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Archaeological and molecular evidence for ancient chickens in Central Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Carli Peters

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology)

  • Kristine K. Richter

    (Harvard University)

  • Shevan Wilkin

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    University of Zurich)

  • Sören Stark

    (New York University)

  • Basira Mir-Makhamad

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology)

  • Ricardo Fernandes

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Masaryk University
    University of Warsaw
    Princeton University)

  • Farhod Maksudov

    (Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences)

  • Sirojidin Mirzaakhmedov

    (Agency for Cultural Heritage)

  • Husniddin Rahmonov

    (Agency for Cultural Heritage)

  • Stefanie Schirmer

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology)

  • Kseniia Ashastina

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology)

  • Alisher Begmatov

    (Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
    University of Vienna
    Samarkand State University)

  • Michael Frachetti

    (Washington University in St Louis
    Northwest University)

  • Sharof Kurbanov

    (Archaeology and Ethnography named after Ahmad Donish of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan)

  • Michael Shenkar

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt Scopus
    New Uzbekistan University)

  • Taylor Hermes

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    University of Arkansas)

  • Fiona Kidd

    (New York University Abu Dhabi)

  • Andrey Omelchenko

    (State Hermitage Museum)

  • Barbara Huber

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, INRAE
    University of Tübingen)

  • Nicole Boivin

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Griffith University
    The University of Queensland)

  • Shujing Wang

    (Peking University)

  • Pavel Lurje

    (State Hermitage Museum)

  • Madelynn Baeyer

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology)

  • Rita Dal Martello

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology)

  • Robert N. Spengler

    (Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
    Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology)

Abstract

The origins and dispersal of the chicken across the ancient world remains one of the most enigmatic questions regarding Eurasian domesticated animals. The lack of agreement concerning timing and centers of origin is due to issues with morphological identifications, a lack of direct dating, and poor preservation of thin, brittle bird bones. Here we show that chickens were widely raised across southern Central Asia from the fourth century BC through medieval periods, likely dispersing along the ancient Silk Road. We present archaeological and molecular evidence for the raising of chickens for egg production, based on material from 12 different archaeological sites spanning a millennium and a half. These eggshells were recovered in high abundance at all of these sites, suggesting that chickens may have been an important part of the overall diet and that chickens may have lost seasonal egg-laying

Suggested Citation

  • Carli Peters & Kristine K. Richter & Shevan Wilkin & Sören Stark & Basira Mir-Makhamad & Ricardo Fernandes & Farhod Maksudov & Sirojidin Mirzaakhmedov & Husniddin Rahmonov & Stefanie Schirmer & Ksenii, 2024. "Archaeological and molecular evidence for ancient chickens in Central Asia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46093-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46093-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carl-Johan Rubin & Michael C. Zody & Jonas Eriksson & Jennifer R. S. Meadows & Ellen Sherwood & Matthew T. Webster & Lin Jiang & Max Ingman & Ted Sharpe & Sojeong Ka & Finn Hallböök & Francois Besnier, 2010. "Whole-genome resequencing reveals loci under selection during chicken domestication," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7288), pages 587-591, March.
    2. Chris J. Stevens, 2003. "An Investigation of Agricultural Consumption and Production Models for Prehistoric and Roman Britain," Environmental Archaeology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 61-76, April.
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