Fish and Birds in the Trypillya Economy and Culture (5.4-2.7 kya BC): Evidence from Ukraine

The paper deals with the role of fish and birds in the Trypillya culture, which was one of the greatest Eneolithic cultures within Europe. Analysis of the osteological material (authors' own determination and literature data), as well as auxiliary material – fish and bird images in the Trypillya art – were used for this purpose. As in the case of mammals, the role of different fish and bird species varied greatly among the regions and cultures. Bones of sturgeon, roach, carp, catfish, pike, perch and other freshwater fish species were observed with different frequencies. Analysis of the skeletal remains and data on fishing gear from the archaeological literature indicates that the Trypillya fishing focused on large‐sized fish. The main birds hunted by the Trypillya people were waterfowl (ducks, geese and coot), large Galliformes (capercaillie and black grouse), grey crane and bustard. A characteristic feature of the Trypillya settlements was a large proportion of birds of prey and owls. Remains of domestic chicken from the Gorods'k settlement (late Trypillya or Gorods'k‐Usatove culture), dated as 3212 ± 100 CalBC, were the most ancient remains of domestic chicken found in Ukraine, and probably in Europe. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.