Dear Jacqui and All,
I have seen relatively many animal bone anomalies (some rather
extreme esp. in dogs and horses) in human burials and the like, but
most of them are difficult to interpret beyond the iffy 20th c.
sentimental stereotype of "faithful pets that had been taken very
good care of". However, I have a favourite sobering quote from
Terentius Varro's (116-27 BC) Rerum rusticarum libri tres (II/5, 100):
"Those who buy [oxen] for sacrifical purposes, usually do not insist
on them being healthy."
Naturally, it all depends on whom/what do you believe in, which is
not a zoological problem.
Best wishes, Laszlo
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