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Radiocarbon dating redefines the timing and circumstances of the chicken’s introduction to Europe and northwest Africa

Abstract:
Astonishingly little is known about the early history of the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). To better understand their spatiotemporal spread across Eurasia and Africa, we radiocarbon dated presumed early chicken bones. The results indicate chickens were an Iron Age arrival to Europe and that there was a consistent time-lag of several centuries between their introduction to new regions and incorporation into the human diet. Well-dated evidence for Britain and mainland Europe suggests chickens were initially considered exotica and buried as individuals, were gradually incorporated into human funerary rites, and only much later came to be seen as just ‘food’.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.15184/aqy.2021.90

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ORCID:
0000-0002-5949-598X


Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Journal:
Antiquity More from this journal
Volume:
96
Issue:
388
Pages:
868 - 882
Publication date:
2022-06-07
Acceptance date:
2021-05-24
DOI:
EISSN:
1745-1744
ISSN:
0003-598X


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1185107
Local pid:
pubs:1185107
Deposit date:
2021-07-05

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