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Abbona CC, Lebrasseur O, Prevosti FJ, Peralta E, González Venanzi L, Frantz L, Larson G, Gil AF, Neme GA. Patagonian partnerships: the extinct Dusicyon avus and its interaction with prehistoric human communities. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231835. [PMID: 38601034 PMCID: PMC11004678 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The southern Mendoza province, located in the northern region of Patagonia, was inhabited by hunter-gatherer groups until historic times. Previous archaeological studies have reported canid remains among faunal assemblages, which were assumed to be part of the human diet. However, the taxonomic identification and significance of these canids within human groups have raised questions. In this study, we used ancient DNA analysis, morphological examination and stable isotope analysis (δ13Ccol and δ15N) to re-evaluate the taxonomic assignment of a canid discovered at the Late Holocene burial site of Cañada Seca. Previous morphological identifications suggested that it belonged to the genus Lycalopex, but our results conclusively demonstrate that the individual belongs to the extinct fox species Dusicyon avus. This finding expands Dusicyon avus' known geographical distribution to Patagonia's northern extremity. Furthermore, statistical predictions based on genetic divergence undermine the hypothesis that hybridization between Canis and Dusicyon, facilitated by the introduction of domestic dogs, played a role in the extinction of Dusicyon species. On the other hand, our findings indicate that a Dusicyon avus individual shared a similar diet and was probably buried alongside humans, suggesting a close relationship between the two species during their lives and deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinthia C. Abbona
- Instituto de Evolución, Ecología Histórica y Ambiente (IDEVEA), UTN-CONICET, Avenue Gral. Urquiza 314, CP5600, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Ophélie Lebrasseur
- Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3TG, UK
| | - Francisco J. Prevosti
- Museo de Ciencias Antropológicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja (UNLaR), Avenue Luis M. de la Fuente S/N, La Rioja5300, Argentina
| | - Eva Peralta
- Instituto de Evolución, Ecología Histórica y Ambiente (IDEVEA), UTN-CONICET, Avenue Gral. Urquiza 314, CP5600, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Lucio González Venanzi
- Div. Arqueología, Anexo Museo, Laboratory 128 (FCNyM-UNLP), La Plata, Argentina, FHumyAr (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Laurent Frantz
- Graduate School Life Science Munich, Faculty of Biology/Biocenter, Grosshadernerstr, 2-4, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Munich, Germany
| | - Greger Larson
- Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3TG, UK
| | - Adolfo F. Gil
- Instituto de Evolución, Ecología Histórica y Ambiente (IDEVEA), UTN-CONICET, Avenue Gral. Urquiza 314, CP5600, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Gustavo A. Neme
- Instituto de Evolución, Ecología Histórica y Ambiente (IDEVEA), UTN-CONICET, Avenue Gral. Urquiza 314, CP5600, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina
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Piličiauskienė G, Skipitytė R, Micelicaitė V, Blaževičius P. Dogs in Lithuania from the 12th to 18th C AD: Diet and Health According to Stable Isotope, Zooarchaeological, and Historical Data. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1023. [PMID: 38612262 PMCID: PMC11011073 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This article presents the results of research that focused on the nutrition and related health issues of medieval and early modern dogs found in the territory of present-day Lithuania. In this study, we present bone collagen carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios for seventy-five dogs recovered from seven sites which were dated back to the between the 12th and 18th C AD. In addition, by studying the remains of almost 200 dogs, we were able to estimate changes in the sizes and morphotypes of canines across over 600 years. On the basis of stable isotope and historical data, as well as the osteometric analysis, we discuss the dietary patterns of different sizes and types of dogs from the sites related to different social strata and time periods. The results of our study demonstrate that the size, type, diet, and health of canines from different time periods and sociocultural environments varied. Overall, carbon isotopic signals indicate that dogs' diets were based on C3 plant environment foods (cereals and animals), while freshwater fish was more important for some individuals in coastal Klaipėda/Memelburg Castle. The stable isotope analysis supported the historical records, indicating that cereals were highly important in the diet of elite dogs. Meanwhile, urban dogs had a different nutrition. In the Middle Ages, the consumption of plant-based foods was likely higher compared to the early modern period. Our study also revealed that the diets of dogs did not correlate with individual size. Compared to pigs, dogs had a higher intake of animal foods in their diet. In general, the nutrition of the studied canines was similar to that of the rural human population of the same period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giedrė Piličiauskienė
- Department of Archaeology, Vilnius University, Universiteto St. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania; (R.S.); (V.M.); (P.B.)
| | - Raminta Skipitytė
- Department of Archaeology, Vilnius University, Universiteto St. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania; (R.S.); (V.M.); (P.B.)
- Isotopic Research Laboratory of Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanorių Ave. 231, 02300 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Viktorija Micelicaitė
- Department of Archaeology, Vilnius University, Universiteto St. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania; (R.S.); (V.M.); (P.B.)
| | - Povilas Blaževičius
- Department of Archaeology, Vilnius University, Universiteto St. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania; (R.S.); (V.M.); (P.B.)
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Laffranchi Z, Zingale S, Tecchiati U, Amato A, Coia V, Paladin A, Salzani L, Thompson SR, Bersani M, Dori I, Szidat S, Lösch S, Ryan-Despraz J, Arenz G, Zink A, Milella M. "Until death do us part". A multidisciplinary study on human- Animal co- burials from the Late Iron Age necropolis of Seminario Vescovile in Verona (Northern Italy, 3rd-1st c. BCE). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293434. [PMID: 38354185 PMCID: PMC10866530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal remains are a common find in prehistoric and protohistoric funerary contexts. While taphonomic and osteological data provide insights about the proximate (depositional) factors responsible for these findings, the ultimate cultural causes leading to this observed mortuary behavior are obscured by the opacity of the archaeological record and the lack of written sources. Here, we apply an interdisciplinary suite of analytical approaches (zooarchaeological, anthropological, archaeological, paleogenetic, and isotopic) to explore the funerary deposition of animal remains and the nature of joint human-animal burials at Seminario Vescovile (Verona, Northern Italy 3rd-1st c. BCE). This context, culturally attributed to the Cenomane culture, features 161 inhumations, of which only 16 included animal remains in the form of full skeletons, isolated skeletal parts, or food offerings. Of these, four are of particular interest as they contain either horses (Equus caballus) or dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)-animals that did not play a dietary role. Analyses show no demographic, dietary, funerary similarities, or genetic relatedness between individuals buried with animals. Isotopic data from two analyzed dogs suggest differing management strategies for these animals, possibly linked to economic and/or ritual factors. Overall, our results point to the unsuitability of simple, straightforward explanations for the observed funerary variability. At the same time, they connect the evidence from Seminario Vescovile with documented Transalpine cultural traditions possibly influenced by local and Roman customs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zita Laffranchi
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Umberto Tecchiati
- Dipartimento di Beni Culturali e Ambientali, PrEcLab—Laboratorio di Preistoria, Protostoria ed Ecologia Preistorica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alfonsina Amato
- Dipartimento di Beni Culturali e Ambientali, PrEcLab—Laboratorio di Preistoria, Protostoria ed Ecologia Preistorica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Valentina Coia
- Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alice Paladin
- Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Luciano Salzani
- Ex-Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici del Veneto, Settore territorio, Sede di Padova-Nucleo di Verona, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Marzia Bersani
- Thompson Simon scavi e rilevamenti archeologici, Verona, Italy
| | - Irene Dori
- Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Verona Rovigo e Vicenza, Verona, Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Sönke Szidat
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Lösch
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Ryan-Despraz
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Arenz
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Albert Zink
- Institute for Mummy Studies, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Marco Milella
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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