Provisioning a Silk Road City: Herd Management Strategies at the Urban Site of Dzhankent, Kazakhstan

Abstract

This study presents evidence for herd management at the early medieval city of Dzhankent in southern Kazakhstan. Located along the Northern Silk Road, Dzhankent was a key trading node linking northern and southern areas between the 9th and 10th centuries ce. To investigate livestock management strategies within this urban center, we conducted incremental carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope analysis on second molars from 16 sheep. Results reveal six distinct isotopic groups characterized by variation in birth seasonality, pasturing regimes, and foddering intensity. A diversity of practices buffered herds against environmental stress and extended access to animal products, such as milk, across the year. The isotopic variation observed suggests that Dzhankent was provisioned through a combination of local herding and regionally sourced animals, reflecting both ecological adaptation and the embeddedness of the city in long-distance trade. This study demonstrates how flexible herd management supported urban resilience and livestock trade in a marginal environment on the Northern Silk Roads.