Cat Taming in the Western Mediterranean. Issues, Problematics and Unpredictability in the Light of Bio-archaeological Approaches to a Museum Specimen

Authors

  • Roberto Miccichè Università di Palermo
  • Pietro Valenti Università di Palermo
  • Andrea D. Messina Università di Palermo
  • Luca Sìneo Università di Palermo
  • Noboyuki Yamaguchi Qatar University, Doha
  • Giulio Catalano Università di Bologna, Ravenna
  • Stefano Reale Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Sicilia, Palermo
  • Mario Cosenza Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Sicilia, Palermo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1973-9494/7114

Keywords:

Felis silvestris, Felis silvestris catus, animal domestication, Sicily, cat taming

Abstract

The vast wealth of cultural artifacts and ancient biological samples can today be investigated using a great variety of methods and technologies. The result is a growing diffusion of studies on DNA, isotopes and morphometrics, and the exponential growth of publications and bio-archaeological discoveries of inestimable value for different areas of interpretation, such as phylogeny, history and archaeology. This paper describes the morphological and molecular study of a rare specimen of Felis from an Early Bronze Age horizon. The report offers the opportunity for a brief discussion on cat taming, on the origin of this practice and on the archaeological importance of this specimen for the reconstruction of taming practices in the Western Mediterranean Basin.

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Published

2017-06-01

How to Cite

Miccichè, R., Valenti, P., Messina, A. D., Sìneo, L., Yamaguchi, N., Catalano, G., Reale, S., & Cosenza, M. (2015). Cat Taming in the Western Mediterranean. Issues, Problematics and Unpredictability in the Light of Bio-archaeological Approaches to a Museum Specimen. Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage, 15(2), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1973-9494/7114