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Asymmetry, the abnormality of an organism or a part of it from its perfect symmetry, is represented by three different categories: fluctuating asymmetry, directional asymmetry, and antisymmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry attributes to random developmental variation of a morphological character, whereas directional asymmetry attributes one of the body sides to be more prominent than the other. Antisymmetry appears whenever one body side of a biological body shows greater morphological appearance than the other. Since more environmental stress often produces greater effect of fluctuating asymmetry, it can be a good indicator of physiological stress in the morphological characteristic of a biological being. Applying, so far, the first geometric morphometric methods on any Byzantine fauna, this study aimed to determine the kind and direction of skull asymmetry occurred in Byzantine dog skulls. Aiming this, asymmetries in 16 adult Byzantine dog skulls unearthed form Yenikapı-Marmaray excavation (ancient Theodosius Harbor) in İstanbul, were compared with 39 adult skulls of modern pet dog breeds. Seventeen landmarks (3 midline and 14 bilateral) were selected on the digital pictures of the ventral aspect of each skull, and used for detailed analysis. The results showed a greater percentage of fluctuating asymmetry in the Byzantine dog skulls, suggesting them not to be the remains of pets or housed dogs but perhaps the labor or stray dogs in the Byzantine capital Constantinople.

Asymmetry, the abnormality of an organism or a part of it from its perfect symmetry, is represented by three different categories: fluctuating asymmetry, directional asymmetry, and antisymmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry attributes to random developmental variation of a morphological character, whereas directional asymmetry attributes one of the body sides to be more prominent than the other. Antisymmetry appears whenever one body side of a biological body shows greater morphological appearance than the other. Since more environmental stress often produces greater effect of fluctuating asymmetry, it can be a good indicator of physiological stress in the morphological characteristic of a biological being. Applying, so far, the first geometric morphometric methods on any Byzantine fauna, this study aimed to determine the kind and direction of skull asymmetry occurred in Byzantine dog skulls. Aiming this, asymmetries in 16 adult Byzantine dog skulls unearthed form Yenikapı-Marmaray excavation (ancient Theodosius Harbor) in İstanbul, were compared with 39 adult skulls of modern pet dog breeds. Seventeen landmarks (3 midline and 14 bilateral) were selected on the digital pictures of the ventral aspect of each skull, and used for detailed analysis. The results showed a greater percentage of fluctuating asymmetry in the Byzantine dog skulls, suggesting them not to be the remains of pets or housed dogs but perhaps the labor or stray dogs in the Byzantine capital Constantinople.

The Bengal Delta is a place of many migrations, cultural transformations, invasions and religious revolutions since prehistoric time. With the help of archaeological and historical records, this essay present the hypothesis that, albeit there were multiple waves of large and small scale socio-cultural assimilations, every socio-political change did not brought equal formidable outcome in the Delta. The study further illustrates that, the majority of cultural components were formulated by Indigenous-Aryan-Buddhist assimilations in early phase, whereas the Buddhist-Aryan-Islamic admixtures in relatively forbearing and gracious socio-political background of medieval period contributed the final part in the formation of Bengal Civilization.

Social sciences have long considered the nonhuman animals in a utilitarian approach, considering them as objects for humanity. However, rapid growing interests are seen on the study of relationships between human and other animal in contemporary academic research. Anthrozoology has now been an independent discipline to study various aspects of human-animal interactions. However, like many other countries, the disciplinary anthrozoology is still unknown or poorly known in Turkey. Presenting a glimpse on the origin, development, scopes, complexities and future perspectives; this paper primarily aims to illustrate the necessity of anthrozoological researches in Turkey. Moreover, with the help of ethnographical accounts, case studies and some crucial social issues, it further attempts to bring attention of particularly the social scientists in Turkey for re-thinking and re-evaluating the interactions between humans and other animals in broader perspectives.

Livelihood diversification using social capital in the sense has been overlooked by most of the researchers, policy makers and social scientists in the study of urban wage labour and rural-urban migration. The rich people can diversify their livelihoods through growth strategies; however, poorer people who are mostly landless, involved with informal economic sector, daylabourer or floating labourer cannot improve their livelihood under existing poverty reduction strategies. They are always looking for opportunities to diversify their livelihoods in the same economic system by using various social capital, relation and networks. Focusing on dynamic of livelihoods diversification, the study focuses that the current situation of urban floatinglabourer can be better analysed. The main aim of the paper is to shed light on more dynamic aspects of livelihoods strategy of urban daily based on wage labourer of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Using ethnographic data and case studies, hence, this paper interprets the process of getting out of poverty as livelihood diversification using social network and social capital from survival to accumulation.

Zooarchaeological data on the faunal remains unearthed from 2016 and 2017 excavations at Alaybeyi H��y��k have primarily been used to understand the animal-based subsistence practices as well as regular and occasional cultural activities at the site. Various aspects of multi-scale, colorful and complex human-animal relationships and interactions have also been explored both with the help of animal remains and some notable cultural objects at this site. Socio-cultural factors such as the value of different animal species as wealth and power, animals��� roles in rituals and symbolic practices, animal-based social status and social stratification have also been the predominant issues in this chapter. Ethnographic accounts about the contemporary social groups in East and Southeast Anatolia were used as supporting sources while discussing these particular issues. Besides, some critical aspects and the contribution of other species in human health and ailments, as well as emotional bonds between human-animal have also been focused while presenting human-animal interactions at Alaybeyi H��y��k.

The hunter-gatherer groups represent the oldest and perhaps most successful human adaptation on this planet. Until 12,000 years ago, before the starting of cultivation system in the Fertile Crescent, virtually all humanity lived as hunters and gatherers. Therefore, investigations on present day hunter-gatherer societies may hold the key to some of the central questions about humans’life in nature before urbanization. Moreover, they may hold information about the processes which shifted people from their natural habitat. The Munda people of Palkichara village are still observed to be unique with their ancestral way of life despite of being socio-economically controlled by the local tea estate. Hunting and gathering are the two main ways of subsistence which reflect in their every aspects of family, social and cultural practices. Therefore, being completely attached with nature and almost untouched by rest of the world, the Munda people of Palkichara village may provide some pictures of prehistoric hunter gatherer societies. This study is aimed to focus on some significant aspects of the traditional hunting-gathering methods and techniques as well as the questions on how and why the primitive way of life is still active in Munda tribal people of Palkichara village.

İnsanlar, dünya gezegenindeki yolculuğunun başlangıcından beri uzun bir süredir insan dışı hayvanlarla bağ kurmaktadır. Çok boyutlu ilişkiler oluşturarak hem insanlar hem de insan dışı türler birlikte var olmakta ve dünyayı paylaşmaktadırlar. İnsan dışı hayvanlar insanlar tarafından avlanır, manipüle edilir, evcilleştirilir, tüketilir ve bazen kendi türün yok olunmasına rağmen insan toplumlarında saygı görür, ibadet edilir, sembolize edilir, korunur ve kutlanılmaktadır. İnsanlık için bir nesne olarak gördükleri ile uzun zamandır farklı akademik disiplinler, insan dışı hayvanları kullanıcı bir yaklaşım olarak görmekteydi. Bu nedenle, insanlar ve insan dışı hayvanlar arasındaki maddi olmayan duygusal (sevgi ve güven) ve ilişkisel bağların yönleri genel olarak bilinmemektedir. Fakat antropoloji biliminin bir alt dalı olarak ortaya çıkan antrozooloji'nin çeşitli yaklaşımlarıyla, çağdaş akademik söylemlerde insan ve insan dışı hayvanlar arasındaki ilişkileri üzerinde hızlı bir şekilde artan ilgiler görülmektedir. Bu inceleme kökenini, gelişimini, çalışma alanlarını, karmaşıklıklarını ve gelecekteki perspektiflerini göstererek Türkiye ile birlikte diğer Asya ve Afrika ülkelerindeki antrozoolojik çalışmaların önemini sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

The Munda people have unique ethnic identity as one of the largest tribes in Indian subcontinent. They have long history and distinctive language as well as religious and cultural identity. In Bangladesh, they are currently living in different geographical location over the country. Historically, hunting and gathering was the ancestral and inherited practice for everyday subsistence in Mundas. Although the ancestral way of living has been destroyed in most parts of the region through different political changes and technological advancements, there are still some Mundas who are found practicing their lives attached with nature. This study is attempted to construct a data source on hunting-gathering practices of Munda tribe as well as to focus on techniques and methods in which they fulfill their basic subsistence maintaining a very close connection with Mother Nature. Aiming this, ethnographic field works have been performed on Munda tribe of Palkichara village in north-eastern Bangladesh. Exploratory case studies, both participatory and non-participatory observations; individual, household and group interviews have been carried out for the primary data sources on subsistence pattern as well as socio-cultural structures. With the support of rich ethnographic and empirical data, this study shows that the Munda people of Palkichara village are still unique with their ancestral way of living despite of being socio-economically effected by various facts. It also illustrates that hunting and gathering are in the centre of their every aspect of life. Moreover, this research suggests that, being completely attached with nature and almost untouched by rest of the world, Mundas in Palkichara may demonstrate the subsistence strategies of prehistoric hunter gatherers.

The Munda people have unique ethnic identity as one of the largest tribes in Indian subcontinent. They have long history and distinctive language as well as religious and cultural identity. In Bangladesh, they are currently living in different geographical location over the country. Historically, hunting and gathering was the ancestral and inherited practice for everyday subsistence in Mundas. Although the ancestral way of living has been destroyed in most parts of the region through different political changes and technological advancements, there are still some Mundas who are found practicing their lives attached with nature. This study is attempted to construct a data source on hunting-gathering practices of Munda tribe as well as to focus on techniques and methods in which they fulfill their basic subsistence maintaining a very close connection with Mother Nature. Aiming this, ethnographic field works have been performed on Munda tribe of Palkichara village in north-eastern Bangladesh. Exploratory case studies, both participatory and non-participatory observations; individual, household and group interviews have been carried out for the primary data sources on subsistence pattern as well as socio-cultural structures. With the support of rich ethnographic and empirical data, this study shows that the Munda people of Palkichara village are still unique with their ancestral way of living despite of being socio-economically effected by various facts. It also illustrates that hunting and gathering are in the centre of their every aspect of life. Moreover, this research suggests that, being completely attached with nature and almost untouched by rest of the world, Mundas in Palkichara may demonstrate the subsistence strategies of prehistoric hunter gatherers.

Humans have long been engaged with nonhuman animals since the beginning of their journey on the Earth. Both human and nonhuman species have been co-existing and sharing the world forming multi-dimensional relationships. Although the non-humans are hunted, manipulated, domesticated, consumed or sometimes extincted by humans, they are also respected, worshiped, symbolized, conserved as well as adored in human societies. For a long time, different academic disciplines have considered the nonhuman animals in a utilitarian approach, considering them as objects for humanity. Therefore, the intangible aspects of emotional and relational bonds between humans and nonhumans have been commonly unrecognized. However, rapid growing interests are seen on the study of human and nonhuman animal relationships in contemporary academic discourses, resulted through various approaches of anthrozoology, an emerging field of anthropological science. Showing its origin, development, study fields, complexities and future perspectives, this paper is aimed to present the essence of anthrozoological studies in Bangladesh and other developing countries.

Originated in early phase of Palaeolithic period, the structure of social mind marks the strongest effect on an individual from a distinct human group. The beliefs on supernatural beings, along with other norms, rites and rituals, are actually considered to be the products of the social mind that has been formed and reformed following environmental and socio-technological changes of humanity through time. Southeast Turkey is a region where all people groups have been believed on different types of supernatural forces and this is commonly found in archaeological remains since prehistoric period. Moreover, at present day, the beliefs on supernatural beings as well as their socio-psychological effects are more visible in the region comparing to other parts of Turkey. Therefore, out of 53 case studies obtained in ethnographic fieldworks, thorough examination of 4 individual case studies have been performed in this study to illustrate the power and functions of social mind in producing the beliefs on supernatural beings. Further, as the consequence of these beliefs, the generation sufferings in the region have also been examined in this study.

9 pages, 3 figures, 1 table.-- Open Access, Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) is a large (up to 3.3 m in length) pelagic predator which has been exploited throughout the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean since prehistoric times, as attested by its archeological remains. One key insight derivable from these remains is body size, which can indicate past fishing abilities, the impact of fishing, and past migration behavior. Despite this, there exists no reliable method to estimate the size of BFT found in archeological sites. Here, 13 modern Thunnus spp. skeletons were studied to provide power regression equations that estimate body length from vertebra dimensions. In modern specimens, the majority of BFT vertebrae can be differentiated by their morphological features, and thus, individual regression equations can be applied for each rank (position in vertebral column). In an archeological context, poor preservation may limit one's ability to identify rank; hence, “types” of vertebrae were defined, which enable length estimates when rank cannot be determined. At least one vertebra dimension, height, width, or length correlated highly with body length when vertebrae were ranked (R2 > 0.97) or identified to types (R2 > 0.98). Whether using rank or type, length estimates appear accurate to approximately ±10%. Finally, the method was applied to a sample of Roman-era BFT vertebrae to demonstrate its potential. It is acknowledged that further studies with larger sample sizes would provide more precision in BFT length estimates, This work is a contribution to the MSCA SeaChanges ITN and was funded by EU Horizon 2020 (H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Grant Number: 813383). Open Access Funding provided by Universita degli Studi di Bologna within the CRUI-CARE Agreement