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
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