Findings of Archaeozoological Research of Scythoid Settlements in the Don Forest-Steppe

The article focuses on the analysis of osteological materials discovered in scythoid settlements and hillforts of the Don forrest-steppe. These collections originate from 11 hillforts and two fortified settle-ments dated the Scythian era. The studied selection lists over 14,500 distinguishable bones. The number of animal bones vary from a monument to a monument. Certain finds include dozens, while other include up to several thousand items. The selected sets allow to assume the structure of the kitchen remains at the explored settlements. However, such sets are found only in six settlements. The remains in focus mainly belong to domestic animals, but the minority of 2.4 % of bones belongs to wild animals. The osteological spectrum pre-dominantly reveals cattle and horses. Small cattle and pig remains are far rarer. Dog bones are even rarer. The found wild animal bones are attributed to a moose, a red deer, a reindeer, a roe deer, a boar, a bear, a fox, a wolf, a badger, a beaver, a hair, a marmot, mustelids and birds. The most common animals hunted for meat are boars and moose. The number one animal to be hunted for fur was a beaver, however beaver meat could be used as food too. Hunting was obviously aimed at obtaining meat, but did not really have a significant role in the people’s lifestyle. Scythoid tribes in the Don forest-steppe preferred to eat cattle or horse meat, which is con-firmed by the osteological evidence. Goat meat, mutton and pork served as a minor complementation to their ration. Animal husbandry produced both meat and dairy. It is proven by the age of the consumed animals. The slaughtered horses and cattle were mostly adult. Speaking of small cattle, such animals were either slaughtered both young and adult or mostly adult. The found pigs’ remains mostly belonged to younger animals, which seems traditional. A reconstructed herd model shows that the herd was dominated by cattle and horses, but the proportions varied from settlement to settlement. Small cattle animals and pigs did not possess a significant share. It is assumed that the settlements’ residents kept their animals both is stalls and at pastures. However, this assumption seeks approval through comprehensive up-to-date cross-disciplinary researches.