- UMR 7209, Archéozoologie, Archéobotanique: Sociétés, Pratiques et Environnements.
CNRS / Muséum National d'Histoire NaturelleDépartement Ecologie et Gestion de la Biodiversité
Case postale 56
55 rue Buffon
75005 Paris - France
- Archaeozoology Iran, Bioarchaeology, Subsistence systems (Archaeology), Domestication (Zooarchaeology), Iranian Neolithic, Nomadism, and 11 moreIranian Paleolithic, Iranian Archaeology, Bovids (Zooarchaeology), Equids (Archaeology), Stable Isotope Analysis, Ancient DNA (Archaeology), Microvertebrate taphonomy, Paleoparasitology, Paleoecology, Central Asia, and Caucasusedit
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International audienceDuring the 1994 campaign of excavation in the interior of the site Mleiha (Sharja, U.A.E.), a necropole contemporaneous of the Greco-Roman period has been exposed, turning our attention to the privileged statute of... more
International audienceDuring the 1994 campaign of excavation in the interior of the site Mleiha (Sharja, U.A.E.), a necropole contemporaneous of the Greco-Roman period has been exposed, turning our attention to the privileged statute of some animals. Several human graves were indeed associated with camelids graves. In one case, one of the graves housed both a Camelid and an Equid. Anthropological studies will throw light on the specific Man/Animal relationships, still little unknown in this part of the world
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International audienceThis paper reports on a recent discovery of a cave-site with probable Middle Pleistocene remains that seems to be the first known Lower Paleolithic cave site in Iran. Darband Cave is located on the north side of a... more
International audienceThis paper reports on a recent discovery of a cave-site with probable Middle Pleistocene remains that seems to be the first known Lower Paleolithic cave site in Iran. Darband Cave is located on the north side of a deep canyon at southern slopes of Mount Dorfak, an extinct volcano at western Alborz. The site was discovered by V. Jahani in 2005, and revisited by Biglari, Jahani and Shidrang in 2006 who collected a sizeable number of faunal remains and 25 stone artifacts from disturbed deposit along the western wall of the cave.Flakes makeup the majority of the artefacts which mostly show some retouch that would allow us to classify them as marginal retouched flakes, scrapers, notched, awls, and end-scrapers. The collection also includes one core (core-chopper), some unretouched flakes, flake fragments, and debris. The faunal assemblage from the cave is dominated by cave bears, with a few ungulate remains. From the preliminary observations and considering the limited number of the bones it is possible to allocate these remains to Spelarctos deningeri. Remains of cave bears are absent at Palaeolithic cave-sites in the Zagros region and elsewhere in Iran; Draband Cave therefore represents the first evidence for this taxon from Iran. The presence of this carnivore at Darband Cave seems to be the farthest extension of the Caucasian population of Pleistocene cave bears to the southeast
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Gūnespān is located in the southeastern part of Malayer, in Hamadan Province in Iran. The main occupation occurred during the Bronze Age and Late Iron Age (Median) periods. The study of archaeozoological assemblages from these peri- ods... more
Gūnespān is located in the southeastern part of Malayer, in Hamadan Province in Iran. The main occupation occurred during the Bronze Age and Late Iron Age (Median) periods. The study of archaeozoological assemblages from these peri- ods revealed that sheep/goat and cattle constitute the bulk of the exploited animal resources, showing that these human communities were highly dependent on pastoralism. During the Iron Age, the role of cattle seems to have become more predominant, which might be an indication of agricultural development in this region. Also, another feature in common with other sites in Iran is the increase of suid remains, which shows the growing importance of domestic pig during the Iron Age. In parallel, equid remains are also more numerous. The same pattern is visible when comparing Gūnespān to Godin Tepe and Nush-i Jan. The identified wild species (12%), the majority of which are herbivores, belong to wild sheep (Ovis orientalis), wild goat (Capra aegagrus), red deer (Cervus elaphus maral) or Persian fallow deer (Dama dama mesopo- tamica), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and gazelle (Gazella cf. subgutturosa). Other identified wild taxa are wild or domestic cat (Felis silvestris/catus), hare (Lepus europaeus), heron (Ardea sp.), duck (Anatidae), and tortoise (Testudo graeca).
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The zooarchaeological study of the Neolithic site of Qasr-e Ahmad in Fars Province (southern Zagros, Iran) provides valuable evidence for a better understanding of the process of caprine domestication and dispersal in Southwest Asia.Goat... more
The zooarchaeological study of the Neolithic site of Qasr-e Ahmad in Fars Province (southern Zagros, Iran) provides valuable evidence for a better understanding of the process of caprine domestication and dispersal in Southwest Asia.Goat was the most commonly exploited animal in Qasr-e Ahmad during both phases of prehistoric settlement (Pre-Pottery Neolithic and Pottery Neolithic). Sheep were also present but represent a limited contribution to the subsistence economy at the site. Limited osteometric data from sheep suggest that they were already domesticated at the site, which is earlier than hitherto suggested for the region. Kill-off and osteometric data indicate that the majority of goats and sheep were managed using strategies known at other later sites in the region. Cattle and pig were not domesticated and were not regularly exploited. The location of the site next to the Qara Aqhaj permanent river, the presence of architectural remains in the PPN phases of the site, as well ...
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The house mouse (Mus musculus) is a polytypic species, with its geographic distribution largely the result of human migrations during the Late Glacial and Holocene. This study used geometric morphometry (GM) on upper and lower molars to... more
The house mouse (Mus musculus) is a polytypic species, with its geographic distribution largely the result of human migrations during the Late Glacial and Holocene. This study used geometric morphometry (GM) on upper and lower molars to discriminate among the three subspecies of the house mouse present in Iran. Moreover cranial remains of this species were uncovered on several archaeological sites of the Iranian Plateau. The GM results were applied to sub-fossil lower molars from Isfahan (Qaleh Bozi), Kordestan (Kani Mikaiil), Qazvin (Zagheh), and Jiroft (Konar Sandal). The present-day Iranian populations that have been previously separated into three subspecies (M. musculus musculus, M. musculus domesticus, and pro-castaneus type) by molecular studies can also be distinguished by dental geometric morphometrics. These ubspecies are distinguished by variation in the shape of the first and second upper molar (M1/, M2/) and the first lower molar (M/1). Comparison of these results to th...
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Mashkour Marjan. L'exploitation des équidés en Asie du Sud-Ouest. L'exemple de Qabrestan, un établissement du IVe millénaire, au nord du Plateau central iranien. In: Topoi. Orient-Occident. Supplément 2, 2000. Les animaux et les... more
Mashkour Marjan. L'exploitation des équidés en Asie du Sud-Ouest. L'exemple de Qabrestan, un établissement du IVe millénaire, au nord du Plateau central iranien. In: Topoi. Orient-Occident. Supplément 2, 2000. Les animaux et les hommes dans le monde syro-mésopotamien aux époques historiques
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Samotherium Major, 1888 (Giraffidae) is recorded from several late Miocene localities, primarily in the Balkans, the northern Black Sea region, Anatolia, central Asia and China. The first complete cranial material, with several mandibular... more
Samotherium Major, 1888 (Giraffidae) is recorded from several late Miocene localities, primarily in the Balkans, the northern Black Sea region, Anatolia, central Asia and China. The first complete cranial material, with several mandibular rami, and postcranials of Samotherium are described here from the Middle Maragheh sequence in northwest Iran. The Maragheh taxon appears metrically and morphologically similar to the smaller Samotherium taxon from the Samos Island (Greece) referred to as S. boissieri Major, 1888, type species of the genus. These new data trigger further discussion about the Iranian Samotherium record, including Alcicephalus Rodler & Weithofer, 1890, which was recently resurrected as a valid genus in the Maragheh fauna. Our analysis of the material referred to this genus indicates that Samotherium is the most likely attribution for the Maragheh A. neumayri Rodler & Weithofer, 1890. Differences between S. boissieri and S. neumayri are more pronounced in postcranial e...
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Abstract Protohistoric populations of the southern steppes experienced a series of significant changes in settlement and material culture between the Late Bronze Age (c. 1500 BC) and the end of the Iron Age. Analysis of new... more
Abstract Protohistoric populations of the southern steppes experienced a series of significant changes in settlement and material culture between the Late Bronze Age (c. 1500 BC) and the end of the Iron Age. Analysis of new archaeozoological data from Turkmen sites and re-examination of published data from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan reveal considerable economic flexibility and adaptive responses to the variety of ecosystems. They indicate that localised cultural choices, perhaps responding to local environmental constraints, persisted throughout this period, despite successive cultural or political shifts, including the Achaemenid conquest of the region in the sixth century BC.
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Les documentations iconographique et archeozoologique sont ici reunies afin de faire vivre les relations symboliques et materielles de la cite du Soleil a la periode parthe. Cette documentation met clairement en valeur l'importance de... more
Les documentations iconographique et archeozoologique sont ici reunies afin de faire vivre les relations symboliques et materielles de la cite du Soleil a la periode parthe. Cette documentation met clairement en valeur l'importance de la chasse d'une part et de l'elevage de l'autre, dans la societe hatreenne entre le l er s. av. J.-C. jusqu'a sa chute au Ill e s. ap. J.-C.
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A l'occasion des fouilles archeologiques effectuees pendant l'hiver et le printemps 1994 sur le site interieur de Mleiha (Sharja, E.A.U.), une necropole contemporaine de la periode greco-romaine a ete mise au jour, attirant... more
A l'occasion des fouilles archeologiques effectuees pendant l'hiver et le printemps 1994 sur le site interieur de Mleiha (Sharja, E.A.U.), une necropole contemporaine de la periode greco-romaine a ete mise au jour, attirant l'attention sur le statut privilegie de quelques animaux. En effet, des inhumations humaines etaient associees a des tombes a Camelides. Dans un cas, une tombe abritait simultanement un Camelides et un Equides. Les recherches archeozoologiques ainsi qu'anthropologiques jetteront la lumiere sur les liens particuliers entre l'Homme et l'Animal, encore peu connus dans cette partie de l'Orient.
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The recent study of the faunal remains from the Komishan cave in Southeast of the Caspian Sea provided new insight to the final Pleistocene fauna of the region that could be compared to the previously known late Pleistocene faunal... more
The recent study of the faunal remains from the Komishan cave in Southeast of the Caspian Sea provided new insight to the final Pleistocene fauna of the region that could be compared to the previously known late Pleistocene faunal assemblages from Belt, Hotu and Ali Tappeh caves. This paper provides a comparative analysis of these remains as a sketch for the definition of faunal exploitation by the Epiplaeolithic populations of this region. The first plausible radiocarbon date indicates an occupation during the 12 millennium B.C. The fauna of Komishan Cave bears many similarities with the other adjacent sites, with the exploitation of gazelles, birds, and marine resources. A common Epiplaelolithic "faciés culturel" can therefore be outlined in the southeast of the Caspian.
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Des données apportées par les fouilles archéologiques, des prospections de surface très denses, des recherches géo-archéologiques et l'exploitation de données satellitaires fournissent des paramètres permettant d 'appréhender... more
Des données apportées par les fouilles archéologiques, des prospections de surface très denses, des recherches géo-archéologiques et l'exploitation de données satellitaires fournissent des paramètres permettant d 'appréhender sur le long terme les interactions homme-...
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L 'évolution au cours de cinq millénaires des modes d'exploitation animale par les hommes préhistoriques de trois sites de la Plaine de Qazvin ([ran) sont examinés ici. La chasse, axée plus spécifiquement sur les équidés... more
L 'évolution au cours de cinq millénaires des modes d'exploitation animale par les hommes préhistoriques de trois sites de la Plaine de Qazvin ([ran) sont examinés ici. La chasse, axée plus spécifiquement sur les équidés sauvages et sur les gazelles avec un accroissement des premiers au ...
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Sheep/goat pastoralism is a constant and dominant feature of traditional societies in the Middle East, both sedentary and nomadic. The present paper addresses the development of pastoralism in the latter context. Several studies by... more
Sheep/goat pastoralism is a constant and dominant feature of traditional societies in the Middle East, both sedentary and nomadic. The present paper addresses the development of pastoralism in the latter context. Several studies by anthropologists document systems of herd ...
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L'etude morphometrique poussee des vestiges osseux animaux de trois sites de la plaine de qazvin, au nord du plateau central iranien, revele principalement l'existence d'une tres importante diversite taxinomique chez les... more
L'etude morphometrique poussee des vestiges osseux animaux de trois sites de la plaine de qazvin, au nord du plateau central iranien, revele principalement l'existence d'une tres importante diversite taxinomique chez les equides, notamment parmi les sous-especes d'hemiones (equus hemionus onager, e. H. Kulan, e. H. Binagadensis). Elle a d'importantes consequences biogeographiques, ecologiques et anthropologiques. L'analyse archeozoologique indique que, des le 6e millenaire av. J. -c. , les animaux d'elevage de la plaine de qazvin etaient les caprines et le buf, tres tot exploites pour les productions secondaires. Elle met par ailleurs en evidence des schemas d'exploitation animale atypiques par rapport aux autres regions de l'iran, notamment le zagros : bien que l'elevage reste toujours dominant, les taux de chasse sont tres importants des le neolithique et augmentent au chalcolithique et aux ages des metaux, evolution qui se manifeste notamment par une specialisation de la chasse sur les hemiones. Les principales especes chassees sont les caprines sauvages (ovis orientalis et capra aegagrus), la gazelle goitreuse (gazella subgutturosa), les equides (principalement e. Hemionus et e. Hydruntinus), ainsi que, secondairement, les suides. Ces resultats indiquent une exploitation intensive de divers milieux ecologiques a faible ou forte distance des sites. Enfin, l'analyse archeozoologique des assemblages des ages des metaux met en evidence l'existence de relations entre la region de qazvin l'est du territoire iranien et le sud de l'asie centrale.