When did roosters start singing at Arslantepe? A preliminary assessment of the presence and spread of Gallus gallus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Iron Age Eastern Anatolia

A significant discovery at the Iron Age site of Arslantepe (South-East Turkey) has revealed the presence of a rooster, Gallus gallus, dating to the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. This finding marks one of the earliest confirmed instances of this species in the Near East, providing crucial evidence for its spread from south-eastern Asia to Anatolia and beyond. The red junglefowl, though not native to Anatolia, was domesticated in Asia and reached Mesopotamia by the early 3rd millennium BC. While Bronze Age records are sparse, a notable increase in findings occurs during the late 2nd millennium BC, aligning with the rooster's discovery at Arslantepe. This study integrates zoological, chronological, and cultural data to contextualize the rooster's significance within Iron Age Syro-Anatolian societies, suggesting it may have held symbolic or ritualistic importance beyond its practical use.

Siracusano, G., Manuelli, F., & Masseti, M. (2021). When did roosters start singing at Arslantepe? A preliminary assessment of the presence and spread of Gallus gallus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Iron Age Eastern Anatolia. Anthropozoologica, 56(16). https://doi.org/10.5252/anthropozoologica2021v56a16