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Big-cat hunting in the Bronze and Iron Ages of the Near East: a view from Tel Burna

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2023

J.S. Gaastra Open the ORCID record for J.S. Gaastra [Opens in a new window] ,
T.L. Greenfield Open the ORCID record for T.L. Greenfield [Opens in a new window] ,
D. Cassuto Open the ORCID record for D. Cassuto [Opens in a new window]  and
I. Shai Open the ORCID record for I. Shai [Opens in a new window]
J.S. Gaastra*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, Durham University, UK.
T.L. Greenfield
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
D. Cassuto
Affiliation:
Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
I. Shai
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, Ariel University, Israel.
*
*Author for correspondence ✉ jane@gaastra.co.uk
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Abstract

In ancient Near Eastern iconography, panthers and lions were frequently used to express social status. The zooarchaeological remains of panthers and lions found in this region, however, are most commonly interpreted only as evidence for the management of dangerous animals. Starting with the faunal material from Iron Age Tel Burna, the authors collate and analyse zooarchaeological evidence for big cats across the Near East, from the Neolithic to the Iron Age (c. 9500–50 BC). The results show a shift in assemblage composition and find contexts starting in the Chalcolithic period, indicating the display of these animals by political leaders. The results also urge caution in the use of archaeological remains for reconstructing the natural ranges of big cats.

Keywords

LevantMesopotamiaNeolithicBronze AgeIron AgezooarchaeologyFelidaesocial display
Type
Research Article
Information
Antiquity , Volume 97 , Issue 395 , October 2023 , pp. 1138 - 1155
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Antiquity Publications Ltd.

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