Neolithic settlements in Bulgaria give a good, but still incomplete, sample of data showing habitats and husbandry. There are animal remains of wild and domestic mammals that are hunted and bred by humans found in pits, dwellings and other archeological features in the sites. This gives a general idea of the management of animal sources (meat and dairy products), husbandry and livelihood of the people. Such deposits of animal remains are the main source of data on fauna and domestication during this period. This gives us insight into the processes leading to the development of agriculture during transition between Neolithic and Chalcolithic period . This presentation includes the analysis of animal remains from three still unpublished deposits from southern and northern Bulgaria with more than 26000 analysed bones, horns, antlers and teeth from large mammals from the orders: artiodactyla, perissodactyla and carnivora. The analysis also includes already published data from sites in the eastern Balkans.

Dr. Nadezhda Karastoyanova

Born March 7th 1984 in Dupnitsa, she has been working as a zooarcheologist since 2012, and she recently has been appointed to the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia, Bulgaria. She has extensive experience in excavations: 15 years in archaeological site of different periods and is a specialist in prehistoric site. Education: - 2018 — PhD on theme of research: ‘Development of hunt and animal husbandry in Eastern Balkans: The role of wild and domestic species in paleoeconomyand changes in natural environment from Late Neolithic to Late Chalcolithic period’. Advisor: Prof. Dr Nikolai Spassov; National Museum of Natural History — BAS, Sofia - 2011 — MA degree in Archaeology, on theme ‘Late Neolithic faunal remains from a pit deposit excavated near Sarnevo, Stara Zagora region, in Southeast Bulgaria’; New Bulgarian University, Sofia - 2009 — Bachelor degree in Archaeology, on theme ‘Archaeological documentation of hill-top sites’; New Bulgarian University, Sofia

Contact:
Department of “Paleontology and Mineralogy”
National Museum of Natural History Bulgarian Academy of Science
1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.
1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: +359 895 606 305

• Neolithic
• Moving Stones