Louis Chaix

Mitochondrial DNA analysis shows a Near Eastern Neolithic origin for domestic cattle and no indication of domestication of European aurochs.

The extinct aurochs (Bos primigenius primigenius) was a large type of cattle that ranged over almost the whole Eurasian continent. The aurochs is the wild progenitor of modern cattle, but it is unclear whether European aurochs contributed to this process. To provide new insights into the demographic history of aurochs and domestic cattle, we have generated high-confidence mitochondrial DNA sequences from 59 archaeological skeletal finds, which were attributed to wild European cattle populations based on their chronological date and/or morphology. All pre-Neolithic aurochs belonged to the previously designated P haplogroup, indicating that this represents the Late Glacial Central European signature. We also report one new and highly divergent haplotype in a Neolithic aurochs sample from Germany, which points to greater variability during the Pleistocene. Furthermore, the Neolithic and Bronze Age samples that were classified with confidence as European aurochs using morphological criteria all carry P haplotype mitochondrial DNA, suggesting continuity of Late Glacial and Early Holocene aurochs populations in Europe. Bayesian analysis indicates that recent population growth gives a significantly better fit to our data than a constant-sized population, an observation consistent with a postglacial expansion scenario, possibly from a single European refugial population. Previous work has shown that most ancient and modern European domestic cattle carry haplotypes previously designated T. This, in combination with our new finding of a T haplotype in a very Early Neolithic site in Syria, lends persuasive support to a scenario whereby gracile Near Eastern domestic populations, carrying predominantly T haplotypes, replaced P haplotype-carrying robust autochthonous aurochs populations in Europe, from the Early Neolithic onward. During the period of coexistence, it appears that domestic cattle were kept separate from wild aurochs and introgression was extremely rare.

High-Precision Radiocarbon Dating Application to Multi-Proxy Organic Materials from Late Foraging to Early Pastoral Sites in Upper Nubia, Sudan

The study area presented in this paper comprises two geographical entities in northern Upper Nubia located between the Second and the Third Cataract of the Nile River: Sai Island and the Amara West district, on the present left bank of the river. Four sites, three at Sai Island and one in the Amara West district, were excavated. They represent three distinct archaeological complexes, named Arkinian, Khartoum Variant, and Abkan, which encompass a long time period from ca. 11,000 to 6000 cal years BP (9000–4000 BC) and range from late foraging to early pastoralism. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating was applied to multiproxy materials in order to provide a frame of reference for this important chronological and economic period in this area. Different types of materials were selected, namely wood charcoal, charcoal tempers in pottery, ostrich eggshell, and aquatic gastropod shells. Twenty-four new AMS radiocarbon dates are presented to (a) cross-check the accuracy and reliability of the chronology of late foraging and early pastoral sites in our study area; (b) integrate, update, and revise the previously available radiometric dates; and (c) reconstruct a comprehensive framework of the chronology of late foraging and early pastoralism in Upper Nubia.

Towards a Better Understanding of Sub-Saharan Settlement Mounds before AD 1400: The Tells of Sadia on the Seno Plain (Dogon Country, Mali)

Dans la boucle du Niger, plusieurs etudes ont montre l’existence de buttes anthropiques qui se sont developpees principalement entre le premier millenaire avant J.-C. et le 15eme siecle de notre ere. Bien que les connaissances sur les tells subsahariens aient recemment ete enrichies, de nombreuses questions restent a elucider. En effet, les don- nees chronostratigraphiques precises disponibles restent rares par rapport a la zone geographique et a la periode impliquees. Ce relatif manque de longues sequences limite fortement l’integration diachronique de donnees culturelles, economiques et environnementales, necessaire a la compre- hension des mecanismes sous-jacents a l’emergence et au developpement de ce type de sites. Dans cet article, nous presentons les resultats obtenus lors des fouilles que nous avons recemment menees sur un ensemble de buttes anthro- piques a Sadia, dans la plaine du Seno (Pays Dogon, Mali), qui ont permis de definir une sequence chronologique, culturelle et environnementale precise. L’integration de ce travail et des resultats d’une approche extensive menee dans l’ensemble du Pays Dogon depuis plus de 15 ans nous permet de proposer un scenario de l’occupation des tells du Seno, ainsi qu’une reflexion sur le developpement des societes rurales saheliennes et leurs interactions avec les premiers Etats de la boucle du Niger, avant 1400 AD.

The fauna from the UNO/BU excavations at Bieta Giyorgis (Aksum) in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: campaigns 1995-2003: Pre-Aksumite, 700-400 BC to Late Aksumite, AD 800-1200

The excavations of the joint mission of the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ and the Department of Archaeology at Boston University (USA) on the hill of Bieta Giyorgis at Aksum, Ethiopia, recovered numerous animal bones from various contexts dating from Pre-Aksumite to Late Aksumite levels, around 700 BC to AD 1200. The fauna is dominated by domestic mammals. Among them, cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus) are dominant. Age structure and butchering marks indicate an intense exploitation of these animals. Domestic caprines (sheep and goats) are also present. Their exploitation is focused on young individuals. Donkey, dog and domestic fowl were found in small numbers. Wild mammals are very rare. Long-distance contacts are illustrated by remains of marine fish and worked cowries from the Red Sea.