Oh, My Beloved, Great Bull! An Interdisciplinary Approach to Cattle as a Marker of Economic and Political Status in Medieval Sub-Saharan Societies

The historical, zooarchaeological and isotopic data concern-ing cattle breeding and management in the medieval Middle Nile Valley are considered in this paper in the first such com-prehensive research for the region. The main source of data are the nearly 10,300 animal remains. The archaeozoological analy-ses focused primarily on cattle morphology. Strontium isotope analyses were used to indicate the local/non-local origin of animals encompassing the whole period studied. The empirical data indicate a developed central system of cattle management in medieval Makuria. Textual and iconographic sources addi-tionally reflect an extensive set of values that have been expe-rienced since prehistory in the Middle Nile and correspond to the anthropological definition of the cattle centred behavior. Comprehensive analysis of animal remains and the analysis of textual information enabled the formulation of a hypothesis about Makuria's economic and cultural foundations rooted in the local tradition, constituting an important element of the Nubian identity.

Automated summary

This paper presents the first comprehensive research on cattle breeding and management in the medieval Middle Nile Valley, combining historical, zooarchaeological, and isotopic data. The study utilized over 10,300 animal remains, focusing on cattle morphology and employing strontium isotope analyses to determine the local or non-local origin of the animals. The findings indicate a well-developed central system of cattle management in medieval Makuria, supported by textual and iconographic sources that reflect a long-standing cultural significance of cattle in the Middle Nile region, aligning with anthropological understanding of cattle-centred behavior.