Seasonal structure of slaughter of domestic ungulates in the Chiyalik culture settlement Yabalakly-1 (Southern Urals)

Abstract. The paper presents the results of the analysis of the age composition and season of slaughter of livestock (cattle, small cattle, horses) from the materials of the Chiyalik culture settlement of Yabalakly-1 (excavation of 2023). The presented methodology allows us to determine the individual age and season of slaughter of animals used in ritual and memorial rites or as everyday food. These data, in turn, may indirectly indicate the time and seasonality (or lack thereof) of the functioning of the human settlement. The materials of the Yabalakly-1 settlement are dominated by teeth of adult cattle aged 2 years and older. Small cattle are also represented by adult individuals aged 2-3 and 7-8 years. Horses belong to the teeth of adults (3-8 years) and old individuals (12-13 years). The season of death of animals was determined based on the study of annual layers in the teeth (cement and dentin). A total of 12 cattle teeth, 2 small cattle teeth and 4 horse teeth were studied. It was established that all animals whose teeth were analyzed died in the warm season. Probably, the medieval population of the settlement used the site only from spring to the first half of autumn. The spring-autumn cycle may be due to migrations along large waterways (the Belaya, Dema, Ik, Urashak rivers, etc.). These migrations with herds were necessary to preserve the forage base for cattle in the cold season near permanent settlements.

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