Evidence of the crested form of domestic hen (Gallus gallus f. domestica) from three post-medieval sites in Hungary

In this paper, the authors introduce finds of crested hen from three post-medieval Ottoman Period (16th-17th century) sites in Hungary. All the remains were found in Buda, the former capital of Hungary. Two sites are located within the castle area, while the third lies south of the royal palace. Since the animal bone assemblages yielding the skulls of crested hen under study showed Ottoman Turkish influence and the castle of Buda was a high status area, it is likely that crested hen represents one of the newly introduced breeds of domestic animals that arrived to Hungary with people of Balkan origins.