Animal Exploitation and Breeding Strategies

Faunal remains from excavation campaigns of the joint Italian-Uzbek Archaeological Mission occurred between 2008 and 2015 were studied during 2017. The study of faunal remains allowed obtaining information about the breeding strategies and the exploitation of animal resources in the Samarkand oasis from ca. the 4th century BCE to the 4th century CE. Data were interpreted to attempt comparing two main broad periods of occupation: the first period, which includes Hellenistic and post-ellenistic materials dating between the 4th and the 1st centuries BCE; and the second period, which covers the post-Hellenistic period and the so-called "nomadic" phase, broadly dated between the 1stand the 4th centuries CE.