Upper Paleolithic animal exploitation in the Armenian Highlands: The zooarchaeology of Aghitu-3 cave

Bertacchi, Alex; Gasparyan, Boris; Gruwier, Ben; Rivals, Florents; Kandel, Andrew W.

Abstract

Excavated from 2009 to 2019 by the Tübingen-Armenian Paleolithic Project, Aghitu-3 Cave is the only stratified Upper Paleolithic site in Armenia. Sedimentary deposits range from 39,000 to 24,000 calibrated years before present (ka cal BP). The main Paleolithic occupations occurred during the accumulation of Archaeological Horizon (AH) VI between 36 and 32 ka cal BP and AH III between 29 and 24 ka cal BP. AH VI was deposited under warm and humid conditions, while AH III shows evidence for cooler and drier conditions. Here we report the results of a comprehensive zooarchaeological study aimed at characterizing early modern human hunting behavior in the Armenian Highlands. Our results indicate a focus on adult goats and equids. Bird remains are present, but we found no evidence of human exploitation. Carcass transport strategies appear more selective than those inferred for other assemblages in the region, suggesting that foragers at Aghitu-3 were exploiting larger hunting territories. Finally, we present the results of a pilot microwear and mesowear study on caprine teeth. The latter found evidence for a highly abrasive grazing diet, which in turn suggests that occupation during the formation of AH III took place in spring or summer.

Citation

Bertacchi, A., Gasparyan, B., Gruwier, B., Rivals, F., & Kandel, A. W. (2021). Upper Paleolithic animal exploitation in the Armenian Highlands: The zooarchaeology of Aghitu-3 cave. Quaternary International, 587-588, 400-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2020.04.029

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 18, 2020
• Publication Date: Jun 20, 2021
• Deposit Date: May 7, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 7, 2020
• Journal: Quaternary International
• Print ISSN: 1040-6182
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 587-588
• Pages: 400-414
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2020.04.029
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1271208