Animal Remains and Human–animal–environment Relationships at Early Neolithic Bestansur and Shimshara

Bendrey, Robin; Neer, Willem Van; Bailón, Salvador; Rofes, Juan; Herman, Jeremy S.; Morlin, M; Moore, Thomas

doi:10.2307/j.ctv2npq9gd.19

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…of Croft et al, 2017), however, this mention was not accompanied by any figure or description. Outside Europe, Malpolon has an also poor fossil record, confined exclusively to the late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene of Morocco (Bailon, 2000), the Late Pleistocene of Iraq (Bendrey et al, 2020), Israel (Biton et al, 2019; Lev et al, in press), and Morocco (Bailon & Aouraghe, 2002), and the Holocene of Israel (Biton et al, 2021) and Morocco (Stoetzel et al, 2008); the genus is probably also present in the Late Pleistocene of Iran (Mashkour et al, 2009), however, this mention was not accompanied by any figure or description.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First occurrence ofPsammophis(Serpentes) from Europe witnesses another Messinian herpetofaunal dispersal from Africa – biogeographic implications and a discussion of the vertebral morphology of psammophiid snakes

Georgalis

Szyndlar

2022

The Anatomical Record

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We here describe abundant new snake material from the late Miocene (MN 13) of Salobreña, Spain. Vertebral morphology suggests a referral of the specimens to the extant psammophiid Psammophis, documenting the first occurrence of this genus in Europe. The diversity and disparity across the vertebral morphology of different psammophiid genera are discussed. We identify vertebral features that could diagnose Psammophis and therefore enable the recognition of the genus in the fossil record. A comparison of the new Spanish form with other taxa is conducted. We provide a detailed review of the psammophiid fossil record. Material previously described from the middle Miocene of Beni Mellal, Morocco is here tentatively referred to as ?Psammophis sp., an action that renders that occurrence as the oldest (probable) record of the genus and Psammophiidae as a whole, providing thus a potential calibration point. On the other hand, Eastern European Pliocene material that had been previously supposedly referred to Psammophis is here discarded as being rather fragmentary, not affording any more precise determination. The two psammophiid genera Psammophis and Malpolon appear almost simultaneously in the European fossil record (MN 13), with the former achieving only a short‐lived and apparently geographically limited distribution in the continent, while the latter still exists in its modern herpetofauna. We assess biogeographic implications of the new find, suggesting a direct dispersal event from northwestern Africa to the Iberian Peninsula during the late Miocene, facilitated by the Messinian Salinity Crisis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First occurrence ofPsammophis(Serpentes) from Europe witnesses another Messinian herpetofaunal dispersal from Africa – biogeographic implications and a discussion of the vertebral morphology of psammophiid snakes

Georgalis

Szyndlar

2022

The Anatomical Record

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“…It is possible that the variation in occlusal wear planes may reflect the varied dietary resources cultivated in the area at this time. Archeological evidence from Bestansur indicates use of a broad range of animals, both wild and domesticated (Bendrey et al, 2020 ). Evidence of plant foods being processed at Bestansur include cereal grains such as glume and free threshing wheats, and wild plant remains including nuts and fruits (Whitlam et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The zooarcheological evidence from Bestansur indicates a community in the early phases of adopting goat and pig management, while utilizing a wide range of wild animals from wetlands, woodlands, and open areas (Bendrey et al, 2020; de Groene et al, 2021). Fecal evidence of grazing of herbivores and wild boar or pig provide further evidence of early animal management (Elliot, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early evidence of extra‐masticatory dental wear in a Neolithic community at Bestansur, Iraqi Kurdistan

Walsh

2022

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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This paper presents the first evidence of extra-masticatory dental wear from Neolithic Bestansur, Iraqi Kurdistan (7700-7200 BC). Bestansur is a rare, recently excavated burial site of this period in the Zagros region, of Iraqi Kurdistan. A total of 585 teeth from 38 individuals were analyzed for features indicative of activities including oblique wear planes, notches, grooves, and chipping. Indications of extra-masticatory wear were found in 27 of 38 individuals, and 277 of 585 teeth (47%) available for study. The most frequent features were chipping and notches suggesting activities such as processing fibers by using the teeth as a "third hand." Evidence for these wear features was present in both males, females, and in children aged five and older. These aspects of childhood life-course and dentition are rarely investigated. The presence of dental wear features in the deciduous dentition can indicate an age range at which activities began in different groups and highlights the importance of including juvenile remains in such studies. The variety of forms of dental wear may relate to the mixed diet and activities of these people. This study adds to our understanding of human behaviors and socio-cultural aspects of life during this transitional period.

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Pigs in the Neolithic of the Eastern Fertile Crescent: New evidence from Pre‐Pottery Neolithic Bestansur and Shimshara, Iraqi Kurdistan (7800–7100 BC)

Groene

Bendrey

Matthews

2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Pigs are one of the earliest domesticated livestock species, first domesticated at least 10,000 years ago. The domestication of wild boar, including associated morphological changes, is a long process over several millennia. Across Southwest Asia, management, domestication, and the adaption of the different livestock species was a highly localized process, influenced by both cultural and environmental factors.This paper explores the size, age, and diet of the suids of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic sites of Bestansur and Shimshara in order to further our understanding of the origins of suid management in the Neolithic Eastern Fertile Crescent. Our data suggest that the relationship between wild boar and humans was more complex than a strict hunter-prey relationship. This study demonstrates that the Neolithic in the Zagros was not uniform in the adaption and exploitation of different animals.

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Animal Remains and Human–animal–environment Relationships at Early Neolithic Bestansur and Shimshara

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

First occurrence ofPsammophis(Serpentes) from Europe witnesses another Messinian herpetofaunal dispersal from Africa – biogeographic implications and a discussion of the vertebral morphology of psammophiid snakes

First occurrence ofPsammophis(Serpentes) from Europe witnesses another Messinian herpetofaunal dispersal from Africa – biogeographic implications and a discussion of the vertebral morphology of psammophiid snakes

Early evidence of extra‐masticatory dental wear in a Neolithic community at Bestansur, Iraqi Kurdistan

Pigs in the Neolithic of the Eastern Fertile Crescent: New evidence from Pre‐Pottery Neolithic Bestansur and Shimshara, Iraqi Kurdistan (7800–7100 BC)

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