Small carnivores may have constituted important part of hunter–gatherer nutrition in the Levant

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Small carnivores may have constituted important part of hunter–gatherer nutrition in the Levant

A recent study

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by Dr. Shirad Galmor and colleagues in Environmental Archaeology examined the role played by foxes and wildcats at the Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (EPPNB) site of Aḥihud (Israel). The site was occupied between ca. 10,500 and 10,100 cal BP according to radiocarbon dates taken from two occupational layers.

Around this time, hunter–gatherer societies in the Levant were transitioning to a farmer lifestyle. This transition is called the Neolithic Revolution. Early signs of change had already been observable as early as the late Epi-Paleolithic (15,000–11,700 cal BP). These changes included a greater focus on small game animals such as gazelles and small carnivores like red foxes and wildcats.

However, the role these small animals played in the Late Natufian and early Neolithic economies of the southern Levant has rarely been examined in detail.

In 2012 and 2013, salvage excavations were conducted at the site of Aḥihud that unearthed various stone structures, lithics, legume seeds, and obsidian artifacts.

Intriguingly, among the 1,244 identified animal bone fragments were a large number of small carnivore remains, including red fox, wildcat, beech marten, Egyptian mongoose, European badger, and various mustelids (belonging to the family of badgers, weasels, and martens).

“The quantity of small carnivore remains (particularly foxes), together with the amount of cut mark identified on those remains, intrigued me enough to start researching it separately,” said Dr. Galmor.

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Red fox humerus (#831) with cut marks and burn signs. Credit: Environmental Archaeology (2024). DOI: 10.1080/14614103.2024.2434425

Using a traditional taphonomic approach, the cut marks and burn marks on the bones were examined. The goal was to determine if the marks resulted from skinning or butchering processes.

It was determined that over 12% of fox remains and 19% of wildcat remains had signs of cut marks. This is incredibly high, especially compared to the game animals, gazelles, and cape hares, which only exhibited 4.8 and 1.5% cut marks, respectively.

Additionally, it was determined that these marks were the result of both skinning and butchering practices. This meant that the inhabitants of Aḥihud were hunting small carnivores for their fur and meat.

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An aerial photograph of the excavated area (aerial photograph Sky Balloon, operator D. Gahali). EPPNB Living floors and domestic areas located on the eastern part of the excavation (C-F/12-19). Credit: Environmental Archaeology (2024). DOI: 10.1080/14614103.2024.2434425

In fact, the occurrence of burn marks on small carnivore bones further provides support for their use as food stuff.

This raises questions about the role of small carnivores in other southern Levantine sites. Up until now, these remains have received little attention; the scarce literature that is written about them usually considers these remains the result of hunting for fur.

More information:
Shirad Galmor et al, Small Carnivore Hunting in the Early Neolithic: A View from EPPNB Aḥihud (Western Galilee, Israel), Environmental Archaeology (2024).

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Small carnivores may have constituted important part of hunter–gatherer nutrition in the Levant (2025, January 20)
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#Small #carnivores #constituted #important #part #huntergatherer #nutrition #Levant

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