Uncovering the lives of rock doves ( Columba livia ) in Late Bronze Age Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus

Bibliographic Data

ID19213493
AuthorsAnderson L Carter (0009-0009-8359-4134, University of Groningen), David S Reese (0009-0007-6300-3910, Yale University), Ronald van Bommel (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research), Marcel T J Van Der Meer (0000-0001-6454-1752, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research), Canan Çakırlar (0000-0002-7994-0091, University of Groningen, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume100
Issue412
Pages1-17
Publication date2026-05-21
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAntiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-598X • E-ISSN: 1745-1744
PublisherAntiquity Publications (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15184/aqy.2026.10351
OpenAlexW7161781620
LanguageEN
References cited19

Despite a long and dynamic history of coexistence with humans, the prehistory and domestication of the common pigeon ( Columba livia ) are not well understood. Here, the authors re-examine a large assemblage of avian bones excavated from Late Bronze Age contexts at Hala Sultan Tekke on Cyprus, aiming to contextualise the presence of pigeons within the settlement and their relationship with contemporaneous humans. The results of zooarchaeological and stable isotope analyses, they argue, suggest that these birds may have been semi-domesticated and may have held a symbolic/ritualistic role that challenges their common perception as mere urban dwellers

Assemblage (archaeology) · Bronze Age · Domestication · Period (music) · Prehistory · Settlement (finance) · Zooarchaeology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies

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