I also have dried rats, recovered from an inactive garage on a property in
Queens, New York (USA). It was dry inside, but the overall climate is
relatively moist. All one seems to need is a dry and undisturbed
micro-habitat.
Haskel J. Greenfield, Ph.D.
Professor of Anthropology
University of Manitoba
Department of Anthropology, FA 435
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V5, Canada
Work Telephone: +204-474-6332
Home Telephone: +204-489-4962
Fax: +204-474-7600
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/cvgreenfield.html
GOD PUT ME ON EARTH TO ACCOMPLISH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THINGS.
RIGHT NOW I'M SO FAR BEHIND I WILL NEVER DIE!
-----Original Message-----
From: Zooarchaeology is the analysis of Animal remains from
archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Will
Higgs
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 3:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mummified Rats
>>The corpses are recovered from dry locations, often warm,<<
They don't even need to be particularly dry or warm - my own dried cat was
found hanging in a roadside bush in Northumberland, and I have a couple of
dried rats from outbuildings (not walled up). Dried moles, frogs, bats etc
are two a penny if you keep your eyes open ! A relatively high temperature
probably aids 'mummification' by increasing the activity of insect larvae,
which can liquify and remove the innards quickly, leaving an intact, hollow
skin to dry out.
My point is that the presence of dried animals within buildings is
unsurprising, and rats, being smaller, will presumably mummify more readily
than cats. Additional evidence is required to suggest deliberate
mummification or entombment.
Will Higgs
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