Stable Isotopes and Herding Strategies in Middle Uruk Period in Tell Humeida (Syrian Euphrates Valley)

The techniques of agriculture and animal husbandry at Tell Humeida, a Middle Uruk Period (Late Chalcolithic) site on the middle Syrian Euphrates, were studied using stable isotopes bone collagen domestic wild mammals from cereal ruderal plant seeds. Two archaeological campaigns in 2009 2011 yielded small collection bones, most which taxonomically indeterminable. work had to be interrupted due political conflict. faunal study comprised peptide fingerprinting for taxonomic identification, followed by isotopic analysis. Multiple 14C dating performed date infill around 3600 cal BC. An analysis sparse remains suggested that irrigation manuring common practices. Sheep equids predominated assemblage. grazed manured soils, their diet could include millet or another C4 plant, which, however, no carpological found. differed sheep but also other ungulates (cervids/gazelles). Their signatures indicated they humid areas, near watercourse. These finds settlement was closely linked availability water, made it possible grow crops an almost desert-like area, rearing sheep.