Ancient goat genomes reveal mosaic domestication in the Fertile Crescent.

Current genetic data are equivocal as to whether goat domestication occurred multiple times or was a singular process. We generated genomic data from 83 ancient goats (51 with genome-wide coverage) from Paleolithic to Medieval contexts throughout the Near East. Our findings demonstrate that multiple divergent ancient wild goat sources were domesticated in a dispersed process that resulted in genetically and geographically distinct Neolithic goat populations, echoing contemporaneous human divergence across the region. These early goat populations contributed differently to modern goats in Asia, Africa, and Europe. We also detect early selection for pigmentation, stature, reproduction, milking, and response to dietary change, providing 8000-year-old evidence for human agency in molding genome variation within a partner species

Ancient pigs reveal a near-complete genomic turnover following their introduction to Europe

Archaeological evidence indicates that pig domestication had begun by ~10,500 y before the present (BP) in the Near East, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) suggests that pigs arrived in Europe alongside farmers ~8,500 y BP. A few thousand years after the introduction of Near Eastern pigs into Europe, however, their characteristic mtDNA signature disappeared and was replaced by haplotypes associated with European wild boars. This turnover could be accounted for by substantial gene flow from local Euro-pean wild boars, although it is also possible that European wild boars were domesticated independently without any genetic con-tribution from the Near East. To test these hypotheses, we obtained mtDNA sequences from 2,099 modern and ancient pig samples and 63 nuclear ancient genomes from Near Eastern and European pigs. Our analyses revealed that European domestic pigs dating from 7,100 to 6,000 y BP possessed both Near Eastern and European nuclear ancestry, while later pigs possessed no more than 4% Near Eastern ancestry, indicating that gene flow from European wild boars resulted in a near-complete disappearance of Near East ancestry. In addition, we demonstrate that a variant at a locus encoding black coat color likely originated in the Near East and persisted in European pigs. Altogether, our results indicate that while pigs were not independently domesticated in Europe, the vast majority of human-mediated selection over the past 5,000 y focused on the genomic fraction derived from the European wild boars, and not on the fraction that was selected by early Neolithic farmers over the first 2,500 y of the domestication process

Archaeozoological report of the Persepolis West and Coucil Hall 2011-2013 excavations

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Subsistence economy in Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi (eastern Azerbaijan, Iran) during the Late Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age based on the faunal and botanical remains

This paper deals with the results obtained from the study of faunal and botanical remains from Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi (Iran). For archaeozoologists, the north-western part of Iran is one of the most important regions because of the abundance of bovines as well as ovicaprines. The traces of human activities are very well represented. Archaeobotanical studies are still rare in this area, but the first analysis of some recently excavated sites provide very interesting results and show the potential of this key area. This work present a multidisciplinary approach, which constitutes a first picture of interaction between human, animal and plants in Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi during the Late Chalcolithic represented by Sioni and Chaff‑faced traditions and the Early Bronze Age by Kura‑Araxes cultural tradition. In this regards, the presented material in this article would enhance our understanding of the subsistence economy of these traditions inside Iran, of which rarely is published.Cet article présente les résultats des études menées sur les restes fauniques et botaniques provenant de Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi (Iran). Pour les archéozoologues, le nord‑ouest de l’Iran est une région importante en raison de l’abondance de bovins et d’ovicaprins. Les indices d’activités humaines y sont très bien représentés. Si les études archéobotaniques sont encore rares dans cette région, les premières analyses de sites fouillés récemment donnent des résultats particulièrement intéressants et montrent le potentiel de cette région clé. Ce travail présente une approche multidisciplinaire, qui constitue une première image des interactions entre hommes, animaux et plantes à Kohneh Pasgah Tepesi durant le Chalcolithique récent, représenté par les traditions culturelles de type Sioni et Chaff‑Faced Ware, et l’âge du Bronze ancien, représenté par la tradition culturelle Kuro‑Araxe. Le matériel présenté dans cet article permettra d’améliorer notre compréhension des économies de subsistance de ces cultures en Iran, éléments jusqu’ici rarement publiés.مقاله حاضر به نتایج بدست آمده از مطالعات باستان جانورشناختی و باستان گیاه شناختی محوطه باستانی کهنه پاسگاه تپه سی در شمال غرب ایران می پردازد. شمال غرب ایران به دلیل فراوانی گاو وهم چنین گوسفند سانان، یکی از مهمترین مناطق از دیدگاه باستان‌جانورشناختی به شمار می رود. آثار فعالیت های انسانی بر روی بازمانده های حیوانی این محوطه به خوبی قابل مشاهده است. با وجود اینکه مطالعات باستان گیاه شناختی در این منطقه بسیار کم بوده است، اما تجزیه و تحلیل اولیه در چند محوطه که به تازگی مورد کاوش قرار گرفته اند حاوی نتایج بسیار جالبی است که اهمیت این منطقه را بخوبی نشان می دهد. مطالعه حاضر رویکردی چند جانبه شامل تقابل بین انسان، جانور و گیاه در این محوطه در طی دوره مس و سنگی متاخر که با سفال سیونی و کاه رو و عصر مفرغ قدیم که با فرهنگ کورا- ارس شناخته می شود، می باشد. بنابراین با مطالعه مواد فرهنگی محوطه کهنه پاسگاه تپه سی به شناخت بهتری در مورد اقتصاد معیشت در فرهنگ های این دو دوره در ایران دست خواهیم یافت

The archaeozoology of the Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic site of Qasr-e Ahmad (Iran).

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Sharing taste and know-how: Regional distribution of animal exploitation patterns and pastoral strategies in the Southern Caucasus and Northwestern Iran from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age

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Sharing taste and know-how: Regional distribution of animal exploitation patterns and pastoral strategies in the Southern Caucasus and Northwestern Iran from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age

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Herding and hunting in north-western Iran and adjacent areas from Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age

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Herding and hunting in north-western Iran and adjacent areas from Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age

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Ancient DNA refines taxonomic classification of Roman equids north of the Alps, elaborated with osteomorphology and geometric morphometrics

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