Seasonal enclosures of the South Urals: parameters of osteological material and bone surface modifications of livestock bones

Abstract

The article is devoted to the description of the main characteristics of the osteological complexes of modern operating and abandoned summer livestock pens. The main goal of the work is to try to identify stable markers of bone material, which will be used in future archaeological research to determine the functional purpose of the monument under study. Another goal of the work is to identify all possible forms of the impact of domestic animals on the bones. The study showed that one of the most stable markers of osteological complexes of modern pens are bones with traces of the impact of cattle and caprines. This work proposes to use osteophagy markers of domestic ungulates as a reliable indicator of livestock activity and the location of livestock stabling. The article also presents diagnostic criteria for distinguishing between bone modifications that are left behind by cattle, caprines and herding dogs.