Archaeological and molecular evidence for ancient chickens in Central Asia

Carli Peters, Kristine K. Richter, Shevan Wilkin, Sören Stark, Basira Mir-Makhamad, Ricardo Fernandes, Farhod Maksudov, Sirojidin Mirzaakhmedov, Husniddin Rahmonov, Stefanie Schirmer, Kseniia Ashastina, Alisher Begmatov, Michael Frachetti, Sharof Kurbanov, Michael Shenkar, Taylor Hermes, Fiona Kidd, Andrey Omelchenko, Barbara Huber, Nicole Boivin, Shujing Wang, Pavel Lurje, Madelynn Baeyer, Rita Dal Martello and Robert N. Spengler ()
Additional contact information
Carli Peters: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Kristine K. Richter: Harvard University
Shevan Wilkin: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Sören Stark: New York University
Basira Mir-Makhamad: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Ricardo Fernandes: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Farhod Maksudov: Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences
Sirojidin Mirzaakhmedov: Agency for Cultural Heritage
Husniddin Rahmonov: Agency for Cultural Heritage
Stefanie Schirmer: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Kseniia Ashastina: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Alisher Begmatov: Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Michael Frachetti: Washington University in St Louis
Sharof Kurbanov: Archaeology and Ethnography named after Ahmad Donish of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan
Michael Shenkar: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt Scopus
Taylor Hermes: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Fiona Kidd: New York University Abu Dhabi
Andrey Omelchenko: State Hermitage Museum
Barbara Huber: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Nicole Boivin: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Shujing Wang: Peking University
Pavel Lurje: State Hermitage Museum
Madelynn Baeyer: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Rita Dal Martello: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
Robert N. Spengler: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract The origins and dispersal of the chicken across the ancient world remains one of the most enigmatic questions regarding Eurasian domesticated animals. The lack of agreement concerning timing and centers of origin is due to issues with morphological identifications, a lack of direct dating, and poor preservation of thin, brittle bird bones. Here we show that chickens were widely raised across southern Central Asia from the fourth century BC through medieval periods, likely dispersing along the ancient Silk Road. We present archaeological and molecular evidence for the raising of chickens for egg production, based on material from 12 different archaeological sites spanning a millennium and a half. These eggshells were recovered in high abundance at all of these sites, suggesting that chickens may have been an important part of the overall diet and that chickens may have lost seasonal egg-laying

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46093-2

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