Jacqui,
I hope I'm not spreading false information, but I <THINK>
that Dierdre O'Sullivan et al at Leicester University have
recovered animal remains including relatively high numbers
of very young cattle bones from excavations at the Early
Medieval [??8th/9th century AD] site of Green Shiel on Holy
Island (Lindisfarne) off the coast of Northumberland.
The possibility of slaughter for parchment production has
been raised.
As you say, there are many potential causes of high
rates of infant deaths. Some encouraged by people for a
variety of reasons.
N.B. I tentatively suggested a few years ago that urban
'milch cows' were kept in the Roman town of Catterick,
North Yorkshire. It should be published in 2001. Again,
that suggestion was based on the ageing evidence, and,
on its own, is not conclusive. Other types of analysis
such as lipid analysis of pottery should be used.
Sue Stalli
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Dr. Sue Stallibrass
English Heritage Archaeological Science Advisor for North-West England
School of Archaeology, Classics & Oriental Studies (SACOS)
University of Liverpool
Hartley Building
LIVERPOOL L69 3GS
direct telephone: +44 (0)151 794 5046 departmental FAX: +44 (0)151 794 5057
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