Human-cattle interactions in PPNB and Early/Middle Bronze Age Cyprus! integrating zooarchaeological and stable isotope data

Cattle domestication and subsequent spread caused unprecedented biological, economic, ecological and social transformations in human history. Cyprus was one of the first places domestic taurine cattle were transported to outside of their core domestication region, making it a “hotspot” in which to investigate cattle acclimatisation and management practices. Accumulated archaeological, iconographic and zooarchaeological evidence has shed much light on the economic and socio-ideological significance of cattle in prehistoric Cypriot society, particularly from the Early Bronze Age onwards. However, little information exists on the mechanisms through which prehistoric cattle breeders experimented with this new, large, multifunctional and symbolically potent animal. Here, we use an integrated approach that combines zooarchaeological and stable isotopic data to reconstruct human-cattle interactions and cattle management in an island context. Stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes were applied to a small sample (n = 16) of cattle (Bos sp.) and goat (Capra hircus) teeth from three key sites, spanning the Pre-pottery Neolithic B to the Middle Bronze Age. The results highlight discrepancies in patterns of isotopic variation between Bronze Age goat and cattle, likely reflecting differences in mobility and the more intensive management of cattle through the provision of fodder. Additionally, we observe differences in the isotope values of cattle through time (Neolithic vs. Bronze Age) and space (upland versus inland), which might be related to local resource availability as well as alterations in climate and environment. In spite of the small sample size, this current work highlights the potential of integrating zooarchaeological and stable isotopic data for addressing questions relevant to animal husbandry practices during key archaeological periods in Cyprus and beyond, inviting future research on the topic.