Pastoralism's Hidden Role in Ancient South Caucasus

The South Caucasus region has long been a hotspot for discussions on technological progress, resource gathering, and trade networks. The focus is often on mobile pastoralism. This is the practice of moving livestock around to find fresh grazing lands. But what if this isn't the whole story? What if the people of this region had a more settled way of life? Let's dive into this idea. A recent study took a close look at animal and plant remains from a site in southern Armenia. This site, known as Yeghegis-1, dates back to the Middle to Late Chalcolithic period. This was a time when people were starting to use metals more widely. The researchers used various methods to analyze these remains. Their goal was to understand how mobile these herds really were and what the local people's diet was like. The findings were surprising. Instead of a nomadic lifestyle, the inhabitants practiced a more settled form of pastoralism. They kept their herds at the site all year round. This doesn't mean they were completely stationary. They still moved around to gather different resources. But their main base was at Yeghegis-1. This challenges the common view of mobile pastoralism being crucial for trade and connectivity. It suggests that there might be other ways to explain the complex web of subsistence, trade, and social dynamics in this region. Perhaps increased connectivity within the region was more about exchange between different settled communities. Each community might have specialized in different economic activities. So, what does this mean for our understanding of the past? It highlights the need for more research. The interplay between how people lived, traded, and organized their societies is complex. It's not as simple as saying everyone was always on the move. By considering alternative models, we can gain a more nuanced understanding of the past.