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Evidence for early dispersal of domestic sheep into Central Asia

Author

Listed:
  • William T. T. Taylor

    (University of Colorado-Boulder
    Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History)

  • Mélanie Pruvost

    (Université de Bordeaux)

  • Cosimo Posth

    (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History
    University of Tübingen)

  • William Rendu

    (Université de Bordeaux
    Institute of Archaeology SB RAS)

  • Maciej T. Krajcarz

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Aida Abdykanova

    (American University of Central Asia)

  • Greta Brancaleoni

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Robert Spengler

    (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History)

  • Taylor Hermes

    (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History)

  • Stéphanie Schiavinato

    (Université Paul Sabatier)

  • Gregory Hodgins

    (University of Arizona)

  • Raphaela Stahl

    (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History)

  • Jina Min

    (Seoul National University)

  • Saltanat Alisher kyzy

    (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS
    Novosibirsk State University)

  • Stanisław Fedorowicz

    (University of Gdańsk)

  • Ludovic Orlando

    (American University of Central Asia)

  • Katerina Douka

    (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History)

  • Andrey Krivoshapkin

    (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS
    Novosibirsk State University)

  • Choongwon Jeong

    (Seoul National University)

  • Christina Warinner

    (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History
    Harvard University)

  • Svetlana Shnaider

    (Institute of Archaeology SB RAS
    Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS)

Abstract

The development and dispersal of agropastoralism transformed the cultural and ecological landscapes of the Old World, but little is known about when or how this process first impacted Central Asia. Here, we present archaeological and biomolecular evidence from Obishir V in southern Kyrgyzstan, establishing the presence of domesticated sheep by ca. 6,000 BCE. Zooarchaeological and collagen peptide mass fingerprinting show exploitation of Ovis and Capra, while cementum analysis of intact teeth implicates possible pastoral slaughter during the fall season. Most significantly, ancient DNA reveals these directly dated specimens as the domestic O. aries, within the genetic diversity of domesticated sheep lineages. Together, these results provide the earliest evidence for the use of livestock in the mountains of the Ferghana Valley, predating previous evidence by 3,000 years and suggesting that domestic animal economies reached the mountains of interior Central Asia far earlier than previously recognized.

Suggested Citation

  • William T. T. Taylor & Mélanie Pruvost & Cosimo Posth & William Rendu & Maciej T. Krajcarz & Aida Abdykanova & Greta Brancaleoni & Robert Spengler & Taylor Hermes & Stéphanie Schiavinato & Gregory Hod, 2021. "Evidence for early dispersal of domestic sheep into Central Asia," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(9), pages 1169-1179, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:9:d:10.1038_s41562-021-01083-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01083-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Claudia Chang & Sergei S. Ivanov & Perry A. Tourtellotte, 2022. "Landscape and Settlement over 4 Millennia on the South Side of Lake Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan: Preliminary Results of Survey Research in 2019–2021," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, March.

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