The research published in Antiquity, focused on the Late Bronze Age harbor city of Hala Sultan Tekke, a bustling settlement on the southeastern coast of Cyprus that thrived between 1650 and 1150 BC. Researchers examined a large collection of bird bones found at the site, specifically focusing on the remains of rock doves (Columba livia). By combining zooarchaeological techniques with stable isotope analysis, the team was able to uncover fascinating details about the lives of these ancient birds.
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Map of Cyprus showing the locations of Hala SultanTekke and settlements mentioned in the article. (Carter et al./Antiquity Publications Ltd)
A Commensal Pathway to Domestication
The stable isotope analysis, which studies ancient diets through chemical signatures preserved in bones, showed that the pigeons at Hala Sultan Tekke ate food almost identical to the diet of the humans living there. This suggests a very close relationship. The birds were likely feeding on human food waste or were being directly managed and fed by the city's residents. Researchers believe that the pigeons were probably bred on-site and had reached a semi-domesticated stage by around 1400 BC.
This process is known as a commensal pathway to animal domestication. In this scenario, animals begin living near human settlements to benefit from the available food and shelter. Over time, this close proximity leads to a mutually beneficial relationship, eventually resulting in full domestication. Prior to this study, the earliest direct evidence for domesticated pigeons came from Hellenistic Greece, dating to around 323 to 265 BC.
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Site map of Hala Sultan Tekke, with inset location relative to the modern coastline and current dimensions of Larnaca Bay. (Carter et al./Antiquity Publications Ltd)
Pigeons in Ritual and Everyday Life
The study also uncovered evidence that pigeons held a significant role beyond simply being a food source. Many of the pigeon bones discovered at the site were found burned and buried alongside other animal remains in spaces designated for rituals. This suggests that the birds were consumed during ceremonial feasts, which were an important part of religious or social activities in Bronze Age Cyprus.
While no dedicated pigeon breeding structures, such as pigeon towers, have been identified at Hala Sultan Tekke, the combination of bone measurements and isotope data points to the long-term management of these birds by humans. The researchers describe these findings as some of the earliest direct biomolecular evidence demonstrating that humans and pigeons shared the same living environment.
Reevaluating the Humble Pigeon
The research team hopes that these findings will change how people perceive pigeons today. Often seen merely as city scavengers, pigeons actually have a rich and complex history intertwined with our own. In Bronze Age Cyprus, they were an integral part of everyday life and ritual feasts. Their long relationship with humans stretches back thousands of years, far earlier than historians previously thought.
The presence of pigeons in ancient Cyprus also aligns with later cultural associations. The island was famously known as the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, who was often depicted with doves or pigeons. This new archaeological evidence provides a tangible historical context for these enduring mythological connections, showing that the bond between the people of Cyprus and these birds was well-established long before the classical myths were recorded.
Top image: A small limestone pigeon sculpture from Cyprus dating to 600–480 BC (Cypro-Archaic II). From The Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Source: New York Met/Public Domain/Antiquity Publications Ltd
By Gary Manners
References
Carter, A. L., Reese, D. S., van Bommel, R., van der Meer, M. T. J., & Çakırlar, C. 2026. Uncovering the lives of rock doves (Columba livia) in Late Bronze Age Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus. Antiquity. Cambridge University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2026.10351
Lock, L. 2026. Friend or foul? Exploring the ancient bond between pigeons and people. Phys.org. Available at: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-friend-foul-exploring-ancient-bond.html
Radley, D. 2026. Ancient pigeons were already living alongside humans 3,400 years ago, study finds. Archaeology News. Available at: https://archaeologymag.com/2026/05/pigeons-were-living-alongside-humans/
