Not only cattle gnaw bones (and dogs of course), but also pigs. See my
article in Journal of Field Archaeology, 1989.
Haskel J. Greenfield, Ph.D.
Professor of Anthropology
University of Manitoba
Department of Anthropology, FA 435
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V5, Canada
Work Telephone: +204-474-6332
Home Telephone: +204-489-4962
Fax: +204-474-7600
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/cvgreenfield.html
GOD PUT ME ON EARTH TO ACCOMPLISH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THINGS.
RIGHT NOW I'M SO FAR BEHIND I WILL NEVER DIE!
-----Original Message-----
From: Zooarchaeology is the analysis of Animal remains from
archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Umberto
Albarella
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2001 2:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: cattle gnawing
Dear All,
I recently observed (and photographed), in the southern Italian
mountains, a cow chewing a scapula for a length of time. As far as I
could tell (from some distance) the bone was from a cattle and was
completely dry. The cow dropped the scapula a couple of times, but it
picked it up again and carried on chewing it. As far as I know this
behaviour might well be common, but I had never seen it before and I
have never read of cattle as a possible agent of gnawed bones found in
archaeological assemblages. I would be interested in knowing more
about 'cattle gnawing', and particularly if such behaviour could be
related to particular environmental or physiological conditions
(calcium deficiency?). Perhaps, if further investigated, it could be
of archaeological interest. Any information welcome.
Cheers,
Umberto
Umberto Albarella
Dept of Archaeology
University of Durham
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