Isotopic Evidence for Early Trade in Animals between Old Kingdom Egypt and Canaan.
Isotope data from a sacrificial ass and several ovicaprines (sheep/goat) from Early Bronze Age household deposits at Tell es-Safi/Gath, Israel provide direct evidence for the movement of domestic draught/draft and husbandry animals between Old Kingdom Egypt (during the time of the Pyramids) and Early Bronze Age III Canaan (ca. 2900-2500 BCE). Vacillating, bi-directional connections between Egypt and Canaan are known throughout the Early Bronze Age, but here we provide the first concrete evidence of early trade in animals from Egypt to Canaan.
Grand Valley State University, Department of Anthropology, Allendale, Michigan, United States of America.
Elizabeth R
ER
Arnold
University of Connecticut, Department of Anthropology, Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America.
Gideon
G
Hartman
Department of Anthropology and St. Paul's College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Haskel J
HJ
Greenfield
Ariel University, Israel Heritage Department and the Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Ariel, Israel.
Itzhaq
I
Shai
Grand Valley State University, Department of Anthropology, Allendale, Michigan, United States of America.
Lindsay E
LE
Babcock
Bar-Ilan University, Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Aren M
AM
Maeir
D000818:Animals; D001106:Archaeology; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003132:Commerce; D004534:Egypt; D005843:Geography; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D013325:Strontium Isotopes; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D013325:Strontium Isotopes