Thank you for visiting nature. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer. In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. This study explores changes in pastoral practices in the Jerusalem region Iron Age II - Late Hellenistic through a multi-isotope approach strontium, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Based on the analysis of sheep, goat, and cattle teeth and bone samples from Givati Parking Lot we demonstrate the value of this method in reconstructing past animal husbandry, revealing adaptation and resilience of pastoral communities amidst environmental and socio-political changes. Isotopic analysis indicates local sourcing for most animals, with intriguing outliers from distant regions up to km away, suggesting regional exchange networks. Notably, the Persian period 5th century BCE exhibits a wider isotope range, implying increased flexibility and exploitation of diverse grazing lands, potentially driven by climate shifts and political upheavals.
Conversely, Late Hellenistic 2nd century BCE livestock display restricted movement, while showcasing a rise in desert caprines, indicative of increased import compared to the Persian era. These findings highlight the dynamism and adaptability of past pastoral communities, adjusting their strategies in response to various pressures.
This study opens new avenues for understanding human-environment interactions in the Levant and underscores the power of multi-isotope approaches in unraveling intricate socio-economic and ecological dynamics of the past. During the latter half of the 1st millennium BCE, Jerusalem emerged as a preeminent urban center within the region.
Functioning as a central nexus for Judaean cultic practices, the city fostered a diverse and complex array of religious activity. Its dense population and strategic location further facilitated its development as a major trading hub, attracting merchants from a wide geographical expanse.
