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Dear Jillian and Pam, I'm interested in this deposit. I like Pam's idea of a hoard of "precious objects". How many of us zooarchs collected animal bones as children? A mouse skeleton would be an appealing thing to own, and the sort of thing you'd want to keep hidden from adults/superiors/bullies/asylum staff, who would perhaps be inclined to throw it away or destroy it. I've come across complete small-furry skeletons in forgotten traps before. Also, is it possible that the bones came from an owl pellet, or are they too ordered for that? Rachel Quoting Pam Cross <[log in to unmask]>: > > Dear Jillian > In view of the further info on the mice deposition, eg on a 2nd floor, I'd > be inclined to agree it's more likely a personal ritual rather than a charm > deposition. Ritual behaviour is part of standard human behaviour, so > common in all periods in both individual and broader cultural > expressions. It's > rather unfortunate that 'ritual' behaviour attributes are now seen as > 'don't know what else' or as superstition or religious by many. It > may have been > someone's hoard of important objects, either child or adult. Whether it > was a burial is more intriquing. > > In terms of your deposit, what exactly makes you think the mice were > deposited as skeletons? Are/were the bones articulated? If so, that > implies the > presence of soft tissue. It would be extremely hard work to deflesh mice and > maintain articulation -- it would certainly require much consideration and > intent. Is it possible people there had access to biology lab specimens? > If the site is dry and well-ventilated I would expect more a mummification > process of fleshed animals. What other types of materials were found? > > Pam Cross > > In a message dated 07/05/2010 08:11:37 GMT Daylight Time, > [log in to unmask] writes: > > Hi Rich, > > The matchbox was part of a large collection of material (some deliberately > and some accidentally placed) that was located directly under the floor > boards on floor 2 of the asylum. I guess what is most intriguing is that it > appears that it was the skeletons, not the fleshed mice that were placed in > the box as there is other organic material such as paper associated with > them. > > Cheers, > Jillian > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Friday, 7 May 2010 1:48 PM > To: Jillian Garvey > Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] Mice skeletons in a matchbox > > Jillian, was the matchbox just in the subflor space, or was it actually > buried in the dirt under the floor? If it was the later, I'd guess you are > looking at a couple of mice kept as "pets" by children in the asylum, and > "buried" when they died. > > I'd be very hesitant to suggest the "symbolic/religious" exdplanation - > that just harks back to a time in archaeology when anything we didn't > undersand was attributed to relgion. > > > > Rich > > In a message dated 5/6/2010 8:30:04 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, > [log in to unmask] writes: > > Hello list, > > I have a query from a colleague who has found two complete mice skeletons > in a matchbox under the floor from the Hyde Park Barracks Destitute Asylum > in Sydney, dated between 1860s-1880s. The matchbox was found directly under > the entrance door. He is not sure if there may have been placed there by > children (perhaps they were once pets) or by an adult perhaps as a > symbolic/religious gesture. I guess what is interesting is that the > skeletons are in > excellent condition so it's assumed that they weren't found accidently and > then placed in the matchbox. If anyone has come across this sort of thing > before and/or and has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. > > Best Wishes, > Jillian > > -------------------------------------------- > Dr Jillian Garvey > Research Associate > Archaeology Program > La Trobe University > Victoria, Australia, 3086 > Tel. +61 3 9479 1031 > Fax. +61 3 9479 1881 > Mob. 0438 009 661 > [log in to unmask] > > > >