Browsing by Author "Onar, Vedat"

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Citation - WoS: 0
Citation - Scopus: 0
Animal exploitation at the Olympos, southwestern Anatolia: Zooarchaeological analysis
(ScienceDirect, 2022) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Olcay-Uçkan, B. Yelda; Öztaşkin, Muradiye; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Öncü, Emre; Öztaşkin, Gökçen K.; Chrószcz, Aleksanderf; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
This study presents analysis of animal remains unearthed from 2006 to 2021 excavations at Olympos, an important city of ancient Lycia, southwestern Turkey. Seven faunal assemblages were unearthed from seven distinct areas of the city. Each of them was studied according to their distinct archaeological contexts. The zooarchaeological observation was based on taxonomic identification, species diversity, kill-off patterns, nature of bone modification, including taphonomic and anthropogenic marks, and type of species exploitation at the site. The results demonstrated that the majority of the specimens were consumption residues, comprising mainly of ungulate and carnivore mammals, birds and marine fish and mollusks. Goat remains were the most common in all the assemblages, which is consistent with common animal exploitation patterns in Anatolia. Fish bones mostly represented bonito (Sarda sarda), tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and shark (Carcharhinidae sp.). Among the mollusks, the shells of Triton trumpet, rarely found in the Roman-Byzantine Anatolia, were clearly used as trumpets. As Olympos was an important harbour with a strategic location by the Mediterranean Sea, its faunal remains shed new light on the coastal dietary habbit, animal economy, and cultural contacts in the Roman and Early Byzantine periods in Anatolia.
Citation - WoS: 4
Citation - Scopus: 6
A cat skeleton from the balatlar church excavation, sinop, Turkey
(MDPI AG, 2021) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Onar, Vedat; Köroğlu, Gülgün; Armutak, Altan; Öncü, Öğül Emre; Chrószcz, Aleksander; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
In the 2015 excavation season, an east–west oriented burial (2015-Grave-14) built with large dimension stone blocks was unearthed on the south edge of “Area IVi” at the Balatlar Church in Sinop, on the northeastern Black Sea coast of Turkey. In this grave, which is dated between the end of the 6th century AD and the first half of the 7th century AD, a human skeleton was found with the head to the west and a cat skeleton was carefully placed next to the right femur. This study on the burial and the cat skeleton within it shows that, compared to the Roman period, the status of cats reached a higher level during the Byzantine period. It was found that alongside of being a pet, the Balatlar cat was a young healthy female individual that instinctively hunted rodents and birds, given that the remains of a rat and a sparrow were found in the region of the abdominal cavity, corresponding with the stomach location in the living animal. The grave presents the most significant direct archaeological evidence of a pet–human bond recorded at any Byzantine site so far.
Citation - WoS: 1
Citation - Scopus: 1
Craneometric Canine Types Are Well Expressed at the Level of the Zygomatic Arch Conformation
(Soc Chilena Anatomia, 2020) Varyant2, Varyant2; Siddiq, Abu Bakar; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Pares-Casanova, Pere M.; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Within the wide conformation of skull spectrum, there are generally three recognized broad categories that correspond to the concept of cephalic biotype, determined by the cephalic index. The three cephalic biotypes are: brachiocephalic, mesaticephalic and dolichocephalic, which are based on linear measures. In order to revise this classification based on its geometry, we studied 53 skulls of adult dogs, corresponding to the three craneometric groups previously described: 16 brachycephalic, 20 mesaticephalic and 17 dolichocephalic. Images on ventral plane were obtained and 17 anatomical landmarks were subsequently located and analyzed by means of geometric morphometric techniques. Five of those landmarks corresponded to the neurocraneal area and the rest of the splanchnocranium. The three craneometric groups showed statistically significant dicremes between them for both size and shape. The variables that contributed to the differentiation between them were located along the edge of the zygomatic arches and on the basis of this arch. Splanchnocranial variables also presented a much more marked allometry than the neurocraneal variables. Since the zygomatic arch should be considered as part of the splanchnocranium, we suggest that the cephalic index (which takes into account the maximum width of the head) is as important as the facial index (which takes into account the maximum width of the face). The neurocraneal index would he much more conservative, and therefore less discriminatory between cell the groups.
Citation - WoS: 6
Citation - Scopus: 6
Cranial size and shape sexual dimorphism in the Kangal dog from Turkey
(Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), 2020) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Onar, Vedat; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
This study has so far been the first attempt to characterize and quantify skull sexual variation in Kangal dog, by means of geometric morphometric techniques. A sample of 16 adult Kangal crania has been analyzed with this purpose. To obtain a full image of morphological pattern, digital pictures were taken from the ventral, left lateral, and dorsal sides of each skull, and a total of 16, 15, and 16 landmarks respectively were obtained on each image. Skull size and shape differed significantly in all aspects among different sexes, male skulls being bigger. Shape differences were observed mainly on zygomatic arch and muzzle on the dorsal view, pterygoid bone and articular surface to mandibular condyle in the lateral aspect, and cranial width and maxillary bone on the ventral view. Although the sample was comparatively small in number, being the first geometric morphometric approach applied on the Kangal dog, the obtained results will add vital information particularly to understand the cranial shape sexual dimorphism of this unique dog breed in Turkey.
Did the historical range of the European bison (Bison bonasus L.) extend further south?—a new finding from the Yenikapı Metro and Marmaray excavation, Turkey
(Mammal Research, 2017) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Soubrier, Julien; Toker, Nezir Yaşar; Llamas, Bastien; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Pasicka, Edyta; Tokarska, Malgorzata; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
The origin of the European bison (Bison bonasus, Linnaeus, 1758) has been widely discussed and investigated in recent years. The species had a wide historic geographic distribution throughout the European continent during the middle and late Holocene, ranging from France in the west to the Caucasus in the east. However, archaeological evidence is needed to resolve the southern extent of the European bison distribution. We discovered one bison skull fragment during archaeological excavations in 2008 in the area of Yenikapı Metro and Marmaray (Turkey). Radiocarbon dating indicated the skull was deposited during the Byzantine period (seventh to eighth century AD). Mitochondrial genome analyses provided clear evidence that the skull was from a European bison. This is the first unambiguous evidence of the presence of this species in southeastern Europe during Byzantine times, which validates the historical written records of a potentially wider range of the European bison in historical times.
Do we need them or they need us? –anthrozoological study on domestic herds in Southeast Anatolia
(Istanbul Universitesi, 2017) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Özkan, Ermiş; Onar, Vedat; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Anthrozoology is the study of the relationships between human and animals. This newly developed field incorporates with some other disciplines such as animal behaviour science, veterinary medicine, zoology, psychology, physiology, philosophy, sociology and anthropology. Animals have great roles in our lives and we in theirs. We ensure food, shelter and protection for animals, and in returns, they provide companionship, happiness, nourishment, wealth and sustainability in our society. Since the beginning of animal domestication, this mutual understanding developed with many complex relationships between us. Anthrozoology emphasises on these positive relationships. Anatolia is one of the significant places where humans first domesticated some ungulate species around 11000 years ago in Early Neolithic period, and still today, this region is considered to be one of the most important places for domestic herds, especially ovicaprid population in the world. Therefore, this region is a crucial place for studying different aspects of interactions between humans and domestic herds. Unfortunately, no significant research has been taken in the region so far regarding this issue. Through participant observations and exploratory case studies, this anthrozoological field research on pastoral societies in Southeast Anatolia aimed to explore how deeply are we involved with domestic animals and they are with us.
Exotic animals in Byzantine capital: Aspects of human animal relationship in faunal remains of Yenikapı-Marmaray excavation
(2017) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Onar, Vedat; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Testimonies of Byzantium and foreign visitors endorse the wonders of exotic animals in Constantinople. Exotic animals were paraded in the streets, displayed in court rituals, hunted with emperors and also brought into animal combats in the presence of emperor and empress. Besides the Imperial Park, Byzantines had animal farms where beasts were raised for eventual use in the Hippodrome. Exotic animals were presented to different rulers by Byzantine emperors. At the same time, exotic animal imagery decorated many desires and aspects of the daily life of Byzantine urbanites. Inevitably, exotic animals were highly sought-after objects to Byzantines and, therefore, they were regularly imported from possible furthermost regions to fulfil aspires in the capital. A large number of faunal remains of exotic species such as Cercopithecidae sp., Cervidae sp., Capra ibex L., Elephantidae sp., Ursidae sp., Gazella gazella L., Vulpes sp., Struthio sp., Bison sp. have been found in Yenikapı Metro and Marmaray rescue excavation along with a huge amount of marine and land fauna. Consumption of these species, including carnivores, is observed besides extensive marks and evidences on these bones. Covering an area of 58,000m2, this excavation area was the Theodosius harbour which was the second largest port in Constantinople. Being a very significant international trade centre and one of the major ports in Empire, remains of exotic animals in Yenikapı examine previous testimonies and show new aspects on human animal relationship in Byzantine time.
Citation - WoS: 3
Citation - Scopus: 3
High level of fluctuating asymmetry in the Byzantine dogs from the Theodosius Harbor, Istanbul, Turkey
(Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 2021) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Parés-Casanova, Pere M.; Öncü, Ö. Emre; Kar, Hakan; Onar, Vedat; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Asymmetry, the abnormality of an organism or a part of it from its perfect symmetry, is represented by three different categories: fluctuating asymmetry, directional asymmetry, and antisymmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry attributes to random developmental variation of a morphological character, whereas directional asymmetry attributes one of the body sides to be more prominent than the other. Antisymmetry appears whenever one body side of a biological body shows greater morphological appearance than the other. Since more environmental stress often produces greater effect of fluctuating asymmetry, it can be a good indicator of physiological stress in the morphological characteristic of a biological being. Applying, so far, the first geometric morphometric methods on any Byzantine fauna, this study aimed to determine the kind and direction of skull asymmetry occurred in Byzantine dog skulls. Aiming this, asymmetries in 16 adult Byzantine dog skulls unearthed form Yenikapı-Marmaray excavation (ancient Theodosius Harbor) in İstanbul, were compared with 39 adult skulls of modern pet dog breeds. Seventeen landmarks (3 midline and 14 bilateral) were selected on the digital pictures of the ventral aspect of each skull, and used for detailed analysis. The results showed a greater percentage of fluctuating asymmetry in the Byzantine dog skulls, suggesting them not to be the remains of pets or housed dogs but perhaps the labor or stray dogs in the Byzantine capital Constantinople.
Citation - WoS: 4
Citation - Scopus: 4
The iron age dogs from alaybeyi höyük, eastern anatolia
(Animals, 2021) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Onar, Vedat; Mutuş, Rıfat; Poradowski, Dominik; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
To date, little is known about the biological and cultural status of Iron Age dogs in Anatolia. Here, we present a zooarchaeological study of an assemblage of 143 Iron Age dog bones, including two dog skeletons, unearthed from the 2016 and 2017 salvage excavations at Alaybeyi Höyük, Eastern Anatolia. At least eight adults and one juvenile individual, along with a large number of miscellaneous specimens, were identified. The morphological status of the Alaybeyi dogs were primarily compared to previously published Iron Age dogs from Yoncatepe in Eastern Anatolia, and with the average mean of 18 modern dog breeds. Unlike in other Eastern Anatolian Iron Age sites, butcher marks were observed in some specimens, indicating at least occasional cynophagy at the site. Noticeable pathologies were found in about 5% of the sample, particularly pathologies of the oral cavity and dentitions, suggesting that some of the dogs at Alaybeyi Höyük might have been undernourished, had to live on solid food, and probably injured by humans. The results of this study reflect both the morphological and biological status of Alaybeyi dogs, as well as the Alaybeyi people’s attitudes toward dogs, adding vital information to the very limited archaeological knowledge of dogs in Anatolia.
Citation - WoS: 1
Citation - Scopus: 2
Items of fun, utility and divination: The knucklebones from Oluz Höyük, north-central Anatolia (Turkey)
(ScienceDirect, 2022) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Dönmez, Şevket; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Knucklebones (i.e., culturally used astragali) are commonly encountered at many archaeological sites in Anatolia, ranging from the Neolithic to medieval period. Yet, very little is known about the cultural usages of these artifacts through time — as only scant attention has been paid to them. Here, we report a total of 590 even-toed ungulate knucklebones, unearthed from the 2008 to 2017 excavations at Oluz Höyük in north-central Anatolia (Turkey). The specimens were recorded from six cultural occupations, ranging from the Late Bronze Age (Hittite) to the medieval period. The highest number of knucklebones (72%) came from the Iron Age occupations — first associated with a Phrygian mother goddess (Matar Kubileya) temple, and later an early Zoroastrian fire temple complex (Cella) of Achaemenid occupation. Intense cultural marks such as perforating, piercing, polishing, smoothing, coloring, and metal casting were observed – indicating the specimens to be important cultural items with a variety of applications. About 85% of the specimens belonged to sheep and goats, whereas the rest came from cattle (9%), pigs (5%), deer (0.17%) and mouflon (0.85%) — suggesting that the inhabitants of all occupations at Oluz Höyük collected the knucklebones from the animals they commonly consumed. Being by far the first systematic observation of knucklebones from any archaeological site, the results of this study will add vital information to the very limited archaeological knowledge of knucklebones in Anatolia.
Citation - WoS: 4
Citation - Scopus: 4
Length estimation of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) using vertebrae
(Wiley, 2022) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Mylona, Dimitra; Rivera-Charún, Lucia; Winter, Rachel; Onar, Vedat; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Tinti, Fausto; Morales-Muniz, Arturo; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) is a large (up to 3.3 m in length) pelagic predator which has been exploited throughout the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean since prehistoric times, as attested by its archeological remains. One key insight derivable from these remains is body size, which can indicate past fishing abilities, the impact of fishing, and past migration behavior. Despite this, there exists no reliable method to estimate the size of BFT found in archeological sites. Here, 13 modern Thunnus spp. skeletons were studied to provide power regression equations that estimate body length from vertebra dimensions. In modern specimens, the majority of BFT vertebrae can be differentiated by their morphological features, and thus, individual regression equations can be applied for each rank (position in vertebral column). In an archeological context, poor preservation may limit one's ability to identify rank; hence, “types” of vertebrae were defined, which enable length estimates when rank cannot be determined. At least one vertebra dimension, height, width, or length correlated highly with body length when vertebrae were ranked (R2 > 0.97) or identified to types (R2 > 0.98). Whether using rank or type, length estimates appear accurate to approximately ±10%. Finally, the method was applied to a sample of Roman-era BFT vertebrae to demonstrate its potential. It is acknowledged that further studies with larger sample sizes would provide more precision in BFT length estimates.
Los Tipos Craneométricos Caninos Aparecen Bien Expresadosa Nivel de Conformación del Arco Cigomático
(2019) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Asal, Rahmi; Pars-Casanova, Pre M.; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Within the wide conformation of skull spectrum, there are generally three recognized broad categories that correspond to the concept of cephalic biotype, determined by the cephalic index. The three cephalic biotypes are: brachiocephalic, mesaticephalic and dolichocephalic, which are based on linear measures. In order to revise this classification based on its geometry, we studied 53 skulls of adult dogs, corresponding to the three craneometric groups previously described: 16 brachycephalic, 20 mesaticephalic and 17 dolichocephalic. Images on ventral plane were obtained and 17 anatomical landmarks were subsequently located and analyzed by means of geometric morphometric techniques. Five of those landmarks corresponded to the neurocraneal area and the rest of the splanchnocranium. The three craneometric groups showed statistically significant differences between them for both size and shape. The variables that contributed to the differentiation between them were located along the edge of the zygomatic arches and on the basis of this arch. Splanchnocranial variables also presented a much more marked allometry than the neurocraneal variables. Since the zygomatic arch should be considered as part of the splanchnocranium, we suggest that the cephalic index (which takes into account the maximum width of the head) is as important as the facial index (which takes into account the maximum width of the face). The neurocraneal index would be much more conservative, and therefore less discriminatory between the groups.
Citation - WoS: 1
Citation - Scopus: 1
Lower palatine developmental instability in hybrid Old World camelids
(2020) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Morilla-Gorgot, Cristina; Onar, Vedat; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Objective: In this research study, we explore the fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of palate Camelus hybrids and their parental species (dromedary and Bactrian). Materials and methods: We studied a sample of pictures from 27 adult skulls of pure Camelus dromedarius (n = 13), Camelus bactrianus (n = 7), and their crosses (n = 7), from two different collections. A set of 11 semilandmarks was located on the palatal region and was studied by means of geometric morphometric methods. The asymmetric variation was analyzed and evaluated for allometric effects, and variation among these three groups was studied using a canonical variates analysis. Results: Among hybrids, there appeared a significantly lower amount of FA in comparison to the parental species, which may reflect the lower levels of genetic stress and higher levels of directional asymmetry, which may suggest the presence of strongly transgressive mastication compared to pure species. Conclusion: Camel hybrids would present increased developmental stability and better adaptation over those of parenteral lines.
Citation - WoS: 11
Citation - Scopus: 11
Morphometric analysis of the skulls of domestic cattle (Bos taurus L.) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.) in Turkey
(2019) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Kahvecioğlu, Kifayet Oya; Öztürk, Muhsin; Onar, Vedat; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
A total of 20 domestic cattle (Bos taurus L.) and 15 water buffalo (Bubalis bubalis L.) skulls were analyzed in this study. All of the specimens belonged to female individuals. Using a total of 27 craniometric measurements from each of the skulls, 9 indices were calculated. Although there were statistically significant differences between the linear measurements of the skulls of both species, while calculating the indices with their ratios, the values of the measurements of the facial area were determinative in the craniology. Among these indices, the facial index 1 value was statistically significant (P < 0.01) in the comparison of these two species. On the other hand, while considering the orbit and foramen magnum measurements, in contrast with the transversal measurement, the height was more determinant for their index and form.
Social zooarchaeology of marine remains from Marmaray-Yenikapi excavation: Examining the aquatic resources exploitation in Constantinople
(2016) Sıddıq, Abu Bakar; Özkan, Ermiş; Onar, Vedat; Department of Anthropology / Antropoloji Bölümü
Located between Marmara Sea and Black Sea, Constantinople was the centre of international trade during its reign. Byzantines developed one of the strongest navies in that time exploiting these water bodies. Testimonies of both Byzantium and foreign visitors show that marine resources had a great significance in Byzantine life. Fishing constituted one of the most important sources of income in the capital with the blessing of Bosporus Strait and Golden-Horn. Byzantines also developed various fishing methods. They were also well aware about the high nutritional value of fish and other aquatic resources. A large number of evidences related to aquatic activities have been unearthed by Yenikapı and Marmaray excavation. Profound amount of artefacts, more than 30 shipwrecks and faunal remains of various marine species are notable of them. Marine species from this site includes tuna fish (Thunnus thynnus L.), swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.), catfish (Clarias sp.), sharks (Carcharhinidae sp.), sea breams (Sparidae sp.), dolphins (Delphinidae sp.), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), gilthead breams (Sparusaurata L.), mackerels (Scomber sp.), bonitos (Sarda sp.), crabs (Crustacea sp.), sea turtles (Cheloniidae sp.) and a great number of shells (Mollusc sp.) etc. Some marine species found in Yenikapı were seldom affordable to common citizens in Constantinople. Drilling, chopping and slaughter marks strongly suggest their use for gastronomic treats by elites. Besides, many of them were also used in decorative accessories, luxury materials and exotic shows. Known as “Langa Bostanlari” in Ottoman period, Yenikapı was the ‘Theodosius harbour’ in Byzantine capital. Being a very significant international trade centre and one of the major ports in Empire, remains of different aquatic activities, especially the marine species from this site examines previous Byzantine testimonies as well as shows new aspects about the marine food consumption and social utilization of aquatic resources in Constantinople.