Supplementing Nadja's contribution, which I agree with, also the omental/mesenterial fat - the so-called "net"- in ruminants provides high quantities of fat, in terms of quality very similar to the adipose capsule of the kidneys.
I don't want to close this posting without expressing my sadness because of the two severe losses that hit our community almost coincidentally. Both colleagues I did not know well personally, but like many others I loved and respected their papers
Prof. Gerhard Forstenpointner
Unit on Archaeozoology and Comparative Morphology
Institute of Anatomy
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Veterinaerplatz 1
A-1210 Vienna, AUSTRIA
Ph: +43 1 25077 2503
6332
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pöllath, Nadja
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2015 7:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ZOOARCH] AW: 'killing sheep for their fat''
It's most likely not the fat of the tail but the fat around the kidneys the thieves were after.
That's what I've found:
The statutes at large, of England and of Great-Britain: from Magna Carta to the Union of the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland 1727:
"..., and likewise secretly in the Night Time to kill great Numbers of Sheep, and to strip off their Skins, and then steal the Carcases of the Sheep so killed, leaving their Skins behind to prevent Discoveries; and also in like manner to kill great Numbers of Sheep, and then cut open the Sheep so killed, and take out and steal their inward Fat, leaving their Carcases behind to prevent being discovered; ..."
https://books.google.de/books?id=bIpKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA709&dq=fat+sheep+stealing+irland&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBmoVChMI59GG8qeHyAIVBTgaCh0oRATh#v=onepage&q=fat%20sheep%20stealing%20irland&f=false
J. Rule and R. Wells, 1997. Crime, Protest and Popular Politics in Southern England 1740-1850:
"In several cases recorded by him, only choice portions of the beast were removed: 'skin, fat and entrails were left (...). Basically it was good thieving. Discovery of concealed skins was one of the commonest causes of detection. The inquiry which had first led to the passing of the capital Act in 1741 had learned that many stealers came in the night: 'killing great numbers of sheep ... and stripping off their skins, and then stealing the carcasses of the sheep so killed, but leaving their skins behind to prevent discoveries'. It also refers to cutting open sheep and stealing 'their inward fat' and leaving the rest of the carcass behind. The tallow, the fine fat around the kidneys, had a high value to weight ration and was easily disposed of."
https://books.google.de/books?id=crBDTK1AHTcC&pg=PA247&dq=inward+fat+kidneys+stealing&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAGoVChMI0MDjlqyHyAIVCX8aCh0B9Aly#v=onepage&q=inward%20fat%20kidneys%20stealing&f=false
Best,
Nadja
-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Im Auftrag von Sue Millard
Gesendet: Montag, 21. September 2015 02:00
An: [log in to unmask]
Betreff: Re: 'killing sheep for their fat''
On 21 Sep 2015 at 0:27, Mikolaj Lisowski wrote:
>
> Out of curiosity - are the mountain ones really 'sweeter'?
My boss certainly used to say that Herdwick lamb, being slow to mature, has a sweeter flavour than any other.
re stealing only the hindquarters - the rear end of a sheep has far more meat (if you include the loin area of the back) than the forequarters which are flavourful but bony. If you can only carry so much, better to take the weight in meaty sections than bony ones.
Sue Millard
Daw Bank Farm, Greenholme, Tebay, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3TA. 01539 624636.
http://www.dawbank.co.uk/
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