Unveiling ancient Jerusalem's pastoral dynamics (7th to 2nd centuries BCE) with multi-isotope analysis.

ABSTRACT: This study explores changes in pastoral practices in the Jerusalem region (Iron Age II - Late Hellenistic) through a multi-isotope approach (strontium, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen). Based on the analysis of 135 sheep, goat, and cattle teeth and bone samples from Givati Parking Lot we demonstrate the value of this method in reconstructing past animal husbandry, revealing adaptation and resilience of pastoral communities amidst environmental and socio-political changes. Isotopic analysis indicates local sourcing for most animals, with intriguing outliers from distant regions up to 150 km away, suggesting regional exchange networks. Notably, the Persian period (5th century BCE) exhibits a wider isotope range, implying increased flexibility and exploitation of diverse grazing lands, potential

SUBMITTER: Spiciarich A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11549383 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature