Животноводство у населения Южного Казахстана в средневековье
Animal Husbandry among the Population of Southern Kazakhstan in the Middle Ages

Summary/Abstract: An analysis was conducted of representative samples of bone remains from domestic ungulates recovered at 24 medieval settlements in Southern Kazakhstan of three types: rural villages, fortified towns, and tortkuls (fortified enclosures). The settlements are located in five regions: the valleys of the Ili, Chu, Talas, and Syr Darya rivers, as well as the Tashkent oasis. The study examined the species composition of domestic ungulates, the ratio of remains of large and small cattle and horses, and the slaughter age of both large and small cattle. At most settlements, the ratio of juvenile to adult animals is close to 1:1, although some sites show markedly different proportions. In the majority of settlements, the remains of small cattle are the most numerous, followed by large cattle, while horse bones are usually the least frequent. Camel bones were not found at all sites, and donkey bones were absent in the easternmost region. The influence of geographic location, settlement type, cultural chronological factors, and socio economic conditions on the ratios of cattle and horse remains was considered. Settlement type, geographic, and cultural chronological factors affected the ratios within individual regions. The socio economic factor had little impact in the easternmost region but exerted a strong influence in the western regions. At certain settlements, socio economic conditions also affected the age composition of both large and small cattle.

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