Hidden Hybrids

Zooarchaeology

Camel hybridisation is the deliberate inter-breeding of two species from different domestication centers – the Bactrian camel from central Asia and the Dromedary from Arabia – to create more powerful and resilient animals. The overarching research hypothesis of this project is that camel hybridization facilitated the high level of connectivity achieved by early empires across Eurasia.
The project aims to provide clear osteological criteria that distinguish hybrid camels from dromedary and Bactrian camels and to re-assess archaeological specimens from key sites located in present day Israel, Turkey, Syria, and Iran.

Genetics

Research into genetic resources (aDNA studies), can not only provide information about the initial evolutionary- and domestication processes of Old World Camelids, but though using this method, it is also possible to get a better understanding of the hybridization between the dromedary and Bactrian camel.

Anthropology & Heritage

The tradition of camel wrestling in Western Turkey forms an interesting phenomenon for anthropological study which can possibly produce insights in past bio-cultural dynamics and ways to approach heritage related matters.

Art

Hybrid camel wrestling events form a special source of inspiration for artists and writers. These works can help to bridge the gap between the scientific approaches of the project on the one hand, and the public opinion on the other.

The project of 'Hidden Hybrids: the cultural biography of dromedary-Bactrian crosses', seeks to combine several disciplines concerned with the hybridity of camels. A combination of scientific zooarchaeological analysis, metric- and genetic data, anthropological and heritage approaches, and artistic expressions are included.

Upcoming and past events

Friends

Naomi Sykes

Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter

Naomi Sykes researches past and present human-animal relationships combining evidence from both Arts- and Science related disciplines to reconstruct bio-cultural histories.

Justin Lev-Tov

Justin Lev-Tov

Alexandria Archive Institute

Justin Lev-Tov is an archaeologist focussing on the Near East, faunal remains, anthropology and digital improvements in archaeological practices.

Daniel Potts

Daniel Potts

Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University

Daniel Potts is specialized in the archaeology and history of the Ancient Near East and has conducted excavations in Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Cem Çakırlar

Cem Çakırlar

Bilser Bilgisayar ve Yönetim Sistemleri A.Ş.

Cem Çakırlar is Senior Technical Advisor and offered his expertise in this field as helping hand to the project of Hidden Hybrids.

Mehmet Yavaş

Mehmet Yavaş

Mehmet Yavaş is the youngest son of an enthusiastic and competitive family dealing with camel wrestlers, and an informant of the project since 2009.

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