Wild and Domestic Cattle in the Ancient Nile Valley: Marks of Ecological Change

ABSTRACT

Archaeological sites at Affad (Sudan) are the only ones in northeastern Africa providing ostological remains of both African aurochs (Bos primigenius), dated to 50 kya, and domestic cattle, dated to 7–6 kya. The evidence enables studies of behavioral diversity between taurids. Strontium isotope analyses of the tooth enamel of both Pleistocene and Holocene ruminants suggest the local origin of these animals. The archaeozoological analysis reveals the temporal variability of environmental conditions was linked to a humid climate during the Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS3), which was more humid than the dry fluctuations during the African Humid Period. In addition, changes in the phenotype of cattle indicate that humans influenced domesticated animal behavior in the sub-Saharan region.

KEYWORDS:

• archaeofauna
• Nile Valley
• Holocene
• Pleistocene
• strontium isotopes

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Polish National Science Centre, grant No. 2015/18/E/HS3/00416. Constructive comments by five anonymous reviewers and the journal Editor, Christina Luke, as well as linguistic support from Rodney Ast, contributed to the improvement of the manuscript and are gratefully acknowledged.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marta Osypinska

Marta Osypińska (Habilitation 2018, Warsaw University) is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences and an archaeozoologist focusing on studies of domesticated animals in northeastern Africa, as well as the hunting strategies of the late Pleistocene societies of Upper Nubia. Her research interests also include ancient animal economy and morphological changes linked to the environmental shifts of the past in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Piotr Osypinski

Piotr Osypinski (Ph.D. 2017, A. Mickiewicz University, Poznan) is an archaeologist at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences. His research interests include lithic technology, adaptation strategies, and the prehistory of northeastern Africa.

Zdzislaw Belka

Zdzislaw Belka (Habilitation 1992, University of Tübingen) is a Professor of Geology and Isotope Geochemistry at the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan and Director of the Isotope Laboratory. His research interests include neodymium and strontium isotope systems and their applications in geological, paleontological, environmental, and archaeological studies. He has a range of field research and publication experience, particularly on the geology of northern Africa and the isotope geochemistry of biogenic phosphates and carbonate rocks.

Marek Chlodnicki

Marek Chlodnicki, (Ph.D. 1984, A. Mickiewicz University, Poznań) is a senior curator of archaeology of Egypt and Sudan in the Poznań Archaeological Museum. His research interests are focused on the Neolithic of Sudan and Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt.

Paweł Wiktorowicz

Paweł Wiktorowicz (M.A. 1999, University of Lodz) is an archaeologist at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences. His research interests include spatial imaging and GIS methods in archaeology. ORCID: 0000-0002-3897-0948.

Robert Ryndziewicz

Robert Ryndziewicz (M.A. 2012, Maria Curie–Skłodowska University) is a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences. His research is focused on near-surface geophysics applied for archaeological prospection.

Michał Kubiak

Michał Kubiak (M.A. 2019, A. Mickiewicz University, Poznan) is a specialist at the XRD Laboratory, Institute of Geology, A. Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland.