Fowling in Lowlands

Archaeo-ornitology is a special field within archaeozoology: it deals with the analysis of avian remains found during archaeological excavations and the historical study of bird exploitation. Bird remains do not only help in the reconstruction of past habitats but also illustrate ancient cultural attitudes towards animals and the natural environment. The goal of this volume is to present evidence for the prehistoric use of birds identified from 27 Neolithic and 15 Chalcolithic sites in South-East Romania and Great Hungarian Plain. Domestic fowl was not yet introduced to Europe at that time, which explains the rich variety of identified birds on the one hand, and the need for fowling (procuring bird meat and feathers, collecting eggs) on the other. Filling a gap in the history of archaeozoological investigations in Romania and Hungary, this comprehensive work offers a unique possibility for sharing our knowledge on the diversity of identified birds and their use in the studied regions with those interested in the past and present of wild birds.