The hunting of Gazella subgutturosa was a dominant practice for Epipalaeolithic and early
Neolith... more The hunting of Gazella subgutturosa was a dominant practice for Epipalaeolithic and early Neolithic hunter–gatherers in the east Jordan steppe. The seasonal mobility of this taxon in the Levant is poorly understood, especially for early prehistory when herd movements would have influenced hunter-gatherer use of the steppes. This paper proposes four patterns of seasonal herd mobility for G. subgutturosa centred on Jordan’s Azraq Basin. The four patterns are modelled using oxygen, carbon and strontium stable isotopes. Seasonal environmental signatures of each are understood through carbon and strontium isotopic variation in sixty modern plant specimens collected from twelve selected locations in north Jordan, published data on oxygen isotopes in local precipitation, and the adaptive behaviour of G. subgutturosa. The integrated isotopic datasets provide clear discriminatory markers for each proposed mobility pattern. Results will be applied in future to isotopic data from archaeological gazelle teeth from the Azraq Basin.
The Early/Middle Epipalaeolithic aggregation site of Kharaneh IV in the east Jordan steppe is one... more The Early/Middle Epipalaeolithic aggregation site of Kharaneh IV in the east Jordan steppe is one of the largest of the period, showing repeated use, high degrees of site investment, and relatively prolonged periods of occupation. Hunters relied heavily on the single prey species, Gazella subgutturosa. This paper reports on isotopic analyses of gazelle teeth, drawn from the Kharaneh IV assemblage, to explore the seasonal and spatial distribution of gazelle in life and examine models of long-distance seasonal gazelle migrations. Dental microwear analysis is also employed to assess hunting seasons. Results from sequential isotope analyses of 11 Epipalaeolithic gazelle molars show that, with one exception, gazelle did not move seasonally from the limestone steppe onto other geologies, nor did they seasonally relocate to areas with different climate regimes. Rather, seasonal herd mobility seems to have been local, meaning animals would have been available in the vicinity of Kharaneh IV year-round. Results from 19 microwear analyses show some gazelle to have died in spring when grass graze was available, whilst others had been browsing around their time of death, indicating non-spring hunting. Microwear evidence thus suggests gazelle were hunted in more than one restricted season. The implications of these new datasets for hunter-gatherer use of the steppe, and potential hunting methods, is highlighted.
It is challenging to disentangle influences operating on tradition, change and identity in societ... more It is challenging to disentangle influences operating on tradition, change and identity in societies where economic and social spheres operate at a household level but are reiterated throughout the settlement. One approach is to elucidate the social aspects of an economic activity such as herding; these aspects might include the daily and seasonal round of tasks; the organisational framework that matches animal needs to resources; the changing attitudes to animals and landscape. Two methods in combination — analysis of oxygen isotopes and dental microwear in archaeological sheep teeth — offer a powerful tool for investigating herding practices at high spatial and temporal resolution when understood within sheep ethology and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Temporal and spatial data-patterning, alongside interpretation of the archaeological record, allow insights into herding as a component of society. The case-study is Neolithic Çatalhöyük East, in central Anatolia on the fringes of the south-west Asia exchange network. A reliance on sheep throughout the 1200 years of occupation provides the opportunity to examine successful herding practices.*
In Hodder, I. (Ed.), Integrating Çatalhöyük: themes from the 2000-2008 seasons. Ankara: British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Series: BIAA Monograph Vol. 49. , 2014
In Hodder, I., (Ed.), Çatalhöyük excavations: humans and landscapes of Çatalhöyük excavations: reports from the 2000-2008 seasons. Ankara: British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Series: BIAA Monograph Vol. 47. , 2013
The hunting of Gazella subgutturosa was a dominant practice for Epipalaeolithic and early
Neolith... more The hunting of Gazella subgutturosa was a dominant practice for Epipalaeolithic and early Neolithic hunter–gatherers in the east Jordan steppe. The seasonal mobility of this taxon in the Levant is poorly understood, especially for early prehistory when herd movements would have influenced hunter-gatherer use of the steppes. This paper proposes four patterns of seasonal herd mobility for G. subgutturosa centred on Jordan’s Azraq Basin. The four patterns are modelled using oxygen, carbon and strontium stable isotopes. Seasonal environmental signatures of each are understood through carbon and strontium isotopic variation in sixty modern plant specimens collected from twelve selected locations in north Jordan, published data on oxygen isotopes in local precipitation, and the adaptive behaviour of G. subgutturosa. The integrated isotopic datasets provide clear discriminatory markers for each proposed mobility pattern. Results will be applied in future to isotopic data from archaeological gazelle teeth from the Azraq Basin.
The Early/Middle Epipalaeolithic aggregation site of Kharaneh IV in the east Jordan steppe is one... more The Early/Middle Epipalaeolithic aggregation site of Kharaneh IV in the east Jordan steppe is one of the largest of the period, showing repeated use, high degrees of site investment, and relatively prolonged periods of occupation. Hunters relied heavily on the single prey species, Gazella subgutturosa. This paper reports on isotopic analyses of gazelle teeth, drawn from the Kharaneh IV assemblage, to explore the seasonal and spatial distribution of gazelle in life and examine models of long-distance seasonal gazelle migrations. Dental microwear analysis is also employed to assess hunting seasons. Results from sequential isotope analyses of 11 Epipalaeolithic gazelle molars show that, with one exception, gazelle did not move seasonally from the limestone steppe onto other geologies, nor did they seasonally relocate to areas with different climate regimes. Rather, seasonal herd mobility seems to have been local, meaning animals would have been available in the vicinity of Kharaneh IV year-round. Results from 19 microwear analyses show some gazelle to have died in spring when grass graze was available, whilst others had been browsing around their time of death, indicating non-spring hunting. Microwear evidence thus suggests gazelle were hunted in more than one restricted season. The implications of these new datasets for hunter-gatherer use of the steppe, and potential hunting methods, is highlighted.
It is challenging to disentangle influences operating on tradition, change and identity in societ... more It is challenging to disentangle influences operating on tradition, change and identity in societies where economic and social spheres operate at a household level but are reiterated throughout the settlement. One approach is to elucidate the social aspects of an economic activity such as herding; these aspects might include the daily and seasonal round of tasks; the organisational framework that matches animal needs to resources; the changing attitudes to animals and landscape. Two methods in combination — analysis of oxygen isotopes and dental microwear in archaeological sheep teeth — offer a powerful tool for investigating herding practices at high spatial and temporal resolution when understood within sheep ethology and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Temporal and spatial data-patterning, alongside interpretation of the archaeological record, allow insights into herding as a component of society. The case-study is Neolithic Çatalhöyük East, in central Anatolia on the fringes of the south-west Asia exchange network. A reliance on sheep throughout the 1200 years of occupation provides the opportunity to examine successful herding practices.*
In Hodder, I. (Ed.), Integrating Çatalhöyük: themes from the 2000-2008 seasons. Ankara: British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Series: BIAA Monograph Vol. 49. , 2014
In Hodder, I., (Ed.), Çatalhöyük excavations: humans and landscapes of Çatalhöyük excavations: reports from the 2000-2008 seasons. Ankara: British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Series: BIAA Monograph Vol. 47. , 2013
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Papers by elizabeth henton
Neolithic hunter–gatherers in the east Jordan steppe. The seasonal mobility of this taxon in
the Levant is poorly understood, especially for early prehistory when herd movements would
have influenced hunter-gatherer use of the steppes. This paper proposes four patterns of
seasonal herd mobility for G. subgutturosa centred on Jordan’s Azraq Basin. The four patterns
are modelled using oxygen, carbon and strontium stable isotopes. Seasonal environmental
signatures of each are understood through carbon and strontium isotopic variation in
sixty modern plant specimens collected from twelve selected locations in north Jordan,
published data on oxygen isotopes in local precipitation, and the adaptive behaviour of
G. subgutturosa. The integrated isotopic datasets provide clear discriminatory markers for
each proposed mobility pattern. Results will be applied in future to isotopic data from
archaeological gazelle teeth from the Azraq Basin.
where economic and social spheres operate at a household level but are reiterated throughout
the settlement. One approach is to elucidate the social aspects of an economic activity
such as herding; these aspects might include the daily and seasonal round of tasks; the organisational
framework that matches animal needs to resources; the changing attitudes to animals
and landscape.
Two methods in combination — analysis of oxygen isotopes and dental microwear in
archaeological sheep teeth — offer a powerful tool for investigating herding practices at high
spatial and temporal resolution when understood within sheep ethology and palaeoenvironmental
reconstruction. Temporal and spatial data-patterning, alongside interpretation of the
archaeological record, allow insights into herding as a component of society. The case-study is
Neolithic Çatalhöyük East, in central Anatolia on the fringes of the south-west Asia exchange
network. A reliance on sheep throughout the 1200 years of occupation provides the opportunity
to examine successful herding practices.*
Neolithic hunter–gatherers in the east Jordan steppe. The seasonal mobility of this taxon in
the Levant is poorly understood, especially for early prehistory when herd movements would
have influenced hunter-gatherer use of the steppes. This paper proposes four patterns of
seasonal herd mobility for G. subgutturosa centred on Jordan’s Azraq Basin. The four patterns
are modelled using oxygen, carbon and strontium stable isotopes. Seasonal environmental
signatures of each are understood through carbon and strontium isotopic variation in
sixty modern plant specimens collected from twelve selected locations in north Jordan,
published data on oxygen isotopes in local precipitation, and the adaptive behaviour of
G. subgutturosa. The integrated isotopic datasets provide clear discriminatory markers for
each proposed mobility pattern. Results will be applied in future to isotopic data from
archaeological gazelle teeth from the Azraq Basin.
where economic and social spheres operate at a household level but are reiterated throughout
the settlement. One approach is to elucidate the social aspects of an economic activity
such as herding; these aspects might include the daily and seasonal round of tasks; the organisational
framework that matches animal needs to resources; the changing attitudes to animals
and landscape.
Two methods in combination — analysis of oxygen isotopes and dental microwear in
archaeological sheep teeth — offer a powerful tool for investigating herding practices at high
spatial and temporal resolution when understood within sheep ethology and palaeoenvironmental
reconstruction. Temporal and spatial data-patterning, alongside interpretation of the
archaeological record, allow insights into herding as a component of society. The case-study is
Neolithic Çatalhöyük East, in central Anatolia on the fringes of the south-west Asia exchange
network. A reliance on sheep throughout the 1200 years of occupation provides the opportunity
to examine successful herding practices.*