Поволжская археология

Archive » The Volga River Region Archaeology Vol.1 (35) 2021

A Zooarchaeological and Molecular Assessment of Ancient Chicken Remains from Russia

Lebrasseur O. (Liverpool, UK), Shaymuratova D., Askeyev A., Asylgaraeva G. (Kazan, Russian Federation), Frantz L. (London, UK), Larson G. (Oxford, UK), Askeyev O., Askeyev I. (Kazan, Russian Federation)

UDC 575.1 636.5 904(56.562/569)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24852/pa2021.1.35.216.231

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We here conduct ancient DNA analyses on 58 chicken bones from 15 archaeological sites (from the 9^th to the 18^th century AD) across the Volga region, the Leningrad region, the Pskov region, and the north of the Krasnoyarsk region to investigate genetic diversity of past chicken populations within this geographical area. We find all samples belong to sub-haplogroup E1, ubiquitous throughout the world and dominant in Europe, Africa and the Americas. This supports an introduction of chickens from the west, rather than a direct introduction from East Asia. Our study also demonstrates good endogenous DNA content, confirming species identification and sex of the individuals, thus highlighting the potential of genetic studies on archaeological remains in that region.

Keywords

zooarchaeologyVolga regionRussiaMedieval Periodchickenancient DNAdispersal

About the author(s)

Ophélie Lebrasseur. PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher. Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool. 12-14 Abercromby Square. Liverpool, L69 7WZ. UK; Palaeo-BARN, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford. 1 South Park Road. Oxford OX1 3TG. UK; ophelie.lebrasseur@liverpool.ac.uk

Shaymuratova Dilyara N. Researcher. The Institute of Problems in Ecology and Mineral Wealth, Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, Daurskaya St., 28, Kazan, 420087, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; galimovad@gmail.com

Askeyev Arthur O. Candidate of Biology Sciences, Researcher. The Institute of Problems in Ecology and Mineral Wealth, Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, Daurskaya St., 28, Kazan, 420087, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; art.regulus@mail.ru

Asylgaraeva Gulshat Sh. Candidate of Veterinary Sciences. Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov, Tatarstan Academy of Sciences. Butlerov St., 30, Kazan, 420012, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; gul_shat@mail.ru

Laurent Frantz. Professor, Doctor. Department of Veterinary Sciences, Paleogenomic group, Ludwig Maximillians University of Munich, Kaulbach St., 37/III, Munich, 80539, Germany; Senior Lecturer. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK; laurent.frantz@lmu.de

Greger Larson. Professor. Director. Palaeo-BARN, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford. 1 South Park Road. Oxford OX1 3TG. UK; greger.larson@arch.ox.ac.uk

Askeyev Oleg V. Candidate of Biology Sciences. Head of Laboratory, The Institute of Problems in Ecology and Mineral Wealth, Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, Daurskaya St., 28, Kazan, 420087, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; parus.cyanus@rambler.ru

Askeyev Igor V. Candidate of Biology Sciences, Senior Researcher, Associate Professor, The Institute of Problems in Ecology and Mineral Wealth, Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, Daurskaya St., 28, Kazan, 420087, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; archaeozoologist@yandex.ru