In search of Estonia’s earliest chicken
Open accessAbstract
It has been hypothesised that the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) was introduced to the area of what is now modern-day Estonia around the Pre-Roman or Roman Iron Age. However, none of the earliest chicken bones found in the area had been radiocarbon dated and due to a complex contextual background, the question of its first appearance has been left open. With the aim of finding the earliest evidence for the chicken in Estonia, we looked into the zooarchaeological material from twelve archaeological sites, including burial grounds, settlement sites, and hillforts. The earliest evidence had been reported at four of these sites, but during the taxonomic reassessment, no chicken bones were identified. From the remaining eight sites, nine chicken bones were radiocarbon dated by AMS. The sample from a stone-cist grave at Rebala (northern Estonia) was dated to 200 calBCE â 5 calCE, which means that this individual is the earliest confirmed chicken in Estonia. The other dates range from the Pre-Viking Age to the Modern Period, with some of them illustrating the complicated nature of faunal remains in archaeological contexts. Although this study elucidates the first appearance of the chicken in Estonia and in the Baltic region in general, its origin, ways of exploitation, and the extent of its spreading remain to be studied.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The chicken's first appearance in the eastern Baltic region dates to the late Pre-Roman Iron Age, where these remains may have been associated with a burial.
“The chicken’s first appearance in the eastern Baltic region dates to the late Pre-Roman Iron Age, where these remains may have been associated with a burial (77).”
From The biocultural origins and dispersal of domestic chickens (2022) · cites this paper as [77]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Bayesian Analysis of Radiocarbon Dates
Bronk Ramsey, C. (2009) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200033865 · Cited by 8,725 · see citing works
The IntCal20 Northern Hemisphere Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curve (0–55 cal kBP)
Reimer, P. J., Austin, W. E. N., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Blackwell, P. G., Bronk Ramsey, C., Butzin, M., Cheng, H., Edwards, R. L., Friedrich, M., et al. (2020) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/rdc.2020.41 · Cited by 7,900 · cited 1× · see citing works
“In Lithuania, the oldest evidence for the chicken comprises three bones from the Vilnius Lower Castle, dated by context to the 5th–9th centuries CE (Rumbutis et al. 2018, 106).”
BackgroundNew Method of Collagen Extraction for Radiocarbon Dating
LONGIN, R. (1971) · Nature · doi:10.1038/230241a0 · Cited by 1,813 · see citing works
Bone Collagen Quality Indicators for Palaeodietary and Radiocarbon Measurements
KLINKEN, G. J. V. (1999) · Journal of Archaeological Science · doi:10.1006/jasc.1998.0385 · Cited by 1,724 · see citing works
Improved Collagen Extraction by Modified Longin Method
Brown, T. A., Nelson, D. E., Vogel, J. S., & Southon, J. R. (1988) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200044118 · Cited by 1,081 · see citing works
The Evolution of Animal Domestication
Larson, G., & Fuller, D. Q. (2014) · Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110512-135813 · Cited by 640 · see citing works
Improvements to the Pretreatment of Bone at Oxford
Ramsey, C. B., Higham, T., Bowles, A., & Hedges, R. E. M. (2004) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200039473 · Cited by 511 · see citing works
863 genomes reveal the origin and domestication of chicken
Wang, M.-S., Thakur, M., Peng, M.-S., Jiang, Y., Frantz, L. A. F., Li, M., Zhang, J.-J., Wang, S., Peters, J., Otecko, N. O., et al. (2020) · Cell Research · doi:10.1038/s41422-020-0349-y · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Chicken domestication: an updated perspective based on mitochondrial genomes
Miao, Y.-W., Peng, M.-S., Wu, G.-S., Ouyang, Y.-N., Yang, Z.-Y., Yu, N., Liang, J.-P., PianChou, G., Beja‐Pereira, A., Mitra, B., et al. (2012) · Heredity · doi:10.1038/hdy.2012.83 · Cited by 272 · see citing works
Early Holocene chicken domestication in northern China
Xiang, H., Gao, J., Yu, B., Zhou, H., Cai, D., Zhang, Y., Chen, X., Wang, X., Hofreiter, M., & Zhao, X. (2014) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1411882111 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
The Arrival of Siberian Ancestry Connecting the Eastern Baltic to Uralic Speakers further East
Saag, L., Laneman, M., Varul, L., Malve, M., Valk, H., Razzak, M. A., Shirobokov, I. G., Khartanovich, V. I., Mikhaylova, E. R., Kushniarevich, A., et al. (2019) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.04.026 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Self-citationStorey, A. A., Athens, J. S., Bryant, D., Carson, M., Emery, K., deFrance, S., Higham, C., Huynen, L., Intoh, M., Jones, S., et al. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039171 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
The Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia
Lang, V. (2007) · University of Tartu Press eBooks · doi:10.26530/oapen_423939 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Self-citationEstablishing the validity of domestication genes using DNA from ancient chickens
Girdland Flink, L., Allen, R., Barnett, R., Malmström, H., Peters, J., Eriksson, J., Andersson, L., Dobney, K., & Larson, G. (2014) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1308939110 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Preparation of Bone Samples in the Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory for AMS Radiocarbon Dating
Piotrowska, N., & Goślar, T. (2002) · Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies · doi:10.1080/10256010208033272 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Reevaluation of early Holocene chicken domestication in northern China
Eda, M., Lu, P., Kikuchi, H., Li, Z., Li, F., & Yuan, J. (2016) · Journal of Archaeological Science · doi:10.1016/j.jas.2016.01.012 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Peters, J., Lebrasseur, O., Deng, H., & Larson, G. (2016) · Quaternary Science Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.04.004 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
The Migration Period, Pre-Viking Age, and Viking Age in Estonia
Tvauri, A. (2012) · University of Tartu Press eBooks · doi:10.26530/oapen_423944 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Bläuer, A., & Kantanen, J. (2012) · Journal of Archaeological Science · doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.10.033 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Questioning new answers regarding Holocene chicken domestication in China
Peters, J., Lebrasseur, O., Best, J., Miller, H., Fothergill, T., Dobney, K., Thomas, R. M., Maltby, M., Sykes, N., Hanotte, O., et al. (2015) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1503579112 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Archaeology of wings : Birds and people in the Baltic Sea region during the Stone Age
Mannermaa, K. (2008) · Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja · Cited by 44 · see citing works
New perspectives on the ecology of early domestic fowl: An interdisciplinary approach
Pitt, J., Gillingham, P. K., Maltby, M., & Stewart, J. R. (2016) · Journal of Archaeological Science · doi:10.1016/j.jas.2016.08.004 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Interpreting the Plant and Animal Remains from Viking-age Kaupang
Barrett, J. H., Hall, A., Johnstone, C., Kenward, H. K., O’Connor, T., & Ashby, S. P. (2007) · Aarhus University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/jj.35529264.17 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
NEW RADIOCARBON DATES FOR TWO STONE-CIST GRAVES AT MUUKSI, NORTHERN ESTONIA; pp. 89–122
Laneman, M., & Lang, V. (2013) · Estonian Journal of Archaeology · doi:10.3176/arch.2013.2.01 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Self-citationThree Thousand Years of Continuity in the Maternal Lineages of Ancient Sheep (Ovis aries) in Estonia
Rannamäe, E., Lõugas, L., Speller, C., Valk, H., Maldre, L., Wilczyński, J., Aleksandr, M., & Saarma, U. (2016) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0163676 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citationThe archaeological record of domesticated and tamed birds in Sweden
Tyrberg, T. (2002) · Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Jonuks, T., Oras, E., Best, J., Demarchi, B., Mänd, R., Presslee, S., & Vahur, S. (2017) · Environmental Archaeology · doi:10.1080/14614103.2016.1263374 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationBirds in Subsistence and Culture at Viking Age Sites in Denmark
Gotfredsen, A. B. (2013) · International Journal of Osteoarchaeology · doi:10.1002/oa.2367 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Lõugas, L., Rannamäe, E., Ehrlich, F., & Tvauri, A. (2019) · International Journal of Osteoarchaeology · doi:10.1002/oa.2764 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Self-citationEhrlich, F., Rannamäe, E., & Valk, H. (2020) · Quaternary International · doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2020.07.018 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationWalker, S. J., & Meijer, H. J. M. (2020) · Quaternary International · doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2020.03.008 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Walker, S. J., Hufthammer, A. K., & Meijer, H. J. M. (2019) · Open Quaternary · doi:10.5334/oq.58 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Fossil fields and stone-cist graves of Rebala revisited
Lang, V., Laneman, M., Ilves, K., & Kalman, J. (2025) · Arheoloogilised Välitööd Eestis · doi:10.15157/ave.vi.25991 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citationTourunen, A. (2011) · Fennoscandia Archaeologica · Cited by 8 · see citing works
The early history of the Swedish avifauna a review of the subfossil record and early written sources
Ericson, P. G. P., & Tyrberg, T. (2004) · Cited by 8 · see citing works
A PRE-ROMAN TARAND-GRAVE AND LATE MEDIEVAL FOSSIL FIELDS OF ILMANDU, NW ESTONIA
Lang, V. (1995) · Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia toimetised. · doi:10.3176/hum.soc.sci.1995.4.06 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Self-citationFossil fields of Ilmandu and Muraste, North Estonia
Lang, V., Kaldre, H., Konsa, M., Laneman, M., & Vaab, H. (2025) · Arheoloogilised Välitööd Eestis · doi:10.15157/ave.vi.25753 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationPREPARATION OF BONE SAMPLES IN THE GLIWICE RADIOCARBON LABORATORY FOR AMS RADIOCARBON DATING
Piotrowska, N., & Goślar, T. (2002) · Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies · doi:10.1080/1025601021000065001 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Ausgrabungen in der Bronzezeitsiedlung von Asva im Jahr 2019
Sperling, U., Karlsen, H.-J., Lang, V., Lõugas, L., Kimber, A., & Lau, R. (2025) · Ajakirjad. Journals by UT · doi:10.15157/ave.vi.25186 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationInvestigation of Late Iron Age occupation layers in Viljandi Castle park
Valk, H., & Rannamäe, E. (2025) · Arheoloogilised Välitööd Eestis · doi:10.15157/ave.vi.25087 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationGrabungen und geomagnetische Prospektion auf dem vorwikingerzeitlichen Burgberg von Asva
Sperling, U., Karlsen, H.-J., Lang, V., & Kimber, A. (2025) · Arheoloogilised Välitööd Eestis · doi:10.15157/ave.vi.25165 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
4 of the 45 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 10
- Galimova, D. N., Askeyev, I. V. & Askeyev, O. V. 2014. Bird remains from 5th-17th century AD archaeological sites in the Middle Volga region of Russia. -International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 24: 3, 347-357.
- Kysely, R. 2010. Review of the oldest evidence of domestic fowl Gallus gallus f. domestica from the Czech Republic in its European context. -Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 53A: 1-2, 9-34.
- Lang, V. 2018. Läänemeresoome tulemised. (MT, 28.) University of Tartu Press, Tartu.
- Eds M. A. Brisbane, N. A. Makarov & E. N. Nosov. Oxbow Books, Oxford, 351-380.
- Mannermaa, K. & Lõugas, L. 2005. Birds in the subsistence and cultures on four major Baltic Sea islands in the Neolithic (Hiiumaa, Saaremaa, Gotland and Åland). -Feathers, Grit and Symbolism. Birds and Humans in the Ancient Old and New Worlds: Proceedings of the 5th Meeting of the ICAZ Bird Working Group in Munich 26.7-28.7.2004. Eds G. Grupe & J. Peters. (Documenta Archaeobiologiae, 3.) Verlag Marie Leidorf, Rahden, 179-198.
- Serjeantson, D. 2009. Birds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi.
- Shaymuratova (Galimova), D., Askeyev, I. & Askeyev, O. 2019. The studies of archaeological bird remains from Medieval Staraya Ladoga. New results and interpretations. -Monographs of the Archaeological Society of Finland. Helsinki Harvest. Proceedings of the 11th Nordic Conference on the Application of Scientific Methods in Archaeology. Eds K. Mannermaa, M. A. Manninen, P. A. P. Pesonen & L. Seppänen. Suomen Arkeologinen Seura, Helsinki, 93-114.
- Tomek, T., Bocheński, Z. & Lõugas, L. 2010. The utilization of birds during the Late Bronze Age on the Baltic Sea island of Saaremaa, Estonia. -Poster Presentation. Abstract: 11th International Conference of Archaeozoology. ICAZ 2010. Paris, 23-28 August 2010, 234.
- Wessman, A., Alenius, T., Holmqvist, E., Mannermaa, K., Perttola, W., Sundell, T. & Vanhanen, S. 2018. Hidden and remote: new perspectives on the people in the Levänluhta water burial, western Finland (c. AD 300-800). -European Journal of Archaeology, 21: 3, 431-454.
- Xiang, H., Gao, J., Yu, B., Hofreiter, M. & Zhao, X. 2015. Reply to Peters et al.: Further discussions confirm early Holocene chicken domestication in northern China. -Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112: 19, E2416.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The biocultural origins and dispersal of domestic chickens
Peters, J., Lebrasseur, O., Irving-Pease, E. K., Paxinos, P. D., Best, J., Smallman, R., Callou, C., Gardeisen, A., Trixl, S., Frantz, L., et al. (2022) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2121978119 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
“The chicken’s first appearance in the eastern Baltic region dates to the late Pre-Roman Iron Age, where these remains may have been associated with a burial (77).”
BackgroundOlli, S., Gustavsson, R., Kivikero, H., Lõugas, L., Mannermaa, K., Piličiauskienė, G., Rannamäe, E., Searle, J. B., Kvist, L., & Honka, J. (2026) · Heredity · doi:10.1038/s41437-026-00842-9 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationPiličiauskienė, G., Rumbutis, S., Minkevičius, K., Vengalis, R., & Vėlius, G. (2026) · Estonian Journal of Archaeology · doi:10.3176/arch.2026.2.03
- Authors
- Ehrlich, F., Rannamäe, E., Laneman, M., Tõrv, M., Lang, V., Oras, E., & Lõugas, L.
- Affiliations
- Tallinn University (EE)
- Venue
- Estonian Journal of Archaeology
- Publisher
- Estonian Academy Publishers
- Published
- 2021-09-30
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 160-181
- ISSN
- 1406-2933 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3204024558
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 0.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Estonian Journal of Archaeology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia
- Eesti Teadusagentuur (MOBERC14, PRG29, PSG492)
- Tartu Ülikool
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Historical and Archaeological Studies
- Keywords
- chickens, domestication, animal introduction, Estonia, radiocarbon dating, zooarchaeology, faunal remains, stone cist graves, pre-Roman Iron Age, Roman Iron Age, Baltic Sea region, animal exploitation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
