Martyn,
Sorry, but bone working is outside my field of expertise.
Assuming the metatarsal has been split, then commonsense tells me this
was not casual work.
It is hard to envisage how three parallel splits could be induced,
evidently on one occasion. I suspect an experienced and skillful artisan
at work.
Perhaps you have half of something that broke in manufacture. My
speculation would be that the missing distal end was ground flat, the
bone put into a vice that clamped the lateral surfaces, a triple-wedged
gadget placed on top and given a good clout. The bone unintentionally
broke transversely, leaving split bone lengths that were too short for
their intended purpose. So the broken bone was thrown away.
It might be worth your trying this fascinating object on the BritArch
list. Somebody must have studied the technology of splitting metapodial
bones.
Richard
On 21/02/2011 08:25, Martyn Allen wrote:
> Dear Richard
>
> Yes they are strange but I like your suggestion. The splits do indeed go right through the cortical surface (mostly).
>
> The specimen is from a mid-late 2nd century AD context on a rural Romano-British site. Yes bone bodkins and other similar implements, pins, handles, etc. are present. There is also good evidence of cattle butchery for skins and horncores. So, yes, your interpretation has a good feel to it. Do you, or anybody else, know of any comparable examples?
>
> Many thanks,
> Martyn
>
>
> ------Original Message------
> From: Richard Wright
> To: Martyn Allen
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] cattle metatarsal
> Sent: 20 Feb 2011 21:01
>
> Martyn,
>
> Peculiar marks indeed.
>
> To me they look like splits right through the cortical bone. If splits,
> then they would have to have taken place when the bone was green. To
> support this interpretation, there is a small, shiny breakage facet on
> the uppermost left end. This looks like a break in green bone.
>
> You don't mention the cultural period, but is there any history of
> manufacturing artefacts such as bone bodkins?
>
> Richard
>
>
> On 21/02/2011 06:50, Martyn Allen wrote:
>> Dear Zooarchers
>>
>> I have just placed a photo of a cattle metatarsal onto bone commons. It shows some deep linear markings along the medial surface. I think they may be pathological as the specimen already has other signs of disease. To be honest however, I'm not sure what these specific marks are or what has caused them. I have placed some more details with the photo on bone commons, so please have a look. Any help with a diagnosis would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> The URL for the page is:
>>
>> http://www.alexandriaarchive.org/bonecommons/items/show/1736
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> Martyn Allen
>>
>
>
> From BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media
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