Medieval Avifauna of the Volga Delta based on Archaeozoological Materials from Excavations on the Samosdelka Settlement

Abstract

For the first time ornithological finds from archaeological excavations of the Samosdelka settlement from the horizon of the pre-Mongol city of Saqsin (XI – early XIII centuries) are introduced into scientific discourse in the article. The total number of bone remains consists of 162 fragments, 98% of the collection was identified. 17 species from 10 families were found. Domestic species include domestic chickens and geese, which were kept directly on city homesteads. Their bones showed traces of cutting. In meat consumption, the share of goose meat was close to or equal to that of chicken one. Wild birds were used for food much less than domestic birds. Remains of 15 species of wild birds were identified at the excavation site. They belong to the following ecological groups: waterfowl, semi-aquatic, wading birds predominate, then, in descending order, synanthropic birds, diurnal birds of prey and one steppe species. Active exploitation of the whole rich natural resource zone of the Lower Volga region by townspeople was revealed. Four species of birds, identified for the Middle Ages, are no longer found in the modern avifauna.

Keywords

• archaeology
• archaeozoology
• samosdelka settlement
• saqsin
• medieval avifauna
• life-suppor