Anthrozoological Study on the Agro-Pastoral Societies of Kiziltepe, Southeast Anatolia

Abstract

Since the origin, humans have been depended and formed mixtures of complex relationships with nonhuman animals. These mutualistic relationships eventually intensified following the animal domestication. Southeast Anatolia is one of the important regions where the first domestication of sheep, goat, cattle, and pig occurred as well as domestic herds have been fundamental in every socio-cultural aspect in the region until today. Therefore, Southeast Anatolia has been an ideal place for pastoral and antorozoological study. Through fieldworks and exploratory case studies in agro-pastoral societies in Kızıltepe, we found certain sheep, goats, and cattle are capable of distinguishing and recognizing human and other cross-species individuals as like they do in their own species. Alongside of providing protein, wealth and social status, herd animals in Kızıltepe also possess deep affection and emotional bonds with human individuals as like as pets in urban societies. On the other hand, we do not observe any gender or sibling effect in children-animal bond which was focused in some contemporary studies. Our overall observations and findings also demonstrate some intangible culture cores in Southeast Anatolia which is promoted mainly by the complex relationships between human and their domestic herds. 

Keywords

• Anthrozoology,Human-Animal bond,Pastoralism,Southeast Anatolia,Kızıltepe

Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde Kızıltepe’deki Agro-Pastoral Topluluklar Üzerine Bir Antrozoolojik İnceleme

Abstract

İnsanlar dünyada varlıktan beri diğer hayvanlarla karmaşık ilişkileri kurup yaşamaktadır. Bu karşılıklı ilişkiler, sonunda hayvanların evcilleştirilmesinin ardından yoğunlaştı. Güneydoğu Anadolu, koyun, keçi, sığır ve domuzun ilk evcilleştirilmesinin önemli bölgelerden biridir ve ayrıca evcil sürüleri bölgedeki her sosyo-kültürel açıdan bugüne kadar de önemli olduğunu söz konusudur. Bu nedenle, Güneydoğu Anadolu pastoral ekonomi ve insan-hayvan ilişkileri incelemek için ideal bir yer olarak kabul edilmektedir. Kızıltepe'deki pastoral toplumlarda yapılan saha çalışması ve vaka araştırmaları sonucunda, bu makale bazı koyun, keçi ve sığırlar, insanların yanı sıra diğer türe ait hayvan bireylerine ayırt edebilecek ve tanıyabilecek nitelikte olduklarını tespit etmektedir. Kızıltepe'deki sürü hayvanlar, protein, zenginlik ve sosyal statü sağlamanın yanı sıra, kentsel toplumlarda evcil hayvanlar gibi insanlara duygusal bağlar ve derin sevgi de göstermektedir. Öte yandan, çağdaş bazı araştırmalara odaklanan sonuçların aksine Kızıltepe’deki çocuk-hayvan işinkiler içinde herhangi bir cinsiyet veya kardeşlik etkisi gözlemlenmemektedir. Genel gözlemlerimiz ve bulgularımız, aynı zamanda, Güneydoğu Anadolu'da insan ve sürü hayvanları arasındaki karmaşık ilişkiler nedeniyle teşvik edilen bazı somut olmayan kültürel faktörleri de göstermektedir. 

Keywords

• Antrozooloji,İnsan-Hayvan ilişki,Pastoralizm,Güneydoğu Anadolu,Kızıltepe

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