Ojakly
Basic information
Sample name: Ojakly
Reference: L. M. Rouse, H. S. Woldekiros, and B. Cerasetti. 2022. Faunal remains from Ojakly, a Late Bronze Age mobile pastoralist campsite in the Murghab region, Turkmenistan. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 44:103531 [ER 3756]
Geography
Country: Turkmenistan
Coordinate: 38° 12' 36" N, 62° 2' 6" E
Coordinate basis: based on nearby landmark
Time interval: Holocene
Max Ma: 0.00349
Min Ma: 0.00326
Age basis: radiocarbon (uncalibrated)
Geography comments: "Ojakly is located approximately 6 km southwest of Auchin-depe, and 11.5 km east-northeast of Gonur-depe (basis of coordinate), itself located about 60 km north of Mary, Turkmenistan".
"A series of radiocarbon dates places the occupations in the Late Bronze Age between 1700 and 1500 BC".
"A series of radiocarbon dates places the occupations in the Late Bronze Age between 1700 and 1500 BC".
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: human accumulation,midden,settlement
Archaeology: ceramics,hearths,metal tools,stone tools,other artifacts,other structures
Habitat comments: "Ojakly is located in a naturally flat area between an active sand dune and smaller sandy hillocks that border the site on the east. The site covers 3 ha and is defined by a low density scatter of ceramics, but with pockets of very dense surface concentrations. The three densest areas were excavated, two living areas (Areas 1 and 4) and a production or working area (Area 5)".
"In each of the living areas, two distinct cultural levels were recognized in shallow deposits. Postholes were distinctly present in each level, as well as associated features such as storage pits, fireplaces, oven-like structures, and, in the case of Area 4, a refuse deposit or midden. A large number of burned animal bones, ceramic sherds, charcoal, and one specialized stone tool were recovered from this deposit. A subterranean ceramic kiln was also found in Area 5".
"In total, over 100 kg of ceramics and 26 stone tools were recovered from excavated contexts. Other archaeological finds include 15 copper fragments and 13 fired clay lumps identified as fragments of very crude figurines".
"In each of the living areas, two distinct cultural levels were recognized in shallow deposits. Postholes were distinctly present in each level, as well as associated features such as storage pits, fireplaces, oven-like structures, and, in the case of Area 4, a refuse deposit or midden. A large number of burned animal bones, ceramic sherds, charcoal, and one specialized stone tool were recovered from this deposit. A subterranean ceramic kiln was also found in Area 5".
"In total, over 100 kg of ceramics and 26 stone tools were recovered from excavated contexts. Other archaeological finds include 15 copper fragments and 13 fired clay lumps identified as fragments of very crude figurines".
Methods
Life forms: ungulates
Sampling methods: quarry,screenwash,surface
Sample size: 92 specimens
Years: 2010
Sampling comments: "Excavations at Ojakly were carried out over the course of two, one-month field seasons, which took place in May and October 2010. In total, three areas were excavated within the site using a system of 5 x 5 m squares, opening a total of 845 square metres".
"All excavated soil, from surface scrape down, was sieved on-site using a 2.5 mm mesh. Animal bones were present across the site both on the surface and within nearly all excavated contexts. However, the bulk of the faunal material was collected from the refuse deposit in Area 4, as well as the ceramic kiln in Area 5".
"All excavated soil, from surface scrape down, was sieved on-site using a 2.5 mm mesh. Animal bones were present across the site both on the surface and within nearly all excavated contexts. However, the bulk of the faunal material was collected from the refuse deposit in Area 4, as well as the ceramic kiln in Area 5".
Metadata
Sample number: 4007
Contributor: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Created: 2022-10-13 15:20:17
Modified: 2022-10-13 04:32:50
Abundance distribution
5 species
1 singleton
total count 92
geometric series index: 8.2
Fisher's α: 1.134
geometric series k: 0.3376
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.2805
Shannon's H: 0.6204
Good's u: 0.9894
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
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