted. Furthermore, no particular association was found between biological relatedness and burial proximity, implying that kinship likely extended beyond immediate biological ties to include extended, social, or fictive kin relationships. The analysis of skeletal biomarkers showed no significant differences between closely or distantly related individuals, suggesting broadly similar lifestyles. Overall, the findings indicate that although biological relatedness contributed to identity formation, it had limited influence on lived experiences or burial organization in the cemetery.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"36 1","pages":"28-38"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146216838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lions as Bone Accumulators? Exploring Multi-Predator Contributions to the Olduvai Carnivore Site (OCS) (Tanzania) Through AI and Metric Analyses","authors":"Blanca Jiménez-García,&nbsp;Enrique Baquedano,&nbsp;Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo","doi":"10.1002/oa.70052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70052","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lions (<i>Panthera leo</i>) are apex predators with a well-documented influence on ecological dynamics, yet their potential role as bone-accumulating agents remains poorly understood and often debated. Previous taphonomic studies have largely attributed bone accumulations in African savannah ecosystems to other carnivores, such as spotted hyenas (<i>Crocuta crocuta</i>) and leopards (<i>Panthera pardus</i>), due to their known prey-transporting and bone-modifying behaviors. However, some research has suggested that under certain ecological conditions, lions may also contribute to the formation of bone assemblages, thereby challenging long-standing assumptions about faunal assemblage formation processes. That is the case with Olduvai Carnivore Site (OCS), a modern wildebeest bone assemblage from Olduvai Gorge attributed to nomadic lions. Although the lion accumulation hypothesis proposed for OCS was supported by coherent and internally consistent lines of taphonomic and ecological evidence, several variables in the assemblage suggest that its formation may have been more complex than initially recognized. In this study, we conducted a re-study of this assemblage to reassess the accumulating agents involved, applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques—specifically deep learning algorithms trained on high-resolution images—to analyze and classify tooth marks across the collection. By comparing these AI-derived patterns with reference datasets from known carnivore-modified assemblages, we were able to evaluate the likelihood of lion agency and identify potential post-depositional modifications by other agents. We combined this approach with metric analysis of tooth pits. Felids and hyenids generate divergent tooth pit sizes on dense bone from long bone midshafts. Combining both approaches, we showed—contrary to previous analyses—that hyenid was the predominant agency in bone modification. The results demonstrate the potential of AI-driven taphonomic analysis to refine interpretations of bone surface modifications (BSM) and carnivore behavior, with significant implications for interpreting Plio-Pleistocene archaeological and paleontological sites.</p>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"36 1","pages":"13-27"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/oa.70052","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146216863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to “Morphological Study of the Bony Labyrinth of the Last Hunter-Gatherers in Portugal: Insights From the Moita do Sebastião Shell Midden”","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/oa.70054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<p>\u0000 <span>Pujol Arbona, M.</span>, <span>Umbelino, C.</span>, and <span>Coutinho-Nogueira, D.</span> <span>2024</span>. “ <span>Morphological Study of the Bony Labyrinth of the Last Hunter-Gatherers in Portugal: Insights From the Moita do Sebastião Shell Midden</span>.” <i>International Journal of Osteoarchaeology</i>, <span>34</span> no. <span>6</span>: e3356. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.3356.</p><p><b>FIGURE 5</b>. Principal component analysis (PCA) including all the hunter-gatherer individuals from our sample (MS, Moita do Sebastião; LV, Lagar Velho; AP, Abri Pataud; CM, Cro Magnon; LB, Laugerie Basse; Mui, Muierii; Cio, Cioclovina; I, Ishango; HELM, Hofmeyer ELM; NK, Nazlet Khater; Q, Qafzeh; Sk, Skhūl; LF, La Ferrassie; PP, Petit Puymoyen; PdA, Pech de l'Azé; LCaS, La Chapelle-aux-Saints; AsC, Arcy-sur-Cure; LM, Le Moustier; G, Gibraltar; LQ, La Quina). [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]</p><p>We apologize for this error.</p>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"35 6","pages":"633-634"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/oa.70054","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145751377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The First of Their Kind—The Significance of Sheep and Goat in the Neolithization Process of Northern Central Europe","authors":"Ulrich Schmölcke,&nbsp;Sönke Hartz,&nbsp;Anna-Marie Brendel,&nbsp;Samantha Greeves,&nbsp;Daniel Groß,&nbsp;Elena A. Nikulina,&nbsp;Mara J. Weber,&nbsp;Jessica Hendy","doi":"10.1002/oa.70050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70050","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Coastal-oriented communities of the Ertebølle culture co-existed in southern Scandinavia 6000–7000 years ago in relative proximity to farming communities. Despite many years of research, it is still unclear what role individual domestic animals played in this context, mainly due to a lack of dating and identification issues. This paper presents new details of the transformation processes throughout the neolithization of southern Scandinavia and northernmost Central Europe at a taxonomic level by a refined evaluation and dating of the introduction of domesticated sheep and goats. Unlike cattle and pigs, no wild relatives of ovicaprids live in the region studied, so any verified finding must come from an animal with domesticated ancestors, if not from a domesticated specimen itself. Our study shows that the oldest remains of goat and sheep in the area are up to 300 years older than the actual transformation phase, which leads after the immigration of farmers around 4000 cal. <span>bc</span> to a change in the economic system until 3700 cal. <span>bc</span>. The rarity of ovicaprid remains at Ertebølle sites shows that the animals were of no economic importance. We discuss their possible role in neighborly relations as exotic gifts, but also point out that they may, at least partially, be the remains of feral domestic animals captured during hunting.</p>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"35 6","pages":"612-618"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/oa.70050","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145751118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human Use of Bird Resources in the Northeastern Coasts of the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Southern South America) During the Late Holocene","authors":"Angélica Montserrat Tivoli,&nbsp;María José Barrientos Contreras,&nbsp;Atilio Francisco J. Zangrando","doi":"10.1002/oa.70041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70041","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In Tierra del Fuego, current knowledge of bird use among hunter–gatherer societies is primarily based on research conducted in the central Beagle Channel, whereas little is known about this activity in different southeastern sectors of the island. This study examines bird remains from Late Holocene shell middens located in Moat Bay, at the eastern end of the Beagle Channel. By analyzing taxonomic diversity, procurement, and processing strategies, this paper contributes new insights into avifaunal exploitation in a locality that has received limited archaeological attention. The results indicate that bird exploitation, in terms of resource provisioning and processing patterns, is concentrated on cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae, <i>Leucocarbo</i> sp.), and also on penguins (Spheniscidae), and albatrosses (Diomedeidae) to a lesser extent. Although these outcomes align with previously documented regional trends, distinct local patterns emerge, such as a notable proportion of immature specimens in certain assemblages and taxa. This record suggests that cormorant exploitation could have occurred in colonies during the spring/summer seasons. Additionally, incidental exploitation of certain taxa, such as ducks or geese (Anatidae) and seagulls (Laridae), is documented, and we discuss the incorporation of passerines (Passeriformes) in the archaeological record. Variability in the avifaunal record at Heshkaia locality suggests that Late Holocene bird exploitation involved both regional strategies and localized adjustments, with evidence of seasonal hunting and diverse methods of capture. The predominance of cormorants and the occasional exploitation of procellarids reflect flexible subsistence practices adapted to specific environmental and cultural contexts.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"35 6","pages":"619-632"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145751117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Six Questions to Help Navigate Co-Authorship Discussions and Decisions","authors":"Robin Bendrey,&nbsp;Piers D. Mitchell","doi":"10.1002/oa.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70053","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;It is important when writing up research that authorship of the ensuing publication reflects all those who have contributed substantively and appropriately to the project (McNutt et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;). Authorship of a published output provides recognition and credit for a researcher's contributions to their field, and the rewards of authorship range widely from the significant role that publications can play in research career progression (Nicholas et al. &lt;span&gt;2017&lt;/span&gt;) to personal satisfaction and work-based happiness. It is recognized, however, that research co-authorship practices have not always been fair or consistent, especially in contexts where power differentials exist (Bozeman and Youtie &lt;span&gt;2016&lt;/span&gt;; Heffner &lt;span&gt;1979&lt;/span&gt;; Hoekman and Rake &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;; Ni et al. &lt;span&gt;2021&lt;/span&gt;). This situation is complicated by the fact that authorship conventions often vary across disciplines, research cultures, and also internationally (McNutt et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;). There have, however, been major moves in recent years to try to make these practices more equitable and consistent and appropriately recognize and value all those that contribute to research (e.g., Holcombe &lt;span&gt;2019&lt;/span&gt;; McNutt et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we discuss some of the more common approaches and issues relating to co-authorship on osteoarcheology papers. It is hoped that this may be useful for those early in their career, who may not yet be familiar with academic publishing conventions, and also those more established, as a reminder of the need to communicate clearly and be inclusive and supportive in nurturing teams, students, and collaborators. The following summary guidance around publication co-authorship issues is not offered as prescriptive rules or expectations but rather is framed around a series of questions to consider when navigating these issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Research takes many shapes and sizes. Much gets published independently, by a single author, whereas in many cases it is also appropriate that the diversity of contributors is recognized by co-authorship. Archeology, as an innately interdisciplinary and team-based field of study (Kristiansen &lt;span&gt;2025&lt;/span&gt;), often generates work produced by multiple collaborators.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All those who meet this definition should be included as co-authors; and those who do not, should not be included. It is not ethical to include “guest authors”—those who are listed as authors on a publication although they made no substantial intellectual contribution to the research or manuscript (Bozeman and Youtie &lt;span&gt;2016&lt;/span&gt;; McNutt et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;). Equally, it is not appropriate to have someone who substantially contributes to the research or writing of an article but who is not named as a co-author.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The nature of the research collaboration between a postgraduate student and their supervisor will often encompass key aspects of Authorship Criterion 1 outlined above. The supervi","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"35 6","pages":"487-489"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/oa.70053","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145751242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human–Bird Interactions Across Time and Space in a Bronze Age City: The Case of Tell Atchana, Alalakh (Amuq Valley, Turkey)","authors":"Marcel van Tuinen,&nbsp;Lionel Gourichon,&nbsp;Anderson L. Carter,&nbsp;K. Aslıhan Yener,&nbsp;Müge Bulu,&nbsp;Murat Akar,&nbsp;Canan Çakırlar","doi":"10.1002/oa.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.70047","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Birds have played both subsistence and symbolic roles in past human societies, with their significance evolving alongside sedentary lifestyles and agriculture. Although Neolithic settlements in Western Asia primarily relied on domesticated mammals, birds remained a marginal resource, their importance varying by region. This study investigates bird remains from Bronze Age Alalakh (Tell Atchana) to understand their role in an urbanizing society across shifting political and environmental conditions in the Amuq Valley. Avian remains recovered from Tell Atchana (2007–2012) were analyzed using zooarchaeological methods, including taxonomic identification via comparative osteology and further classification through traditional morphometrics. Quantitative analyses assessed skeletal representation, diversity indices, and abundance patterns across excavated time periods and areas. Contextual association with food preparation equipment, cut marks, and skeletal representation provided further insight into human–bird interactions. Results reveal a strong prevalence of waterfowl, comprising over 75% of identified birds, with mallard (<i>Anas platyrhynchos</i>) and teal (<i>Anas crecca</i>) as the most abundant bird species. Diachronic variation is evident across major bird taxa, with peak diversity and abundance observed in the Late Bronze Age I, along with a substantial and increasing frequency of migratory birds. These patterns may correspond with broader hydrological and cultural shifts in the region, as well as greater reliance on wild animal resources at times of political unrest. The emphasis on wing elements, particularly in pigeons and mallards, suggests these birds held specific ritual or symbolic significance. Further study is needed to clarify the multifaceted meanings birds held for Alalakh inhabitants, particularly regarding distinctions between consumption, management, and ritual use. Continued investigation into human–bird interactions at the site will contribute to broader discussions on environmental adaptation and cultural practices in early urban societies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14179,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Osteoarchaeology","volume":"35 6","pages":"597-611"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/oa.70047","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145751208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}