Hello Lisa,
You mention that these dogs are 'large'. In which case they may not have been used for badger baiting, as the usual dog for this 'sport' was/is the terrier i.e. the same dog that flushed the badger out of the set before the baiting could begin. There's some information on this at www.badgers.org.uk/badgerpages/eurasian-badger-11.html
All the best
Kevin
Kevin Rielly
Archaeozoologist
Museum of London Specialist Services
Tel: 020 7566 9332
Fax: 020 7490 3955
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
http://www.molss.org.uk
Kevin Rielly
Animal Bone Specialist
Museum of London Specialist Services
Mortimer Wheeler House
46 Eagle Wharf Road
London. N1 7ED
Tel: 020 7566 9332
Fax: 020 7490 3995
Email: [log in to unmask]
www.molss.org.uk
The Prittlewell prince: the discovery of a rich Anglo-Saxon burial in Essex
-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa Yeomans [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 03 November 2004 15:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ZOOARCH] Badger baiting
Hi
I was wondering if anyone had any references to evidence for badger baiting
in the zooarchaeological literature or had any ideas on what might be
expected from such a faunal assemblage.
I'm working on a Late Saxon site in Hitchin and much of the bone from a
large ditch comprises of a complete badger skeleton and three, large dogs of
prime age. I would have expected some indication of healed fractures on the
dog skeletons if they had been used for badger baiting given how vicious a
badger can be but there is no indication of any.
Any ideas would be really helpful
Many thanks
Lisa Yeomans
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