In my opinion this is likely to be domestic fowl - they are extremely
variable and I have at least two in my collection that look like this
with the double depression. Also similar in Tomek and Bochenski -
though it's not perfect I would highly recommend this book, and yes it
has tetrix included. Tomek T. and Bochénski Z.M. (2009) A Key for the
Identification of domestic bird bones in Europe: Galliformes and
Columbiformes. Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals,
Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków
Sheila
SH-D ArchaeoZoology
http://www.shd-archzoo.co.uk
On 28/02/2012 20:24, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Emily, please say hello to Jerry Smith for me if you're working in the
> museum at A-squared.
>
> The first thing to say about your mystery coracoid is that it does rather
> resemble pheasant -- longer in the shank and 'drier' looking than domestic
> chicken. However, my experience with the Roman-era stuff from Vindolanda
> indicates that their chickens were quite pheasant-like and the difference
> can be pretty fine. We published some good photos, in color, in the
> Vindolanda Research Report that came out in 2007 covering excavation years
> 2005-2006. You can get this by going to www.vindolanda.com.
>
> Second thing is that the other commonest chicken-like gallinaceous bird is
> Tetrao tetris, the black grouse. I do not know whether this bird's range
> ever extended to Italy. I happen to know that you don't have a skeleton of
> this species in your collections, and the reason I know is that we only
> have half of a skeleton at K.U. and we therefore did a serious search for
> others held in U.S. museums. Closest to you would be Chicago -- so when
> you call up there, say 'hi' for me to Larry Heaney, too.
>
> One further favor I would ask you: if you find a complete skeleton of
> Tetrao tetris anywhere, would you please make a complete set of
> photographs of the skeleton, i.e. of the most diagnostic bones --
> coracoid, tibiotarsus, tarsomet, sternum, humerus, radius, ulna, femur --
> and then post the whole set to bone commons, so that those of the rest of
> us who also need this bird can use 'em? Thank you and best of luck with
> your project. -- Deb Bennett
>
>
>
>> Dear Zooarchers,
>>
>> Ok, finally I've got it right. Below is a link to the two Phasianidae
>> photos on Bone Commons. Any suggestions for identifications would be
>> greatly appreciated. Thanks to everyone who directed me how to do images
>> on Zooarch (I'm new), and thanks to Sarah Kansa for helping me post the
>> photos to Bone Commons.
>>
>> Best,
>> Emily
>>
>> http://alexandriaarchive.org/bonecommons/items/show/1831
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