Fishes from excavations of the settlement of XIII-XII centuries near Vinohradnyi Sad village (Mykolaiv region, Ukraine)

Abstract

In the paper the data on the species composition of the fish fauna from the Vinoradnyi Sad settlement are presented. Their remnants have been fouond during the archaeological excavations. The settlement is located near the village of the same name (Domanovskyi district, Mykolaiv region). It belongs to Sabatinovska culture, and da­ted by the Late Bronze Age. Remnants of the 8 species belonging to 8 genera, 5 families and 5 orders (Acipenseriformes, Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, Esociformes, Perciformes) were identified. Pontic roach (Rutilus frisii) and European catfish (Silurus glanis) are presented by a majority of remnants as compared to other species. Body length and weight was reconstructed for some individuals of certain fish species. Based on the description of osteological material and its comparison with different-aged late Holocene ichthyocomplexes, it is assumed that fishery played an important role in ensu­ring the inhabitants of the Vinohradnyi Sad settlement by animal resources. The predominance of mature fish individuals suggests the use of different types of fishing gears.

Keywords

• cartilaginous ganoid fishes
• bony fishes
• Bronze Age
• fisheries
• Vino­hradnyi Sad
• Northern Black Sea region