Sex in the city: Uncovering sex-specific management of equine resources from prehistoric times to the Modern Period in France - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia Access content directly
Journal Articles Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports Year : 2022

Sex in the city: Uncovering sex-specific management of equine resources from prehistoric times to the Modern Period in France

Jean-Marc Aury
Pierre Bodu
Sylvain Foucras
Aude Perdereau
  • Function : Author
Marilyne Salin
  • Function : Author
Christian Vallet
  • Function : Author
Patrick Wincker
  • Function : Author

Abstract

Sex identification from fragmentary archeozoological assemblages is particularly challenging in the Equid family, including for horses, donkeys and their hybrids. This limitation has precluded in-depth investigations of sex-ratio variation in various temporal, geographic and social contexts. Recently, shallow DNA sequencing has offered an economical solution to equine sex determination, even in environments where DNA preservation conditions is not optimal. In this study, we applied state-of-the-art methods in ancient DNA-based equine sex determination to 897 osseous remains in order to assess whether equal proportions of males and females could be found in a range of archeological contexts in France. We found Magdalenian horse hunt not focused on isolated bachelors, and Upper Paleolithic habitats and natural traps equally balancing sex ratios. In contrast, Iron Age sacrificial rituals appeared to have been preferentially oriented to male horses and this practice extended into the Roman Period. During Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Modern Period, cities emerged as environments largely dominated by horse males. This strong sex-bias was considerably reduced, and sometimes even absent, in various rural contexts. Combined with previous archaeozoological work and textual evidence, our results portray an urban economy fueled by adult, often old, males, and rural environments where females and subadults of both sexes were maintained to sustain production demands.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
Clavel et al_Sex in the city_JASreports2022.pdf (3.48 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origin : Files produced by the author(s)

Dates and versions

halshs-03755076 , version 1 (18-11-2022)

Identifiers

Cite

Benoît Clavel, Sébastien Lepetz, Lorelei Chauvey, Stéphanie Schiavinato, Laure Tonasso-Calvière, et al.. Sex in the city: Uncovering sex-specific management of equine resources from prehistoric times to the Modern Period in France. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022, 41, pp.103341. ⟨10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103341⟩. ⟨halshs-03755076⟩
264 View
33 Download

Altmetric

Share

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More