Animal dung is still considered a secondary by-product of domestication, even though a growing body of evidence is showing that humans recognized its properties as fuel and fertilizer and utilized dung prior to—and alongside—the process of animal domestication. In this paper, we review the advancements made in dung identification over the last decades and suggest a multi-proxy workflow for fast screening for dung in the field laboratory and more refined post-excavation analysis. In addition, we provide a global synthesis of evidence for dung used as a resource, both from ethnographic and archaeological records. We review the use of animal dung as fuel, fertilizer, construction material, and medication, alongside its symbolic role in different societies around the globe. Finally, the use of animal dung as a proxy for human-animal interaction is discussed, and possible avenues for future research are proposed. Understanding how humans used dung can help answer a range of questions related to animal domestication, subsistence practices, technological advancements, and human decisions regarding resource allocation, among others.

中文翻译：

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超越识别：人类过去对动物粪便的使用


动物粪便仍然被认为是驯化的次要副产品，尽管越来越多的证据表明人类认识到其作为燃料和肥料的特性，并在动物驯化过程之前和同时利用了粪便。在本文中，我们回顾了过去几十年来粪便识别方面取得的进展，并提出了一种多代理工作流程，用于在现场实验室中快速筛选粪便和进行更精细的挖掘后分析。此外，我们还提供了来自人种学和考古记录的关于粪便用作资源的全球证据综合。我们回顾了动物粪便作为燃料、肥料、建筑材料和药物的用途，及其在全球不同社会中的象征性作用。最后，讨论了使用动物粪便作为人与动物相互作用的替代品，并提出了未来研究的可能途径。了解人类如何使用粪便可以帮助回答一系列与动物驯化、生存实践、技术进步以及人类有关资源分配的决策等相关的问题。