Begash (Phase 3b)
Basic information
Sample name: Begash (Phase 3b)
Reference: M. Frachetti and N. Benecke. 2009. From sheep to (some) horses: 4500 years of herd structure at the pastoralist settlement of Begash (south-eastern Kazakhstan). Antiquity 83(322):1023-1037 [ER 3760]
Geography
Country: Kazakhstan
Coordinate: 45° 54' N, 79° 30' E
Latlng basis: stated in text
Time interval: Holocene
Section: 3760
Unit number: 5
Unit order: below to above
Max Ma: 0.002253
Min Ma: 0.00205
Age basis: radiocarbon (uncalibrated)
Geography comments: "The settlement at Begash is located in eastern Kazakhstan (Semirech'ye) in the piedmont zone of the Dzhungar Mountains (950m asl). The site nestles on a flat ravine terrace enclosed by steep canyon walls on the north, west and south, and is situated along a spring-fed stream".
Radiocarbon dates for Phase 3b range from 2253 ± 35 to 2050 ± 80 BP (390 cal. BC-AD 30).
Radiocarbon dates for Phase 3b range from 2253 ± 35 to 2050 ± 80 BP (390 cal. BC-AD 30).
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: human accumulation, settlement
Archaeology: buildings, ceramics, hearths, stone tools, other structures
Habitat comments: "The geography of the site indicates that Begash was a seasonally occupied winter time settlement for regionally mobile pastoralists".
"Phase 3b represents a substantial interval of domestic reconstruction at the site. Wall foundations define at least two new quadrilateral structures. The houses have central fire-pits, typically lined with stones, and hardpacked clayey floors. The houses appear to have been multi-roomed, with stone lined postholes for central support of a presumably organic superstructure. In addition to the internal features, trash pits containing domestic faunal remains and fire-pits are also found between the houses, presumably defining areas for cooking and food preparation, among other activities. The artifacts from Phase 3b introduce some novel forms, including large and coarse vessels with fluted and everted necks, as well as smaller pots with ribbed and flanged walls".
"Phase 3b represents a substantial interval of domestic reconstruction at the site. Wall foundations define at least two new quadrilateral structures. The houses have central fire-pits, typically lined with stones, and hardpacked clayey floors. The houses appear to have been multi-roomed, with stone lined postholes for central support of a presumably organic superstructure. In addition to the internal features, trash pits containing domestic faunal remains and fire-pits are also found between the houses, presumably defining areas for cooking and food preparation, among other activities. The artifacts from Phase 3b introduce some novel forms, including large and coarse vessels with fluted and everted necks, as well as smaller pots with ribbed and flanged walls".
Methods
Life forms: carnivores, ungulates, birds
Sampling methods: quarry, screenwash
Sample size: 310 specimens
Years: 2005 - 2006
Net or trap nights: 0
Basal area status: not applicable
Sampling comments: "Begash was excavated in 2005 and 2006. During the excavation, faunal remains were carefully collected by hand in all trenches of the site and screening of 50 per cent of the excavated soil was performed through a 10 mm screen. We also wet sieved and floated representative hearth and midden samples from nearly all stratigraphic contexts. While overall bone preservation is good, the remains are characterised by a high degree of fragmentation with only very few bones being complete".
Metadata
Sample no: 4018
Contributor no: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Created: 2022-10-17 17:12:15
Modified: 2023-05-30 02:20:21
Abundance distribution
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts. Values are logged.
Statistics
14 species
5 singletons
total count 310
geometric series index: 27.5
Fisher's α: 3.016
geometric series k: 0.6869
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.7227
Shannon's H: 1.5698
Good's u: 0.9839
Register
| Ovis aries (sheep) | 77 | |
| Capra aegagrus hircus (wild goat) | 3 | |
| also 447 Caprinae indet. | ||
| Bos taurus (cow) | 132 | |
| Equus ferus caballus (wild horse) | 45 | |
| Camelus sp. | 1 | |
| Canis lupus familiaris (gray wolf) | 1 | 43.0 kg |
| Cervus elaphus (red deer) | 33 | |
| Gazella subgutturosa (goitered gazelle) | 3 | 17.0 kg |
| Ovis ammon (argali) | 2 | |
| Capra sibirica (Siberian ibex) | 1 | |
| Sus scrofa (pig) | 2 | |
| Vulpes vulpes (red fox) | 8 | |
| Bubo bubo | 1 | 2.4 kg |
| Upupa epops | 1 | 8.6 g |