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Investigating Land Use by the Inhabitants of Western Cyprus During the Early Neolithic Katelyn Dibenedetto [email protected]

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Investigating Land Use by the Inhabitants of Western Cyprus During the Early Neolithic Katelyn Dibenedetto Katelyn.E.Dibenedetto@Gmail.Com UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones May 2018 Investigating Land Use by the Inhabitants of Western Cyprus During the Early Neolithic Katelyn Dibenedetto [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Repository Citation Dibenedetto, Katelyn, "Investigating Land Use by the Inhabitants of Western Cyprus During the Early Neolithic" (2018). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 3244. https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations/3244 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Scholarship@UNLV. It has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INVESTIGATING LAND USE BY THE INHABITANTS OF WESTERN CYPRUS DURING THE EARLY NEOLITHIC By Katelyn E. DiBenedetto Bachelor of Arts – Anthropology University at Albany 2012 Master of Arts – Anthropology University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2015 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy – Anthropology Department of Anthropology College of Liberal Arts The Graduate College University of Nevada Las Vegas May 2018 Dissertation Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 7, 2018 This dissertation prepared by Katelyn E. DiBenedetto entitled Investigating Land Use by the Inhabitants of Western Cyprus During the Early Neolithic is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Anthropology Department of Anthropology Alan Simmons, Ph.D. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D. Examination Committee Chair Graduate College Interim Dean Pierre Lienard, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Barbara Roth, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Stephen Rowland, Ph.D. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii ABSTRACT This study presents the first of its kind in Cyprus that combines the use of ancient crop (two-grained einkorn wheat, hulled barley, and lentils) and animal (domestic sheep, goat, cattle, pig, and wild deer) stable isotopes (carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen) for reconstructing land use by the Kritou Marottou Ais Giorkis (Cypro-PPNB, 7956-7058 cal BC) inhabitants in western Cyprus. Current definitions of this time period employ the strict forager/farmer dichotomy, even though archaeological evidence suggests otherwise. In addition, it is still assumed that Cyprus was a barren landscape whose inhabitants were isolated from one another and the mainland. An integrated stable isotope approach provides the opportunity to examine plant (crop water management and soil nitrogen composition) and animal (diet and seasonal movement) management strategies, allowing us to then infer land use. The isotopic data also provide information on the environment, which appears to be wetter than today. The results of this study do not support seasonal movement of herd animals between the lowlands and uplands. Pig were consuming a primarily herbivorous diet, raising the possibility that these animals were actually feral/wild or part of a free-range husbandry regime. Both the two-grained einkorn and hulled barley fall within the ‘moderately watered category.’ The barley samples also had an enriched nitrogen signal. The plant data suggest that barely was possibly given preferential treatment towards its growth. The isotopic data, in combination with the macrobotanical and zooarchaeological analyses, indicate that the inhabitants were not focusing resources and labor on agricultural practices. I argue that they were instead focused on craft production, which was also embedded in hunting activities, for inter-island and perhaps island- mainland exchange. This study helps to reframe our understanding of the Cypro-PPNB by providing new evidence of human activity during this important period in human history. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Six years ago, I drove out to Las Vegas with my parents from New York. While the drive itself was an adventure, I never could have imagined in my wildest dreams the journey that I would make to reach this point. Along the way I have been fortunate to be mentored by individuals both in and outside of the field of Anthropology, received a number of grants and fellowships that made this journey possible, and met incredible friends and colleagues. I would first like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Alan Simmons, for his constant support, encouragement, and mentorship. He helped me to grow to be the scholar and researcher that I am today (and put up with my quirks in the field and slightly anxious personality!). In addition, he was always patient when life intervened, which it inevitably does as you go through a graduate program. My committee members, Drs. Barbara Roth, Pierre Lienard, and Stephen Rowland, provided helpful feedback on this beast of a dissertation, which made it a stronger and more digestible scholarly work. They also all contributed to my growth as a scholar, whether it was through classes that were not in my sub-discipline, reading groups, and working in areas outside of Cyprus. I would next like to express my thanks to my undergraduate adviser Dr. Stuart Swiny and his incredible wife, Helena Wylde-Swiny. Stuart’s classes at UAlbany, especially the one on Cyprus, started me on my path to getting a Ph.D. Both of you continue to serve as mentors and sources of inspiration. Through Stuart and Alan, I have been fortunate to meet a wonderfully supportive community on Cyprus, including: Vathoulla Moustokki (who is one of the kindest individuals I have ever met), Dr. Laura Swantek, Dr. Walter Crist, Bill Weir, Dr. Zuzana Chovanec, Dr. Lindy Crew, Dr. Bernard Knapp, Dr. Sturt Manning (who encouraged me to look into isotopes), Dr. Paul Croft, Dr. Leilani Lucas, Dr. Andrew McCarthy, Dr. Carole McCartney, Dr. Pamela Gaber iv (the PI of my first archaeological excavation on Cyprus), Dr. Tom Davis and his crew at the Kourion Urban Space Project, Jonathan White, Demet Karşılı, Sarah Douglas, Dr. Michelle Gamble, and Frank Garrod. Funding from the award made by the National Science Foundation to Dr. Alan Simmons (Grant No. BCS-1220351) covered the costs of all lab analyses in this study. In addition, I would like to express my thanks to Cyprus’ Department of Antiquities, and in particular Director Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou and Popi Chrysostomou, and the Committee of Export of Cultural Goods who gave me permission to conduct stable isotope studies on the faunal remains from Ais Giorkis. A number of different scholarships/fellowships and funding from particular departments also helped me conduct research, travel overseas, and write my dissertation, including: the Department of Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts Summer Research Award, Summer Doctoral Research Fellowship, UNLV Graduate College Top Tier Graduate Fellowship, Graduate and Professional Student Association Sponsorships, Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award, University of Nevada Las Vegas International Programs Scholarships for Summer Study Abroad, Platt Fellowship (American Schools of Oriental Research), and the Helena Wylde Swiny and Stuart Swiny Fellowship (Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute). Throughout this journey, I have met wonderful friends and colleagues. Although you all know who you are, I would like to give several shout-outs. I have been fortunate to work with a wonderful and supportive team at the Graduate College, and I am particularly grateful for mentorship from Dean Kate Korgan and Valarie Burke. Dr. Levi Keach, you have been a wonderful colleague and friend in the field. I have enjoyed our discussions over the last six years and I am happy we are finishing together (since we did start together). Greg Alliger, I appreciate all of your help with ArcGIS and our chats about Cypriot archaeology over the last few years. v Finally, Matt, thanks for your constant support and encouragement, especially the last few months of the dissertation writing phase. I would also like to thank the best cat that has been a part of my life, Rambo. Not only did you crack me up during periods of incredible stress with your huge and funny personality, but you were also always a source of comfort and joy. Finally, this dissertation never would have been written without the support of my family. Mom and dad, you instilled in us at a young age the importance of education. You taught us to be independent and critical thinkers. Through thick and thin you always have had my back. Thank you for everything. Megan and Emily, you two are the best sisters any one could ask for. I am proud of both of your accomplishments and look forward to the crazy adventures that we will share together in the coming years. vi DEDICATION To my parents, who have always been my biggest supporters, encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and who instilled in me at a young age a love for education, research, and reading. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION .............................................................................................................................. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................
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