ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF ANCIENT DATÇA (BURGAZ, SOUTH-WEST TURKEY)

Abstract

Recent excavations at the multi-period site of Datça/Burgaz in southwestern Turkey have revealed a se- quence of occupation spanning from Geometric, Archaic and Classical periods. The zooarchaeological re- mains obtained from the Datça/Burgaz site provide a basic description of the faunal assemblages in the con- text of both local and regional dietary strategies of the various societies throughout the above-mentioned periods. All calculations are based upon a number of identified specimen frequencies. According to the re- sults of this study, domestic cattle were the most plentiful species in the assemblage. Ovicaprine, including sheep and goats, and pigs were second and third most abundant respectively. In addition, wild species and equids are also represented in the fauna. Though frequencies of the samples change over the periods, cattle are found dominant in all periods. When consider the number of sample, the most statistically reliable among the groups at hand due to sample size (n=933) is the Classical Period.