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Description: | The following notes were kindly produced by Jorge Ferreira, graduate of the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. The bones were recovered by the landowner whilst investigating a trench dug for a watermain. The bone report accompanies a pottery report recorded as ESS17A9D0. Species Body Parts Age Sheep (Ovis) Right Mandible (Fragment) Young Adult (M3 erupted/no wear) Sheep (Ovis) Left Mandible (Fragment) (Dp2 - Dp3 - P1) Juvenile (Decidous teeth present P1 erupting) Sheep (Ovis) Right Mandible (Fragment) (Dp3 - Dp4 - M1 erupting) Juvenile (No permanent dentition present. M1 just erupting) Sheep (Ovis) Left Mandible (Fragment) (Dp2 - Dp3 - Dp4) Juvenile Sheep (Ovis) Left Mandible (P3 - P4) Adult Sheep (Ovis) Left Maxilla (P4 - M1 - M2 - M3) Adult (M3 present, wear on M1 - M2) Sheep (Ovis) Right Humerus Adult (epiphysis fused) Sheep (Ovis) Acetabulum / Acromium Adult Sheep (Ovis) Acetabulum (Fragment) ? Sheep (Ovis) Humerus (Fragment of distal end) ? (Shows clear cut marks) Sheep (Ovis) Tibia (Distal end) Juvenile (Epiphysis unfused) Sheep (Ovis) Right Tibia (Proximal end) Adult (Fused epiphysis) Sheep (Ovis) Right Tibia (Proximal end) Adult (Fused epiphysis) Sheep (Ovis) Calcaneous Adult ? Pig (Sus) Left Mandible (C4 - P4 - M1 - M2) Adult Pig (Sus) Left Mandible (Fragment) (M2 - M3) Adult (Heavy wear on M2) Pig (Sus) Left Mandible (Fragment) (M1 - M2) Young Adult (Wear on M1) Pig (Sus) Right Mandible (Fragment) (M2) Adult (Some wear on occlusal surface - M2) Pis (Sus) Right Mandible (Fragment) (P3) Probably adult Pig (Sus) Canine (Lower Left) Adult Pig (Sus) Canine (Lower Right) Adult Pig (Sus) Left Mandible (Fragment) (C - P3) Probably adult Pig (Sus) Left Mandible (P3 - P4) Probably adult Pig (Sus) Right Mandible (P4 - M1 - M2) Young adult (some wear on M1) Pig (Sus) Canine (Probably Upper Left) Pig (Sus) Maxilla with canine (Fragment) Young (erupting canine) Pig (Sus) Right Maxilla (Fragment) (P3 - P4 - M2 - M3) Adult ( Heavy wear on P3 - P4 - M2) Pig (Sus) Right Scapula (Fragment) ? Pig (Sus) Left Scapula (Frag.) ? Pig (Sus) Right Humerus (Fragment of distal end) Adult (fused) (Shows clear cut marks) Pig (Sus) Radius (Proximal end) ? Pig (Sus) Vertebra (Lumbar) ? Cattle (Bos) Left Scapula (Fragment) Adult (probably) Cattle (Bos) Acetabulum (Fragment) ? Cattle (Bos) Left Radius-Ulna (Proximal Fragment) Adult (Epiphysis fused) Cattle (Bos) Vertebra (Lumbar) Juvenile (Unfused) ?? Phalanx Juvenile (Epiphysis unfused) The key for the teeth is as follows: I - Incisors C - Canines P - Premolars M - Molars Dp - Deciduous Premolars Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) Considering the number of mandibles in the assemblage it is possible to determine that they originate from 3 pigs (Sus) and 4 sheep (Ovis) The fragmentation and rarity of cattle (Bos) material means that only one individual can be securely identified. There is also one avian bone present which cannot be accurately identified without access to a reference collection. COMMENTS The size and characteristics of the assemblage suggests a small domestic exploitation of livestock for domestic purposes. The fragmentation of the assemblage does not allow for sex determination and therefore for the characteristics of livestock management employed. There are specimens, which clearly originate from animals of various ages but there is no specific pattern of culling present. The body parts represented in the assemblage come from most areas of the body, once again suggesting a small domestic exploitation where the complete carcass was available for consumption. Most of the bone material in the assemblage cannot be identified to species and are not, in any case, used as diagnostic (Fragments of ribs and vertebrae). It is important to note that the present assemblage might have been affected by the fact that it was not archaeologically collected and many bones may have been destroyed or lost in the process. In conclusion, this assemblage represents the refuse from a domestic context with no indications of any 'unusual' or 'unexpected' patterns in exploitation of livestock. | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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