This vague recollection probably isn't much help, because I think the
site was never published! However, quite a lot of years ago (probably
mid-1980s), a small excavation in York uncovered what appeared to be a
post-medieval garden area, the 'beds' of which were neatly edged with
cattle metapodials stuck vertically into the ground. I cannot now recall
whether they were predominantly proximal or distal end upwards. Perhaps
the familiar modern log-roll is just a skeuomorph of cattle-metapodial
edging?!
Terry
***********************************
Prof Terry O'Connor
Department of Archaeology
University of York
Kings Manor
York YO1 7EP
http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/arch/staff/OConnor.htm
Editor, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/5488
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of S H-D
Sent: 30 June 2005 16:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] Cattle metapodia in linear structures
Hi all, Jennifer Bourdillon did a an AML report on a floor in Hampshire
- Bourdillon J. (1990) An assemblage mainly of cattle metapodial bones
from the floor at King John's House, Romsey, Hampshire., AML report
114/90 this floor was 17th/19th, good description and loads of measures,
I have a grotty copy if anyone can't get it. Sheila SH-D ArchaeoZoology
http://www.shd-archzoo.co.uk/ All mail virus and spam checked
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jacqui Mulville" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 12:34 PM
Subject: [ZOOARCH] Cattle metapodia in linear structures
Please reply to Margaret and zooarch.
Dear all,
Ongoing excavations at a post-medieval site in the centre of Cork city
have revealed curious lines of upright cattle metapodia that are
arranged in rows across a substantial area of the site. In most
instances the distal portion of the bone faces upright and despite an
initial suspicion that there was a certain patterning in the arrangement
of meatacarpals and metatarsals, this does not now prove to be the case.
In one area the bones enclose a square area * almost like box hedging
for herb gardening!
I seem to recall on line discussions about this bone phenomenon before *
anybody out there can point me to some references or explanations for
such a configuration of metapodia?
Looking forward to your responses!
Margaret McCarthy
PS
There are pictures available of the finds and I have already mentioned
our IA scottish hearth surrounds (Mulville, J. et al 2003 Quarters,
Arcs and
Squares: Human and Animal Remains in the Hebridean Late Iron Age. ed J.
Downes and A. Ritchie Sea Change: Orkney and Northern Europe in the
later Iron Age AD 300-800 The pinkfoot press, Balgavies, Angus)
Jacqui
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