Dog anatomical part analysis: Data and results.

At the renowned archaeological site of Mycenae, striking depictions of animals in ancient art and architecture, such as the ‘Lion Gate’, reflect the great power of elite residents in the Late Bronze Age. To better understand how social complexity relates to human-animal interactions at Mycenae, more research is needed on the animals who actually lived there. In a first for the archaeological site of Mycenae, we utilized a contextual taphonomic approach and statistical analysis to study a faunal assemblage, focusing on a massive deposit recovered from a well feature located in Room Π of Petsas House. Petsas House was an industrial-residential complex at Mycenae used at least in part by ceramic artisans at the time of its destruction in the Late Helladic IIIA2 period. Intra-contextual analysis of the animal remains detected sub-assemblages with variable histories of animal use and deposition. The results revealed multiple disposal events and possible dog interments. Most of the refuse in the well likely originated from rubbish piles in the surrounding rooms and periphery that were cleaned after a destructive earthquake. Together, the faunal evidence yielded a more nuanced, possibly seasonal picture of animal access than previously available at this important political center. The results provide new insights into the diverse and resilient resource provisioning strategies available to extra-palatial residents of Mycenae, especially those who participated in craft production and trade networks at the height of the palatial period.

在著名的考古遗址迈锡尼（Mycenae），古代艺术与建筑中极具视觉冲击力的动物形象——如狮子门（Lion Gate）——折射出青铜时代晚期当地精英阶层的雄厚权势。为进一步厘清迈锡尼社会复杂性与人类-动物互动间的关联，学界仍需针对曾在此地栖息的动物开展更多研究。
本研究首次针对迈锡尼遗址采用情境埋藏学方法（contextual taphonomic approach）与统计分析手段，对一处动物遗存组合（faunal assemblage）展开研究，重点分析了从佩察斯屋（Petsas House）Π室出土的大型井状堆积。佩察斯屋是迈锡尼的一处工业-住宅混合建筑群，在晚希期（Late Helladic IIIA2）被毁时，至少有一部分区域为制陶工匠所使用。
对这批动物遗存开展的情境内分析（intra-contextual analysis），识别出了具有不同动物利用与堆积历史的亚组合。研究结果揭示了多轮动物遗骸弃置事件，以及疑似犬只埋葬的遗存。井内的绝大多数废弃物，大概率源自周边房间与区域内的垃圾堆，这些垃圾堆在一场破坏性地震后被清理入井。
综合来看，这批动物遗存为我们呈现了比此前该重要政治中心所获资料更为细致入微、且可能带有季节特征的动物资源利用图景。本研究结果为迈锡尼宫殿外围居民（extra-palatial residents）——尤其是在宫殿鼎盛时期参与手工业生产与贸易网络的群体——所采用的多元且韧性十足的资源供给策略，提供了全新的认知视角。