Hi Sylvia,
It looks rather like what I call a mineral concretion when seen on plant
remains. As the context is a pit are there similar deposits on seeds from the
pit or are there mineralised seeds in it? Such a concretion often occurs in the
presence of faecal material although that is not to say that the pit is a
latrine - simply somewhere where both faecal and, presumably, domestic bone
waste was dumped.
Alternatively, natural concretions due to local water conditions - possibly the
site is on oolitic limestone given your address - forming a sort of drip-stone.
regards
Jacqui
________________________________________
English Heritage NE Regional Science Advisor,
Deparmtent of Archaeology, University of Durham
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Sylvia Warman
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 5:41 PM
> Subject: [ZOOARCH] damage to articular surface of cattle metacarpal
>
>
> Dear All
>
>
>
> This specimen from an Iron Age pit associated with a roundhouse has unusual
> damage to the proximal articular surface. The grooves don't seem parallel
> enough for rodent gnawing and it doesn't look like any pathology I am
> familiar with.
>
>
>
> The image is at
> http://www.alexandriaarchive.org/icaz/icazForum/viewtopic.php?p=1061#1061
>
>
>
> Many thanks
>
>
>
> Sylvia
>
>
>
> Sylvia Warman
>
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