Multi-proxy analysis of waterlogged preserved Late Neolithic canine excrements

Tolar, Tjaša; Galik, Alfred; Bailly, Matthieu Le; Dufour, Benjamin; Caf, Nina; Toškan, Borut; Bužan, Elena; Zver, Lars; Janžekovič, Franc; Velušček, Anton

doi:10.1007/s00334-020-00805-y

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The presence of fish tapeworm eggs in 1 of the 19 coprolites suggests that the dog that deposited this piece of feces had previously eaten raw or undercooked freshwater fish and contracted fish tapeworm. This adds to our growing knowledge of parasites in Neolithic dogs (Tolar and Galik, 2019 ; Tolar et al ., 2020 ; Maicher et al ., 2021 ). While modern infection would lead to a high number of eggs in the feces, in ancient coprolites recovered from middens it is not uncommon for egg counts to be low, likely due to destruction of the eggs by fungi and insects over the centuries (see Ledger et al ., 2019 a for similar egg counts at a comparable Neolithic site).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intestinal parasites in the Neolithic population who built Stonehenge (Durrington Walls, 2500 BCE)

et al. 2022

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Durrington Walls was a large Neolithic settlement in Britain dating around 2500 BCE, located very close to Stonehenge and likely to be the campsite where its builders lived during its main stage of construction. Nineteen coprolites recovered from a midden and associated pits at Durrington Walls were analysed for intestinal parasite eggs using digital light microscopy. Five (26%) contained helminth eggs, 1 with those of fish tapeworm (likely Dibothriocephalus dendriticus) and 4 with those of capillariid nematodes. Analyses of bile acid and sterol from these 5 coprolites show 1 to be of likely human origin and the other 4 to likely derive from dogs. The presence of fish tapeworm reveals that the Neolithic people who gathered to feast at Durrington Walls were at risk of infection from eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish. When the eggs of capillariids are found in the feces of humans or dogs it normally indicates that the internal organs (liver, lung or intestines) of animals with capillariasis have been eaten, and eggs passed through the gut without causing disease. Their presence in multiple coprolites provides new evidence that internal organs of animals were consumed. These novel findings improve our understanding of both parasitic infection and dietary habits associated with this key Neolithic ceremonial site.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intestinal parasites in the Neolithic population who built Stonehenge (Durrington Walls, 2500 BCE)

et al. 2022

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“…Further evidence is provided by traces of burning, presumably caused by the bones being thrown into an open fire after removal of the soft tissues, and the presence of humeri with missing epiphyses and with traces of biting/gnawing. Further analysis is needed to clarify whether the humeri were damaged by humans or by dogs, considering that remains of bird bones were found in canine coprolites from local prehistoric pile dwelling settlements (Tolar et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How to cite this article: Janžekovic ˇ, F., Klenovšek, T., Mlíkovský, J., Toškan, B., & Velušc ˇek, A. (2021).…”

Section: Conflict Of Interestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eneolithic pile dwellers captured waterfowl in winter: Analysis of avian bone remains from two pile dwellings in Ljubljansko barje (Slovenia)

Janžekovič

Klenovšek

Mlíkovský

et al. 2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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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.

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“…(Trampuž-Orel Čufar, K., Merela, M., Krže, L., & Velušček, A.: Dendrochronology and absolute dating of pile-dwellings in Ljubljansko Barje & Heath, 2008). Raziskovanje pasjega koprolita je omogočilo tudi vpogled v vlogo človekovega prvega živalskega spremljevalca v skupnosti (Tolar et al, 2021;Velušček et al, 2020).…”

Section: Zaključki Conclusionunclassified

Dendrokronologija in absolutno datiranje kolišč na Ljubljanskem barju

Čufar¹,

Merela²,

Krže³

et al. 2022

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Na 16 koliščih na Ljubljanskem barju v Sloveniji je bilo med leti 1995 in 2021 z arheološkimi izkopavanji zbranih več kot 8.800 vzorcev z vodo napojenega arheološkega lesa. Večina vzorcev je bilo odvzetih iz pilotov, zabitih v zemljo, na katerih so bila zgrajena bivališča. Približno 20 % vzorcev je bilo iz lesa hrasta (Quercus sp.) in jesena (Fraxinus sp.), z več kot 45 branikami, ki jih je bilo mogoče vključiti v dendrokronološke analize in sestaviti kronologije širin branik za večino najdišč. Datiranje z uporabo dendrokronologije, radiokarbonskega datiranja in metode wiggle matching ter telekonekcije z nemško-švicarsko referenčno kronologijo so omogočili na leto natančno absolutno datiranje hrasta v časovnem okviru 3771–3330 pr. Kr. (kronologija BAR-3330), medtem ko so bili natančni radiokarbonski datumi pridobljeni za kronologije, ki pokrivajo obdobji 3285–3109 ± 14 kal. pr. Kr. (SG-VO) in 2659–2417 ± 18 kal. pr. Kr. (ZA-QUSP1). Potencial kronologij jesena, zlasti tistih iz 3. tisočletja pr. Kr., kjer ta vrsta prevladuje, še ni bil v celoti izkoriščen.

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Multi-proxy analysis of waterlogged preserved Late Neolithic canine excrements

Cited by 8 publications

References 27 publications

Intestinal parasites in the Neolithic population who built Stonehenge (Durrington Walls, 2500 BCE)

Intestinal parasites in the Neolithic population who built Stonehenge (Durrington Walls, 2500 BCE)

Eneolithic pile dwellers captured waterfowl in winter: Analysis of avian bone remains from two pile dwellings in Ljubljansko barje (Slovenia)

Dendrokronologija in absolutno datiranje kolišč na Ljubljanskem barju

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