Feeding Patterns and Management of Dogs and Chickens from Ancient to Medieval Sites of Ukraine: A Stable Isotope Analysis

Abstract

In an attempt to have a glimpse at the past trophic rela- tionships of human-dependent animals, particularly those that were able to receive or find food of different origins, we applied bone collagen stable isotope analysis (SIA) to domestic dogs, chickens and several other domestic and wild animals that were sampled from eight sites in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and were chronologically rang- ing from Classical antiquity to the Middle Ages. The results show a variety of diets in chickens and dogs from different sites, but those specimens that were cohabiting mostly share similar isotope signatures, indicating the lack of obvious differential feeding and suggesting the consumption of human food waste. This implies their relatively free-ranging status rather than penning and feeding on specifically prepared food.