[Bonetools] Strange cattle bones with carved holes

[François Poplin]

Le 21/11/2014 15:44, Johnny Karlsson a écrit :
>
> Dear all,
>
> I hope you can help me with some odd bone objects from medieval 
> Sigtuna in Sweden.
>
> During a research on medieval bone skates from the town, I and a 
> colleague came across some bones that seem to have another function at 
> least primary. It is only metacarpal bones from cattle and they have 
> two holes at the proximal joint, see photo. The holes are uneven and 
> look carved rather than drilled. Usually the holes reach the medullar 
> cavity. In two cases it is evident that the bones secondary have been 
> used as skates, in two other cases they exhibit transverse striations 
> on the diaphysis (see photo). But the majority of them show no sign of 
> use at all except these two proximal holes. We identified about twenty 
> of them from one particular trench in layers dating to the 12^th 
> century, but they do appear in smaller numbers in other parts of town.
>
> Has anyone of you seen something similar? Does anyone know their function?
>

The very first idea to come to me is : in order to get ridd (by boiling) 
of marrow/grease, which is unpleaseant on implements  such as skates, 
when you grasp/carry them and so forth. You need two holes, specially on 
young metapodials, because of the two medullar cavities.
Could somebody of yours try skating with clean bones and with fatty ones 
? I suspect that the second will not go that well.
>
> Thank you in advance,
> Johnny Karlsson
>
>
>
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-- 
François POPLIN

Directeur honoraire de l'UMR 7209 Archéozoologie, Archébotanique : sociétés, pratiques et environnements

Responsable du Séminaire d'Anthropozoologie

Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
CP 56
Ancien Laboratoire d'Anatomie comparée
55, rue de Buffon
75005 Paris
01 40 79 33 11
fax ------ 33 14

francoispoplin.blogspot.com

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