A biomolecular perspective on mobile pastoralism and its role in wider socioeconomic connections in the Chalcolithic South Caucasus

Antonosyan, Mariya, Maurer, Gwendoline, Mkrtchyan, Satenik, Boxleitner, Kseniia, Saribekyan, Mariam, Hovhannisyan, Anahit, Furquim, Laura, Stokes, Freg, Davtyan, Ruben, Bobokhyan, Arsen, Azatyan, Karen, Ilgner, Jana, Reinhold, Sabine, Frahm, Ellery, Spengler, Robert, Roberts, Patrick, Amano, Noel and Yepiskoposyan, Levon 2025. A biomolecular perspective on mobile pastoralism and its role in wider socioeconomic connections in the Chalcolithic South Caucasus. iScience 28 (6) , 112544. 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112544

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Abstract

Mobile pastoralism is widely evoked when discussing technological developments, resource procurement, trans-regional interactions, and exchange networks in the South Caucasus. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive multiproxy investigation of faunal and botanical remains from the Middle to Late Chalcolithic in southern Armenia, at the high altitude Yeghegis-1 site, to directly assess herd mobility and human subsistence practices. Our findings indicate that, alongside intensified interregional connectivity, the inhabitants practiced a rather sedentary form of multi-resource pastoralism, while maintaining herds at the site year-round. These results complement and expand upon models of pastoral mobility and its perceived crucial role in sustaining inter- and intraregional connectivity. We argue that alternative models of increased intra-regional connectivity, focused on exchange between different specialized settled economies, need to be considered and further research is essential to unravel the complex interplay between subsistence, trade, and socio-economic dynamics.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > History, Archaeology and Religion
Publisher:	Cell Press
ISSN:	2589-0042
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 May 2025
Date of Acceptance:	24 April 2025
Last Modified:	22 May 2025 13:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/178320

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