Поволжская археология

Archive » The Volga River Region Archaeology Vol.4 (50) 2024

New evidence on the Late Bronze – Early Iron Age human nutrition in the Crimea (northern Pontic Region) based on the stable isotope analysis and radiocarbon dating

Kulkova M.A. St., Kashuba M.N., Kulkov A.M., Kozhukhovskaya Yu.V., Tikhomirov V.A., Streltsov M.A., Markova M.A. (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation)

UDC 903.63, 902.652, 913.1/913.8

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24852/pa2024.4.50.104.119

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The application of geochemical methods (stable isotope δ13C, δ15N analysis, chemical elemental analysis and radiocarbon dating) for studying human and animal bones from burials and cultural layers of archaeological sites of Crimea made it possible to highlight the issues of the development of agriculture and cattle-bгeeding during the Late Bronze – Early Iron Ages. One of the controversial questions is the problem of transition from sedentary forms of agriculture and cattle-breeding to mobile cattle-breeding among ancient communities in the Eurasian steppe and forest-steppe. On the base of data obtained various groups of people were identified, which are characterized by different nutritional systems, primarily related to the specifics of their economic activities. The inhabitants of the settlements are characterized by the predominance of fish, seafood, milk and meat. Coastal individuals had access to marine food and C4 plants that they consumed. The presence of various indirect evidence related to land cultivation such as tools for agriculture, suggests the presence of agriculture and the cultivation of millet at the Bai-Kiyat I settlement of the Late Bronze Age by the bearers of the Late Sabatinovka and Early Belozerka cultures. Another group of people from this settlement is associated with pastoral activities. Their diet includes more meat and dairy products, as well as plant foods with photosynthesis of C3. Our research suggests the presence of seminomadic cattle-breeding among the communities of the Sabatinovka and Belozerka cultures of the Late Bronze Age and transhumance pastoralism among the bearers of the Kizil-Koba culture of the Early Iron Age.

Keywords

archaeologyLate Bronze AgeEarly Iron AgeNorthern Black Sea regionCrimeaLate Sabatinovka cultureEarly Belozerka cultureKizil-Koba cultureradiocarbon datingdietstable isotopes of carbon and nitrogenC4 plantmillet cultivationsemi-nomadic and transhumance pastoralism

About the author(s)

Kulkova Marianna A. Doctor of Geological-Geochemical Sciences. Herzen State Pedagogical University, nab. Moyki, 48/12, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation; kulkova@mail.ru

Kashuba Maya N. Candidate of Historical Sciences. Herzen State Pedagogical University. nab. Moyki, 48/12, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation; Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya emb., 18, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation;mirra-k@yandex.ru

Kulkov Aleksandr M. Herzen State Pedagogical University. nab. Moyki, 48/12, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation; St. Petersburg State University, per. Dekabristov, 16. St. Petersburg,199155, Russian Federation; aguacrystals@yandex.ru

Kozhukhovskaya Yuliya V. Herzen State Pedagogical University. nab. Moyki, 48/12, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation; V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, pr. Vernadskogo, 7, Simferopol, 295007, Russian Federation; jv-k@mail.ru

Tikhomirov Vitaliy A. Herzen State Pedagogical University nab. Moyki, 48/12, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation; Institute of Archaeology of Crimea RAS, pr. Vernadskogo, 7, Simferopol, 295007, Russian Federation; tihomirov.va1985@gmail.com

Streltsov Mihail A. Herzen State Pedagogical University, nab. Moyki, 48/12, St. Petersburg,191186, Russian Federation; michail1996@mail.ru

Markova Maria A. Herzen State Pedagogical University, nab. Moyki, 48/12, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation; mcpav@yandex.ru