Hojjat Darabi

House mice (Mus musculus) have been associated with humans since the beginning of sedentism, enabling them to become successful global colonisers. Three main subspecies originated approximately 0.5 Ma in a region extending from Southwest Asia to northern India. Molecular data suggest that a complex scenario of secondary admixture occurred thereafter in the Iranian region, leading to the formation of a Central Iranian lineage, but this evidence was overlooked in previous bioarchaeological analysis. The early Neolithic settlement of Ganj Dareh is located in this cradle area. It delivered remains of commensal house mice formerly attributed to M. m. domesticus. A geometric morphometric analysis of the first lower molars is used here to characterize the signature of hybridization between M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus. The subspecific attribution of the Ganj Dareh mouse remains is re-evaluated through the inclusion of modern specimens from Central Iran as a separate group in the reference dataset. The results indicate that, contrary to what was previously thought, the Ganj Dareh specimens are likely related to the Central Iranian lineage. Their idiosyncrasy compared with modern representatives, however, suggests a complex temporal dynamic of admixture, which may have been influenced by early human settlements and movements.

Since the early 7th millennium BC, when ceramics had become widespread in the Eastern Fertile Crescent, specifically in central valleys and the western foothills of the Zagros, they were tempered exclusively with organic plant remains. Here, we outline the findings of the study of this temper using microscopic technological analysis, X-ray tomography and spherulite analysis, upholding the suggestion that dung was present in the paste. The samples fall in the interval from late 9th to 6th millennia BC; originating from the piedmont of the Taurus, Upper Mesopotamia, the highlands and foothills of the Zagros, and the Armenian Highland. The use of dung as temper provides additional evidence of an early beginning of animal domestication in this region. It can be assumed that this tradition spread as a large-scale phenomenon from the Zagros and its foothills northward to Upper Mesopotamia, the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, and further west and east. In the 7th millennium BC pottery, the dung was likely that of sheep and goats; from the late 6th millennium BC onward, that of cattle. Since the early 6th millennium, dung had been less and less widely used for tempering tableware while being still in use with regard to utility ware. One possible reason is a worsened attitude to dung; another, improved firing conditions.

С начала VII тыс. до н.э., когда керамика получила повсеместное распространение на территории восточной части Плодородного Полумесяца — в центральных долинах и западных предгорьях Загроса, — она содержала исключительно органическую растительную примесь. В настоящей работе эта примесь была изучена с помощью микроскопического технологического анализа, рентгеновской томографии и сферулитного анализа, в результате чего подтверждено предположение о ее связи с навозом. Хронологические рамки исследования охватывают конец IX — VI тыс. до н.э., географические — предгорья Тавра, Верхнюю Месопотамию, горы и предгорья Загроса, а также Армянское нагорье. Наличие навоза в формовочной массе неолитических глиняных сосудов Плодородного Полумесяца дает дополнительные доказательства раннего начала доместикации животных в этом регионе. Можно предположить, что данная традиция как масштабное явление распространялась с территории Загроса и его предгорий на север в Верхнюю Месопотамию, предгорья Тавра и далее на запад и восток. В керамике VII тыс. до н.э. можно предполагать наличие навоза мелкого рогатого скота, а со второй половины VI тыс. до н.э. — коровы. С начала VI тыс. до н.э. навоз все меньше добавляется в формовочную массу керамики, предназначенной для использования в качестве столовой посуды, но остается в грубых горшках и сосудах для хранения. Это может быть связано как с изменением в эстетическом восприятии примеси навоза, так и с совершенствованием условий обжига.

The article presents the results of a technological analysis of the ceramic samples from Neolithic settlements of Ali Kosh, Mahtaj and Guran (the 7th mill. BC). The use of sheep and goat dung in the paste prevailed. While two-layer slabs were applied as the main construction method across the region, a few samples from Guran show the appearance of coil construction around the middle of the 7th millennium BC. First an overall coating with the same clay and red colouring appeared, and later a new type of red slip emerged – a mixture of clay with red pigment.

While the Neolithic revolution caused gradual basic changes in different dimensions of human life, including social structure, western Iran has so far mostly received attention in terms of the emergence of domestication and sedentarisation. Generally speaking, some evidence, such as architectural elements, burial goods, clay tokens, and scarce artefacts such as obsidian pieces and marble objects not only determine an inter-regional interaction, but also suggest craft specialisation. It is believed that sedentary life and private food storage paved the way for property ownership and that a gradual change from egalitarian to non-egalitarian societies can be seen in the Neolithic of western Iran.