Traction in Neolithic ?atalho?y?k? Palaeopathological analysis of cattle and aurochs remains from the East and West Mounds
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Cattle traction was a technological innovation that made a significant impact on production, individual and household wealth, and social organisation. Despite ongoing debates regarding the origins and extent of the harnessing of cattle power among early agropastoral societies, only a few studies have attempted at addressing this matter systematically. In Neolithic catalho center dot yuk, several studies have explored the symbolism and domestication of aurochs and cattle, while the systematic investigation of Bos skeletal remains regarding the presence of cattle traction has been missing. This study focuses on Neolithic catalho center dot yuk in Central Anatolia, renowned for its cattle symbolism, to explore the possibility of cattle traction in the 7th and 6th millennium BCE. We studied the palaeopathological traces on the lower limbs of Bos from catalho center dot yuk East (Early, Middle, and Late) and West Mounds. Our results suggest that arthropathies are present on the Bos lower limbs (particularly anterior elements) in all phases of Neolithic catalho center dot yuk. Pathological and sub-pathological changes are on average more severe among the small cattle of catalho center dot yuk West than in the preceding periods at catalho center dot yuk East, a result affected by a few rather deformed specimens in catalho center dot yuk West. We did not observe any clear correlation between cattle survivorship, size, and pathology severity. Although an unequivocal association between pathologies and traction in prehistoric cattle remains challenging, we discuss plausible explanations for the changing nature and intensity of cattle pathologies at catalho center dot yuk throughout time. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of possible draught use of cattle for the socioeconomic shifts catalho center dot yuk experienced in the 6th millennium BC.