Archaeozoological Materials of the 11th–17th Centuries from the Excavations of the Zemlyanoe Hillfort in Staraya Ladoga

The paper describes an osteological assemblage from the 2007 and 2011 excavations of the Zemlyanoe Hillfort in Staraya Ladoga. A total of more than 28 000 bone remains from the occupation layers dating to the 11th–17th centuries have been examined. The analysis of the animal species composition and percentages of animal bones has been performed. The anatomical composition of the remains and the age groups of the slaughtered domestic animals have been described. The paper shows that economy of the Ladoga population was based on household production. Cattle and pigs were most important animals for the urban population. The components of household production are typical of Russian urban settlements of the 11th–17th centuries. Local population was also engaged in hunting and fishing; however, these activities did not play a major role in subsistence economy. Throughout the 11th–17th centuries the role of domestic animals in the economy of the people who lived in the trading quarter around the city increased, while importance of fishing and hunting basically declined. Besides, the number of domestic animals raised for milk increased.