Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 45(special issue) 2002

Issue:

VOL 45(special issue) 2002

Keywords:

Birds, early Mesolithic, peat bog sites

Download PDF

Share this article:

Exploitation of birds in the early Mesolithic of Central Russia

• Mikhail Gennadievich ZHILIN
• Alexander Alfredovich KARHU

Abstract:

About 20 Mesolithic peat-bog sites have been discovered during last ten years by the Upper Volga expedition in Central Russia, 14 of them were excavated in which many bird bones were found. The present paper deals with avian remains from early Mesolithic layers. The most ancient one is the lower layer of Stanovoye 4 dated to the Younger Dryas by pollen analysis and to between 10300 and 10000 BP (uncalibrated) by C14. The lower layer of Ivanovskoye 7 is dated to the second quarter of the Preboreal by pollen analysis and to 9650 BP by C14 and layer III of Stanovoye 4 is dated to the late Preboreal by pollen analysis and to 9200 BP by C14. Thirty four bird species have been identified from these layers. Remains of waterfowl are the most abundant in all layers while Capercaillie also played an important role. Other avian species are represented by small numbers or by single bones. The palaeoecological data and the role of birds in economy of the early Mesolithic population is discussed.