Dear All,
I have a tarsometatarsus which I’ve identified as a white tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) which has an iron pin/nail (diam about 4.5-5mm) driven into the lateral surface of the midshaft at about half way down the shaft. It’s from a deposit dated between the 11th and 13th centuries excavated in Southwark, London.
I’m assuming that the pin was driven in post-mortem (!). Why this was done is anyone’s guess, although I suppose it could be some sort of talisman (ritual behaviour of a sort). Has anyone out there come across something similar? Or otherwise can anyone expand on this tentative explanation or suggest something else?
All the best
Kevin
P.S. I’m afraid I don’t have a picture but I can post one tomorrow