Eneolithic pile dwellers captured waterfowl in winter

Analysis of avian bone remains from two pile dwellings in Ljubljansko barje (Slovenia)

Bibliographic Data

ID11836974
AuthorsFranc Janžekovič (0000-0002-7950-3780, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics University of Maribor Maribor Slovenia), Tina Klenovšek (0000-0003-4656-834X, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics University of Maribor Maribor Slovenia, corresponding author), Jiří Mlíkovský (0000-0001-6857-8755, Department of Zoology National Museum Prague Czech Republic), Borut Toškan (0000-0002-2025-9322, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts Institute of Archaeology Ljubljana Slovenia), Anton Velušček (0009-0005-6740-9462, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts Institute of Archaeology Ljubljana Slovenia)
Year2021
Volume31
Issue6
Pages977-986
Publication date2021-06-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.3012
OpenAlexW3168754001
LanguageEN
References cited20

This study presents the results of an ornitho‐archaeological analysis of avian bones from Stare gmajne and Blatna Brezovica, two Eneolithic pile dwelling sites in the area of Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. Avian bone remains, together with remnants of huts, tools, mammal bones and bones of other vertebrates, represent the material remnant of a pile dwelling culture from the second half of the fourth millennium BC. A total of 2091 avian bones or fragments thereof were excavated. The avifauna includes 682 taxonomically identified remains (NISP), assigned to 15 bird taxa. Taxonomically, species from the Anatidae group predominate (68.7% of NISP), mainly Bucephala clangula (40.3% of NISP). Also abundant is Fulica atra (26.2% NISP) from the family Rallidae. In the ecological context, species inhabiting aquatic or marshy habitats prevail. Representatives of three ecomorphological groups of waterbirds were found: diving birds ( Podiceps sp., Phalacrocorax carbo , Aythya fuligula , B. clangula and Mergus sp.), waterbirds ( Cygnus sp., Anser sp., Anas sp. and F. atra ) and the marsh species group ( Ardea cinerea ). The absence of medullary bone and the abundance of wintering species in the area are consistent with the hypothesis that the birds were captured during the winter season. Taphonomic evidence (burned bones) suggests that the studied assemblages were human food waste. The abundance of avian bone remains supports the hypothesis that the native peoples were skilled hunters of aquatic birds

Abundance (ecology · Anatidae · Archaeology · Aythya · Biology · Context (archaeology · Geography · Habitat · Waterfowl · Zooarchaeology · Zoology · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation · Ecology

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