Abstract
The article discusses osteological material from the excavations of the Shengeldy caravanserai. In the descriptions of the representatives of the fauna from the medieval caravanserai of Shengeldy and in table 1, the majority of bone remains are identified to a species. Examination of the species composition of the fauna shows their not rich species composition, although as a result of the study all species of domestic ungulates are found. Bone remains were determined by species, skeleton elements and degree of fragmentation. Bones found: horses (Equus caballus), cattle (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus) and camel (Camelus bactrianus); wild animals - kulan (Equus hemionus), saiga (Saiga tatarica) and turtles (Testudines). Among domestic animals, the bones of horses and small cattle prevail. Cattle ranks third in number. One camel bone was found. Of the bones of domestic animals, 23.4% were intact and 76.6% were fragmented. Among the departments of the skeleton of domestic ungulates, carcass bones (scapula, vertebrae, ribs) and upper legs (femurs and tibia) predominate. Several fragments of human bones were found. Morphometric studies of the bones of horses, sheep, goats and cattle were carried out. Geometric morphometric methods have revealed morphological differences and similarities between species.