Common Animals for Elite Humans: the Late Ottoman Fauna from Mardin Fortress, Southeastern Anatolia (Turkey)

Abstract

This paper presents the frst investigation of animal remains unearthed from the Late Ottoman occupation at Mardin fortress, a military stronghold in Anatolian–Syrian frontier under Ottoman rule. The analysis produced 4234 specimens and carried out taxonomic identifcation, species diversity, kill-of patterns, and nature of bone modifcation, including those of taphonomic and cultural marks. Being the frst zooarchaeological study of an Ottoman occupation in southeastern Anatolia, the results add vital information to the paucity of archaeological knowledge of life and dietary habits of regional Ottoman elite soldiers, and ofer a glimpse into the local pastoralism and wildlife of that time.