AviArch will focus on two case studies (CS): the Epipalaeolithic/Neolithic transition in Southwest Asia (CS1) and the Bronze Age in Crete (CS2).
CS1 is a key area for the investigation of the shift from hunting and foraging to farming c. 13,000-6,500 cal BCE.
● Shkārat Msaied (~8,300–8,000 cal BCE) is located on the Eastern slope of the Jordanian rift-valley in present-day southern Jordan and dates to the Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B. Preliminary results suggest that 97% of the avifaunal assemblage is birds of prey, similar to other Levantine sites.
● Shubayqa 1 (~12,600–10,000 cal BCE) and Shubayqa 6 (~10,400–8,600 cal BCE) are located in the basalt desert of eastern Jordan around the edge of a now dried up wetland. Occupational phases correspond to semi-subterranean, basalt paved structures and associated activity areas. Previous work demonstrated the potential of avian osteological remains in reconstructing localised environmental shifts as well as revealing the practice of intensive hunting of wintering waterfowl, which was processed in order to ensure its preservation for the leaner summer season.
Yeomans and Demarchi have also conducted a biomolecular pilot study on eggshell from the same site, finding the first evidence for breeding Anatidae in the late Pleistocene/early Holocene of eastern Jordan.
● Çatalhöyük (~7,100–6,000 cal BCE) is a large tell site consisting of successive layers of mud-brick structures that has been extensively investigated. The site is located in the Konya plain of Central Anatolia and during occupation the site was situated in a mosaic of wet and dry environs. Osteological and eggshell have been partially published.
● Boncuklu Höyük (~8,300–7,800 cal BCE) close to Çatalhöyük in a steppe mosaic environment with the immediate environs including streams, lakes, and wetlands, has several phases of semicircular structures and associated occupational deposits.
● Pınarbașı (~14-12,000, ~10-9,000 and ~7,000 cal BCE) Konya Plain, Central Anatolia consists of a series of rock-shelters with an open-air promontory projecting towards a spring fed lake and marsh area. A large avifaunal assemblage has been partially studied showing the importance of ducks and geese in the earliest phases of occupation as the site was occupied by seasonal foragers.
CS2 Bronze Age (BA) Crete saw the rise, flourishing and collapse of the Minoan civilization (ca. 3100–1050 BCE).
● Palaikastro. Complex coastal settlement lacking a palace, with evidence of agricultural activities, hub of vibrant trade of exotic materials, including ivory, close to important ritual places – from Early Minoan to Post Palatial; materials available come from the British School at Athens/McGillivray excavations. Bird remains attested in more than 200 environmental samples, stored and available for study at the Agios Antonios Research Centre.
● Malia. One of the most important palatial sites in BA Crete, spanning the whole period from Prepalatial to Neopalatial; geomorphological studies showed that a marsh area developed from the early Holocene, was impacted by the Santorini tsunami, and remained quite stable from there onwards. The marsh is now protected as it is a hotspot for bird observations (ebird.org). Bird remains have been documented from House Pi (Pomadère excavations).
● Chania. The old settlement of Kydonia was occupied throughout the BA with evidence for an extensive and important settlement until the Post Palatial period; indeed Chania flourished in the period after the widespread destruction/abandonment affecting most sites during Late Minoan IIIB.
