Early Neolithic communities penetrated in southwestern Transylvania and were established in the Mureș Valley where they found suitable territories for domestic animal herds and probably plant cultivation. The present study tries to answer questions related to the beginnings of the neolithisation in this area, from an interdisciplinary perspective, valuing archeozoologically and archeobotanically the Starčevo-Criș site of Soimuș-Teleghi (Hunedoara County), dating to the 7th–6th millennium BC. Animal skeletal remains and phytoliths are the proxies analysed in this paper, offering data about the palaeoeconomy and palaeoenvironment of the Early Neolithic settlement. In the archaeozoological samples, the remains coming from domestic mammals are the most frequent, being identified as cattle (Bos taurus), sheep/goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus), pig (Sus domesticus), and dog (Canis familiaris). The fact that pig remains are almost absent in the samples is significant, suggesting a mobility of the evaluated communities. The skeletal remains of wild mammal species are rare, belonging to red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), aurochs (Bos primigenius), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and polecat (Mustela putorius). The strong dominance of grasses is attested through the phytoliths’ assemblages. ELONGATE DENDRITIC phytoliths are well represented. This morphotype, which originates from the inflorescence or the husk of Poaceae, is most likely derived from cultivated plants (cereals such as wheat, barley, etc.). Archaeozoological and archaeobotanical data resulting from this study suggest an open environment around the Early Neolithic settlement, where communities of the Starčevo-Criș culture mainly raised herds of cattle and sheep/goat. Sporadically, hunting and gathering molluscs were practised by the inhabitants, as indicated by archaeozoological results.

This work proposes to contribute through an interdisciplinary perspective to the evaluation of paleoeconomic and paleoenvironmental changes during Middle Holocene in Southwestern Transylvania. The study integrates archaeozoological data with phytolith analysis to reconstruct subsistence and vegetation dynamics from the Early Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age at Șoimuș-Teleghi (Hunedoara County, Romania). Animal remains are described in terms of their frequency (i.e., number of identified specimens and minimum number of individuals), taphonomic changes, and livestock management (i.e., animal selection by age and sex). Archaeozoological samples are dominated by skeletal remains from domestic mammals (e.g., cattle, sheep/goat, and pig), whose importance varies depending on the cultural level; the skeletal remains of wild mammals are less frequent, mainly belonging to species with large size (e.g., red deer, wild boar, roe deer, aurochs). This study tests whether animal exploitation strategies shifted from ruminant-dominated economies in the Neolithic to greater pig reliance in the Bronze Age, using the Shannon–Weaver diversity index and correspondence analysis. Phytolith analysis of eleven sediment samples from various cultural layers reveals the dominance of Pooideae-type grasses, with both vegetative plant parts and cereal inflorescences as resources. Bioarchaeological data presented in this study reveal a diachronic shift in subsistence practices, reflecting cultural and environmental transformations.

The studied fish remains come from the excavations carried out by the Ștefan Honcu archaeologist between 2017 and 2020 within the Argamum archaeological site. The study methodology consisted mainly of anatomical and taxonomic identifications based on archaeozoological atlases, quantification of the data, taphonomical evaluation, osteometry, size and weight estimation, and energy yield estimation. The archaeozoological material represents food waste. The only osteological remains registered with butchering marks was a fragment of a caudal vertebra from Silurus glanis (catfish). The studied material consists of 72 fish remains coming from carp-28 fragments, catfish-19 remains and the rest of 25 fragments couldn`t be identified up to species level. The faunal material is dated as follows: second half of the V century level-9 remains, 4 remains from carp, a fragment from catfish and 4 fragments from unidentifiable fish; first half of the VI century-17 osteological remains coming from carp-7 remains, catfish-8 remains and two unidentified fragments; second half of the VI century were discovered the most fish remains-41 osteological fragments; late VI-early VII century-5 fragments, 2 remains coming from carp and 3 remains from catfish. Most of the carp individuals range between 60-80 cm and 80-100 cm. For catfish, most of the individuals have sizes between 220-240 cm. Based on the estimated amount of meat for each species, the energy yield (kcal) was calculated, the assemblages dated to the VI century being the richest. Rezumat. Resturile de pește studiate provin din săpăturile efectuate de arheologul Ștefan Honcu între anii 2017 și 2020 în cadrul sitului arheologic Argamum. Metodologia de studiu a constat în principal în identificări anatomice și taxonomice bazate pe atlase arheozoologice de specialitate, cuantificarea datelor, evaluarea tafonomică, osteometrie, estimare a taliei și greutății indivizilor de pește și estimarea puterii energetice. Materialul arheozoologic reprezintă deșeuri alimentare. Singurele rămășițe osteologice înregistrate cu semne de tranșare a fost un fragment de vertebră caudală provenită de la Silurus glanis (somn). Materialul studiat este alcătuit din 72 de resturi de pește provenind de la crap-28 fragmente, somn-19 fragmente, iar restul de 25 de fragmente nu au putut fi identificate până la nivel specific. Materialul faunistic este datat după cum urmează: a doua jumătate a secolului V-9 resturi, 4 resturi de crap, un fragment de somn și 4 fragmente de pește neidentificabili; prima jumătate a secolului VI-17 resturi osteologice provenite de la crap-7 resturi, somn-8 resturi și două fragmente neidentificate specific; a doua jumătate a secolului VI au fost descoperite cele mai multe resturi de pește-41 de fragmente osteologice; sfârșitul secolului VI-începutul secolului VII-5 fragmente, 2 resturi provenite de la crap și 3 resturi de la somn. Majoritatea indivizilor crap variază între 60-80 cm și 80-100 cm. Pentru somn, majoritatea indivizilor au dimensiuni cuprinse între 220-240 cm. Pe baza cantității estimate de carne pentru fiecare specie s-a calculat randamentul energetic (kcal), eșantioanele datate în secolul VI fiind cele mai bogate.

This study investigates intraspecific morphometric variability in the archaeozoological assemblages from the multi-period site of Șoimuș-Teleghi (Hunedoara County, Romania), encompassing occupation phases from the Early Neolithic (Starčevo-Criș culture) to the Late Bronze Age. The new AMS radiocarbon dates obtained refine the chronological framework of the site. The results reveal pronounced morphometric variability in cattle (Bos taurus), with horncore flattening indices, dental dimensions, and postcranial measurements enabling the differentiation of males, females, and probable castrates—the latter suggesting traction-oriented management strategies. A notably large horncore from the Vinča level may indicate hybridisation between domestic cattle and aurochs (Bos primigenius). Sheep (Ovis aries) display an increase in estimated withers height from the Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age, potentially reflecting improved husbandry. The pig (Sus domesticus) scapula scatter plot indicates a female-dominated culling pattern, while postcranial elements suggest relatively robust forelimbs combined with more gracile distal limb segments. Among wild taxa, red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) exhibit clear sexual dimorphism and generally large body sizes, consistent with the selective hunting of prime adult males. Comparative analysis with contemporary assemblages from Transylvania, Banat, and Hungary situates the Șoimuș-Teleghi material within broader regional trends, while highlighting certain distinctive features, particularly the large dimensions of Early Neolithic cattle and the diachronic size increase observed in caprine.