Dear Carine,
I think that the traditional interpretation of polished astragali of small
ruminants is that this is the consequence of their handling as game pieces or
for divination. They are commonly found in Greek and Roman sites throughout the
Mediterranean. There will be an article by Jeremiah Dandoy, which is specific
on astragali, in one of the forthcoming volumes of the ICAZ 2002 proceedings:
"Integrating zooarchaeology" (ed M.Maltby).
You may also want to see an article by Wietske Prummel in:
Zooarchaeology in Greece: Recent Advances
ed by E. Kotjabopoulou, Y. Hamilakis, P. Halstead, C. Gamble
Cheers,
Umberto
Please NOTE new address:
Umberto Albarella
Department of Archaeology
University of Sheffield
Northgate House
West Street
Sheffield S1 4ET
United Kingdom
Telephone: (+) 44 (0) 114 22 22 943
Fax: (+) 44 (0) 114 27 22 563
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/albarella.html
Dear Carine
Quoting Carine Tomé <[log in to unmask]>:
> 2. I studied for my Phd the faunal material of 3 Arabian Gulf settlements
> (Dilmun and hellenic periods). In these sites, I found small ruminants
> astragali (sheep, goats and gazelle) polished on 1, 2, 3 or 4 sides and
> sometimes, with bitumen (dorsal side). I would like to know if somebody can
> observe this type of artefact in another sites. I know there are few
> examples in Greece (Bovidae astragali) and in other sites of the Middle
> East. Moreover, if someone is interested in this subject I can send him the
> information I have.
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