Abstract
The article presents the results of an archaeozoological analysis of osteological materials from the Kazakh wintering site Tazhegul-2. The study aims to identify the main directions of the population's economic activities based on laboratory analysis of animal bone remains. The research employed standard archaeozoological methods and paleopathological analysis to assess animal health. Of 578 bone specimens identified, 494 (86%) were determined to the species level. The analysis revealed all major domestic species: small ruminants (Ovis et Capra), cattle (Bos taurus), horse (Equus caballus), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), and donkey (Equus asinus). Among wild fauna, fox cranial elements were recorded. Quantitatively, small ruminant bones predominate (39%), followed by cattle (33%) and horse (26%), while camel and donkey bones are minimal. Age analysis indicates most small ruminants were slaughtered between 1 and 2 years of age. Cattle were kept for meat and dairy purposes, slaughtered at 1.5–4 years and older. Overall, the age structure shows a relative predominance of adult individuals. Among bone artifacts, a fragment of a skate made from a horse metapodial bone was identified.
01 Introduction
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