How did livestock numbers change at Asikli Hoyuk over 1,000 years?

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Livestock Numbers at Asikli Hoyuk Increased Significantly Over a 1,000-Year Period

Between 10,400 and 9,700 years ago, the estimated quantity of urine produced at Asikli Hoyuk, a site in central Turkey, surged by a factor of ten to one thousand. This dramatic increase in urine salts, derived from sheep and goats, indicates a substantial rise in the scale and intensity of livestock keeping over a millennium. At some point during this period, the population of sheep and goats surpassed the human inhabitants of the village.
Dramatic Increase in Urine Salts

The analysis of urine salts trapped within sediment layers at Asikli Hoyuk provided a unique window into ancient herding practices. Initial settlement at the dawn of the Neolithic era saw the villagers possessing only a small number of animals. However, the period spanning 10,400 to 9,700 years ago witnessed a profound shift, with urine production escalating by a factor of 10 to 1000, as detailed in the study published in Science Advances.
Shift Towards Intensive Livestock Keeping

This substantial increase in urine salts directly correlates with a growing reliance on and management of livestock. The data clearly demonstrate a marked expansion in both the scope and intensity of livestock keeping at Asikli Hoyuk throughout this 1,000-year span. This transition signifies a move from minimal animal husbandry to a more dedicated and significant herding economy.
Livestock Outnumbered Humans

The scale of livestock keeping became so significant that, eventually, the number of sheep and goats present at Asikli Hoyuk exceeded the human population. This demographic shift underscores the central role that domesticated animals came to play in the lives of the village residents during this transformative period.
Implications for Understanding Domestication

The arid conditions at the Turkish site were instrumental in preserving the urine traces, making this innovative archaeological approach possible. The success of this method in revealing detailed insights into animal domestication suggests its potential applicability to other similarly preserved dry environments. Researchers hope this technique can be expanded to study sites where human presence predates significant animal management.

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How did livestock numbers change at Asikli Hoyuk over 1,000 years?

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