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Dear Jessica, In my earlier email I forgot to mention the paper by David E. Davis "The scarcity of rats and the Black Death: An Ecological History" Journal of Interdisciplinary History, XVI : 3 (Winter 1986), 455-470. Professor Davis (on the evidence then available) stated that "Rattus rattus was rare and erratically dispersed both geographically and temporally at the time of the Black Death" and he concluded that the accumulated evidence did not support the traditional view that black rats were responsible for the Black Deat. It will be interesting to learn of your conclussions. Best Wishes Philip >----Original Message---- >From: [log in to unmask] >Date: 18/04/2007 14:17 >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Subj: [ZOOARCH] Rattus Rattus > >Hi > >I am writing a dissertation on Black rat population in Britain and if there >were large enough numbers to blame the spread of the black death on them. >I was thinking perhaps if Black rats have some habits that would make their >bones more difficult to find, it may explain their rarity in the >archaeological record. Cannabalism, funerals, bone scattering.Any >information at all on black rats would be gratefully received > >Jessica >OUDCE > ___________________________________________________________ Tiscali Broadband only £9.99 a month for your first 3 months! http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/