A colleague of mine, not a zooarchaeologist, was walking his dog in
the Ochil Hills, Central Scotland. He came across three groups of
dead frogs (and / or toads) on the side of a small artificial lochan.
Each group contained around 50 individuals and they were reasonably
intact (i.e. recognisable to non-specialist) and in varying states of
decomposition. Flesh seems to have been removed from the animals,
yet the bones were largely intact.
The lochan is at around 300 m OD and drains a peat-covered catchment
used for rough grazing.
Initially I suggested pollution in the pond, during the recent mating
season, but my colleague feels they look like they have been at least
partially eaten / defleshed. Would the fact they are occurring in
groups suggests a predator? Or does it reflect behaviour of the
living amphibians??
Does anyone have any ideas??
Jennifer
Jennifer Thoms
Dept of Archaeology,
University of Edinburgh,
12 Infirmary Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1LT
Tel: 0131 650 2373 / 2384
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