Igor V. Askeyev

The early evolutionary history of modern domestic horses ( Equus caballus / Equus ferus caballus ), known as the DOM2 lineage, is well documented due to numerous archaeological and ancient DNA (aDNA) studies. Although many uncertainties remain in the domestication timeline, current evidence suggests that the domestication of modern horses began in the Pontic‐Caspian steppe at least ~2700 bce , or even earlier. However, it is not known how long remnant wild horse populations survived or when domestic horses were introduced into Northern Europe. In this study, we review the current knowledge of horse domestication, focusing on Northern Europe. We analyzed prehistoric horses from western Russia to assess the body sizes of wild horses from the Ivanovskaya site (5900–3800 bce ) in the Pontic‐Caspian steppe, and the body weight of one Lithuanian wild horse (4000–3800 bce ). Additionally, we analyzed body sizes of Late Bronze Age‐Early Roman Age horses (1100 bce –300 ce ) and reanalyzed body sizes and estimated rider weights of historic domestic horses from Lithuania (100–1400 ce ). We searched for pathological changes and signs of bit wear indicative of bridling. Furthermore, we investigated maternal genetic diversity by sequencing ancient mitochondrial DNA. We found that wild horses from Ivanovskaya were intermediate in body size between earlier and more recent horses of the Eurasian Steppe, and that the Lithuanian wild horse weighed only ~270 kg and Late Bronze Age‐Early Roman Age horses 200–300 kg. Lithuanian domestic horses were pony‐sized (< 130 cm on average). Potential bit wear was confirmed by an equine veterinarian in one Lithuanian horse tooth dated to 799–570 cal bce . Another tooth showed signs of the Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH) condition. Mitochondrial DNA was successfully amplified from one Ivanovskaya wild horse along with 25 other ancient samples, including Lithuania's oldest domestic horse. mtDNA diversity was high, revealing several maternal lineages.

In recent years, the evidence of increased settlement of the central Balkans in the period immediately before and at the beginning of the LGM has multiplied. One of the researched sites is Potpeč cave in southern Serbia, radiometrically dated to the period 28–24 ka cal BP. The preliminary results of the analysis indicate that the cave represented a temporary camp of the Early Epigravetian groups who, in addition to hunting, also engaged in fishing. Among the remains of the fauna, the bones of mammals that inhabited different biomes (hare, ibex, wild boar) were identified, as well as the remains of birds, fish and herpetofauna. In addition, the unique feature of the Potpeč faunal assemblage is the great number of micromammal remains, which provide valuable data for the reconstruction of palaeoecological conditions. Whereas the accumulation of bird, herpetofauna and micromammal remains was probably not a result of anthropogenic influence, the deposition of large and medium-sized mammal remains, as well as fish, was most likely related to human activity. This is especially the case with ibex, with sporadic evidence of butchering and burning on the bones of this species, and fish—specifically huchen—given its size, taphonomy, and skeletal element distribution. The size estimation and the inference of the season of capture on the basis of preserved huchen vertebrae indicate that large individuals (between 82–108 cm in total length) were caught, most likely during seasonal fishing activities spanning from late spring to early autumn, providing new insights into the broadening of the diet and residential mobility patterns at the start of the LGM. Among the artifacts found in the cave were cores, blades, bladelets, and backed tools. The evidence from Potpeč and other Gravettian and Epigravettian sites in the interior of the Balkans indicate that this area was a glacial refugium for human groups in the LGM. It is yet to be established whether it was the local population or the newcomers from more northern areas which moved south at the beginning of cooling.

In archaeological assemblages, differentiating the European domestic goose and its wild progenitor, the greylag goose ( Anser anser ), has been challenging due to their similar skeletal morphologies. A short region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysed from ancient DNA (aDNA) has been shown to distinguish wild greylags from domestic geese, but some ancient specimens display atypical haplotypes or haplotypes belonging to other wild Anser species. Plumage colouration could verify the domestic status of archaeological geese, as white or mottled plumage would be indicative of domestication. We analysed a SNP upstream of the EDNRB2 gene ( endothelin receptor B‐like ) linked to white spotting and a 1‐bp deletion in the Z‐chromosomal MLANA gene ( melan‐A ), causative of sex‐linked dilution colour (almost white male and light grey female) in European domestic geese. Together, white spotting and sex‐linked dilution result in white plumage. We also analysed a Chinese domestic goose ( A. cygnoid )‐specific 14‐bp insertion within the EDNRB2 gene, which also causes white colour, and searched for possible evidence of historical interbreeding between European and Chinese domestic geese. We detected several plumage colour patterns such as solid wild type, white spotted (i.e., saddleback), nearly white with some grey spots, and white or autosexing with of ‘almost white male and saddleback female’. Further, we discovered that European domestic geese had introgression from the Chinese domestic goose at least occasionally, from the 16th‐17th century Common Era, due to the presence of both European and Chinese domestic goose white alleles in a single individual.

The paper presents findings of studying osteological materials collected during excavations at the Srubnaya culture Fedorovskoe settlement. This is one of the largest researches of a Late Bronze household site in the Middle Volga region. The settlement accommodates three dwelling complexes falling under the re- search. The complexes contain foundation pit remains of semi-buried buildings and household pits of different intended use. The site contains a representative osteological collection of around 12 thousand animal bones. The collection includes bones of large and small cattle, horse, pig, dog, elk, wolve, fox, hare, ground squirrel, marmot, small mammals, birds, fish, as well as mussel shells. Bird bones are attributed to rook and black grouse; the fish bones belong to beluga and Russian sturgeon. The age of slaughtered domestic ungulates is determined and evident of several ways they were used in. Small and large cattle breeding is linked to producing meat and dairy; horses were mainly used to work; pigs were bred for meat. The domestic ungulates slaughter season is determined and shows that people occupied the settlement all year round. Slaughtering was generally planned before the cold season. Hunting and fishing for the Fedorovskoe residents seem to have an ad hoc nature and did not play a significant role in their life support. The osteological spectra of the distinguished dwelling complexes appear to differ from one another. It is assumed, they differ due to the different chronology or intended household use within one settlement. The size of the domestic ungulates in the Fedorovskoe settlement conforms to the size of cattle distinguished at Bronze Age sites in the Middle Volga and Volga-Ural regions. Few pathologies detected in the bones are evident of favourable animal keeping conditions at the site in question. The main parameters of the osteological collection from the Fedorovskoe settlement are compared to those from Srubnaya culture sites in the Eastern European steppe. This comparison shows similar manners of domestic ungulates use and allows to assume different models of their keeping.

Our work offer information on the abundance, probability of occurrences, distribution, morphometric, and cohabitation abilities of Perccottus glenii . The study was conducted in the east edge of Europe in 562 small rivers and 122 lakes with high geographical and ecological heterogeneity. Probability of occurrence for P. glenii of lakes ‒ 41% and 2.5% in small river, and it has been growing lately. The highest percentage (30.3) of coexisted for P. glenii was observed with Carassius gibelio ‒ other invasive species. Elevation, depth and tree/bush cover were the factors influencing the distribution of P. glenii in lakes. In small rivers, the probability of occurrences of P. glenii increased in the eastern study areas in wide and deep areas with a low percentage of forest cover.

Aim: Taxonomic identification, population demographics and genetic structure reconstruction of the historical Lake Ladoga sturgeon population, followed by assessment of admixture and gene flow of Atlantic and European sturgeons within the Baltic and broader European context. Location: Archaeological site at Staraya Ladoga (Zemlyanoe Gorodishche), encompassing samples from Lake Ladoga and the Volkhov River in north‐western Russia. Taxon: Atlantic ( Acipenser oxyrinchus ) and European ( A. sturio ) sturgeons. Methods: A total of 7130 sturgeon bones dated to the 9th–10th centuries CE were morphologically examined to determine their species identity. Age ( n = 51) and catch season ( n = 33) were reconstructed. Genetic analyses of remains from Ladoga ( n = 45) and other European localities ( n = 48) were conducted using three mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments, seven microsatellite loci (STRs), and one SNP‐informative microsatellite locus ( Aox 23) to assess species composition, ancestry, admixture, and gene flow with other sturgeon populations, including published historical Baltic ( n = 62) and contemporary samples from France and Canada ( n = 184). Results: Age analysis showed a bias toward large, older individuals that were likely caught during spring‐early summer spawning migrations. The Atlantic sturgeon was the dominant species, based on both morphology (83%) and genetic analysis. None of the individuals were identified as pure European sturgeon or first‐generation hybrids. Only 5% of STR alleles showed European sturgeon ancestry, and 11% of individuals carried its diagnostic mtDNA haplotype. Admixed samples were found in the Ladoga region, Baltic Sea and North Sea. Main Conclusions: Our findings revealed the historical dominance of the Atlantic sturgeon in Lake Ladoga and across Northern Europe including the North Sea. It also sheds new light on the colonisation process, suggesting a rapid Atlantic sturgeon expansion into north‐eastern Europe with minimal hybridization with European sturgeon during this phase. This study highlights past connectivity among sturgeon stocks in Europe and underscores the importance of preserving migration routes and habitats to maintain gene flow, which is critical for effective sturgeon restoration.

Studying goose domestication through archaeological finds has been challenging due to the similar skeletal morphology of the European domestic goose and its wild progenitor, the greylag goose ( Anser anser ). We analyzed stable carbon (δ ¹³ C) and nitrogen (δ ¹⁵ N) isotopes from bone collagen of subfossil domestic and potentially domestic geese to investigate dietary differences indicative of domestication. These samples were previously analyzed for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which can distinguish between wild greylag geese and their domestic form, although some specimens exhibited atypical mtDNA haplotypes or haplotypes belonging to other wild Anser species. We also verified the chronological age of the bones through radiocarbon dating, which yielded dates ranging from the Medieval to Postmedieval periods (600–1600 ce ). We revealed that some Russian domestic geese were probably supplementary fed with fodder fertilized with animal manure, while others were allowed to free‐roam, indicating variable goose management practices in the Middle Volga region. Some of the geese exhibited high δ ¹⁵ N values, which may indicate the inclusion of animal protein in the diet, and one goose showed evidence of marine components or consumption of either C ₄ ‐plants growing in arid or saline habitats or manure‐fertilized agricultural C ₄ plants. Stable isotope analysis was informative regarding supplementary feeding, but could not reliably determine wild or domestic status, as some genetically domestic geese exhibited low δ ¹⁵ N values, suggesting a wild‐like diet. Therefore, the domestic or wild status of specimens with taiga bean goose mtDNA remains unresolved. Tamed wild geese also present a limitation to this method, as they may receive the same diet as domestic geese.

The early evolutionary history of modern domestic horses ( Equus caballus/E. ferus caballus ), known as the DOM2 lineage, is well documented due to numerous archaeological and ancient DNA (aDNA) studies. Although many uncertainties remain in the domestication timeline, current evidence suggests that the domestication of modern horses began in the Pontic-Caspian steppe at least ∼2700 BCE (before common era), or even earlier. However, it is not known how long remnant wild horse populations survived or when domestic horses were introduced into Northern Europe. In this study, we review the current knowledge of horse domestication, focusing on Northern Europe. We analysed prehistoric horses from western Russia to assess the body sizes of wild horses from the Ivanovskaya site (5900–3800 BCE) in the Pontic-Caspian steppe, and the body weight of one Lithuanian wild horse (4000-3800 BCE). Additionally, we analysed body sizes of Late Bronze Age-Early Roman Age horses (1100 BCE-300 CE; common era) and re-analysed body sizes and estimated rider weights of historic domestic horses from Lithuania (100-1400 CE). We searched for pathological changes and signs of bit wear indicative of bridling. Furthermore, we investigated maternal genetic diversity by sequencing ancient mitochondrial DNA. We found that wild horses from Ivanovskaya were intermediate in body size between earlier and more recent horses of the Eurasian Steppe, and that the Lithuanian wild horse weighed only ∼270 kg and Late Bronze Age-Early Roman Age horses 200-300 kg. Lithuanian domestic horses were pony-sized (< 130 cm on average). Bit wear was confirmed on one tooth, the oldest domestic horse in Lithuania (799-570 cal BCE). Another tooth showed signs of the Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH) condition. Mitochondrial DNA was successfully amplified from one Ivanovskaya wild horse along with 25 other ancient samples, including Lithuania’s oldest domestic horse. mtDNA diversity was high, revealing several maternal lineages.

В статье представлены результаты исследования костных остатков рыб и птиц из поселения золотоордынского времени Подымалово-1, расположенного в Уфимском районе Республики Башкортостан, и характеризующегося как стационарное, круглогодичное для проживания поселение с развитым животноводством и торговыми связями. В совокупности для коллекции трех лет раскопок определено 10 видов рыб и 21 вид птиц. Преобладали кости от крупноразмерных видов рыб: севрюги, русского осетра, щуки и сома. Восстановлены размеры и установлен возраст рыб; определен сезон вылова, соответствующий теплому периоду года. Наличие костей разновозрастных особей домашних птиц (гусь, утка, курица) указывают на занятие птицеводством. Среди диких птиц есть охотничьи виды с доминированием остатков тетерева и виды, не употреблявшиеся в пищу. Интересным является наличие большого числа костей ястреба-тетеревятника, которого содержали на поселении и использовали для соколиной охоты.