Caprine bone density test: 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冲击力的动物形象——比如「狮子门」（Lion Gate）——彰显了青铜时代晚期迈锡尼精英阶层的雄厚权势。为深入探究迈锡尼社会复杂性与人类-动物互动之间的关联，学界需针对曾在此地生存的动物开展更多研究。本研究在迈锡尼考古遗址尚属首次：我们采用语境埋藏学方法（contextual taphonomic approach）与统计分析手段，对一处动物群组合（faunal assemblage）展开研究，重点分析从佩察斯宅邸（Petsas House）Π号房间内出土的大型井窖遗迹堆积物。佩察斯宅邸是迈锡尼一处商住复合建筑群，在迈锡尼晚期陶器分期IIIA2阶段（Late Helladic IIIA2 period）因遭破坏而废弃，当时至少有部分制陶工匠在此活动。对动物遗骸的语境内分析显示，存在不同动物利用与堆积历史的亚群组合。研究结果揭示了多次动物遗骸丢弃事件，以及疑似犬只墓葬的遗存。该井窖中的大部分废弃物，大概率源自周边房间与外围区域的垃圾堆，这些垃圾在破坏性地震后被清理至此。综合来看，这批动物群遗存为我们呈现了比过往更为细致的动物资源获取图景，甚至可能揭示出季节性特征——这一发现源自这座重要的政治中心遗址。本研究结果为迈锡尼宫城外居民——尤其是那些在宫殿鼎盛时期参与手工业生产与贸易网络的居民——所采用的多元且富有韧性的资源供给策略提供了全新认知。