Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
History Studies, cilt.18, sa.1, ss.141-166, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
Domesticated donkeys, which have been a part of Near Eastern societies since 5000 BC, have been ideal work animals due to their patient and durable nature. Arriving in Anatolia in the Late Chalcolithic period through Mesopotamian trade networks, domesticated donkeys became an integral part of the economy, especially during the Early Bronze Age and Old Assyrian period. Cuneiform texts of the Old Assyrian period provide detailed information on the use, care and economic value of these animals, emphasizing their indispensability in interregional trade and local economies. Although donkeys maintained a role in economic and social life during the Hittite state (1650–1200 BC), evidence is limited, primarily appearing in legal and ritual texts. The scarcity of faunal remains, alongside the detailed information preserved in Old Assyrian period texts, has resulted in the majority of Anatolian donkey studies focusing on this period. To address this gap, the present study employs an interdisciplinary methodology, integrating archaeological, philological, and zooarchaeological data with insights from DNA analyses and ethnographic comparisons. By synthesizing evidence from multiple disciplines, this study explores the role of donkeys as work animals in the contexts of travel, trade, and human-animal relations, contributing to a broader understanding of animal history in Anatolia.