Animal exploitation of pastoral and wild resources during the Bronze Age in Aliabad, a settlement in north-west Iran (West Azerbaijan Province)
Résumé
Faunal remains recovered from the archaeological sounding at Aliabad Tepe were analysed to characterise the animal exploitation at the settlement during the Early and Late Bronze Age, and to provide insight into the economic and social aspects of the site. The results indicate that animal exploitation strategies vary little between these periods, representing an agropastoral economy based on caprine and bovine husbandry. Caprines played a major role, with a greater number of sheep present compared to goats. However, the contribution of bovines should not be underestimated in the diet and the economy of the site when measured by the weight of the identified specimens (WISP). The contribution of hunting is quite limited and only few remains of red deer, boar and hare were found. Surprisingly, carnivores are represented by remains of hyena, cat and fox. Finally, freshwater taxa including fish and molluscs were found in the sieve refuse, indicating the practice of fishing.