R01 - Pathways of Pastoralism: The Dispersal of Herding Practices in Neolithic Southwest Asia

Session Organisers: Özlem Sarıtaş, Derya Silibolatlaz

Category: Domestication / Subsistence Economy

Session Abstract: The dispersal of herding practices during the Neolithic period represents a significant milestone in human history, reshaping societies, and landscapes across Southwest Asia and beyond. This session aims to delve into the intricate processes and impacts associated with the spread of pastoralism, exploring the movement of herding practices and their profound influence on Neolithic communities. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we will examine the origins, trajectories, and mechanisms of herding dispersal and the socio-economic and environmental transformations it engendered. Key themes will include the routes of herding expansion, the interaction between herders and indigenous agriculturalists, and the ecological implications of pastoralism. These presentations will highlight the latest archaeological findings, genetic studies, and environmental data that illuminate the patterns and drivers of herding dispersal. Participants will gain insights into: • The initial domestication and management of livestock and their subsequent spread across Neolithic landscapes. • The role of environmental factors and climate change in shaping herding routes and practices. • The social and economic impacts of pastoralism on Neolithic communities, including changes in settlement patterns, trade networks, and cultural exchanges. • The adaptive strategies herders employ in diverse ecological zones and their interactions with sedentary agriculturalists. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of how herding practices are disseminated across Southwest Asia, transforming human-animal relationships and ecosystems. Attendees will leave with a deeper appreciation of the complexity and dynamism of Neolithic pastoralism and its lasting legacies. Join us for an engaging exploration of the pathways of pastoralism and the critical role of herding in shaping the Neolithic world. This session promises to offer valuable perspectives for scholars and enthusiasts interested in the history of human-animal interactions and the development of ancient societies.

Room: B

05/11/2024

Start Time - End Time	Authors	Title
14:45 - 15:05	Louise Martin, Joy Mccorriston	Cattle Cults, Social Symphysis and Pastoral Systems in the Southern Arabian Neolithic
15:05 - 15:25	Özlem Sarıtaş, Louise Martin	Evolution of Herding Practices: The Dispersal of Sheep and Goats from the Epipaleolithic to the Neolithic in Anatolia.
15:25 - 15:45	Derya Silibolatlaz	Exploring Pig Domestication During Pre Pottery Period B (PPNB) at Gre Fılla in the Upper Tigris Region, Southeastern Turkey
15:45 - 16:05	Gülçin İlgezdi Bertram, Banu Öksüz, Semra Balcı	Human-Animal Relations at Sırçalıtepe

Coffee Break

Start Time - End Time	Authors	Title
16:30 - 16:50	Can Yümni Gündem	Unveiling Neolithic Dispersal: Early Cattle Herding in the Highlands of Central Anatolia, Tepecik Çiftlik
16:50 - 17:10	Saiji Arai, Farhad Guliyev, Azad Zeynalov, Yoshihiro Nishiaki	Does the emergence of domestic animals coincide with pastoralization?: The rapid introduction and delayed development of livestock economy in the Southern Caucasus