Что продавали мясные лавки Азака: как заполнены костями животных культурные напластования золотоордынского города
Meat Markets in Azak: Animal Bone Accumulation in the Cultural Layers of a Golden Horde City

Summary/Abstract: Animal bones found in the cultural layers of Golden Horde cities are remnants of meat consumption. Among domestic ungulates, cattle bones are most common, indicating that beef was the primary meat source. However, in some contexts, remains of small ruminants increase significantly within bone deposits. Typically, the main “meat” species, in order of prevalence, are cattle, small ruminants, and horses, with pig bones rarely encountered. In certain excavation samples, the proportion of cattle and horse bones drops while small ruminant bones can constitute up to 50% of the finds. These infills often contain nearly complete skeletal sets of small ruminants from butcher shops, with a notable abundance of fore and hind limb bones—select cuts favored for meat. This pattern is linked to medieval industries that processed ram hides; at times, urban slaughterhouses relocated closer to these city areas, resulting in increased mutton consumption and diverse bone accumulations.

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