Dog Meat in Late Iron Age Bulgaria

This research examines dog consumption as a widely attested activity within Iron Age Bulgaria (5th–1st century bc ), clearly present in multiple settlements located across the country. The data show that this practice is not confined to a single ancient Thracian state or tribe, and a detailed literature review shows a wider distribution of dog consumption across the Mediterranean. Materials from five sites were analyzed, among which dogs formed 2%–10% of all identified specimens. The site with the biggest concentration of dog remains is Emporion Pistiros, which served as a trading port between ancient Greek merchants and the local Thracians. The contextual analysis of the material shows that dog bones with cutmarks are found associated with a wide range of food debris, which excludes their use during times of famine. There is a somewhat repetitive pattern of butchery among the sites. In Pistiros, there is a higher level of portioning of the dog bones compared to the other sites. Most of the dogs consumed were of adult age, unlike the livestock animals. A detailed review of relevant classical sources is given in the discussion to examine human–dog relationships in the period. Future studies can evaluate the role of dogs in newly researched sites and examine whether there is a difference in diet between individuals consumed and those buried

Consumption (sociology · Food consumption · Human settlement · Iron Age · Livestock · Port (circuit theory · Zooarchaeology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Human-Animal Interaction Studies

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