[Bonetools] small caprine metapodial with weird marks

[Edward Maher]

Hi Marta:

  We see similar kinds of markings on animal bones from Iron Age Philistine sites in Israel, mostly between 12-10th century BCE. These most often occur on scapula bones but are known to appear on others as well. They are taken as partial evidence of the point of origin of the Philistines as coming somewhere from the Aegean where we find similar notches on animal bones, which also mostly appear on scapula. They are found in different contexts which makes their interpretation problematic at present. Suggested use/functions range from oracular readings, counting/tabulation, stringed instrument, but there is no consensus. This is something I'm working on and will eventually publish on.

Cheers, Ed

________________________________
From: Bonetools <bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu> on behalf of Marta Moreno García <marta.moreno at cchs.csic.es>
Sent: Thursday, October 7, 2021 1:55 AM
To: Bonetools at listserv.niif.hu <Bonetools at listserv.niif.hu>
Cc: Aitor Brito Mayor <aitor.brito at ulpgc.es>
Subject: [Bonetools] small caprine metapodial with weird marks


Dear all,

I am writing on behalf of a student of mine (Aitor Brito) from the Canary Islands who hopefully will be joining the bone list in brief. He is presently working on a faunal assemblage recovered from the Hospital de San Martín, an historic hospital located in the foundation levels of El Real de Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Spain), the first village founded by the Spanish in the late 15th century.  Chop and cut marks on most of the faunal remains indicate they are food debris, but there is a very young caprine metapodial that presents some weird marks on the lateral side of the diaphysis. I am sorry the pictures attached are not very good but I hope you would be able to see what I mean. We are not sure about their origin. Are they anthropogenic? They do not look like gnawing marks to me. The spacing between them and their morphology are quite regular as if they could have been caused by a tool. We would be very grateful for any comments or ideas.

Best regards,

Marta


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://listserv.niif.hu/pipermail/bonetools/attachments/20211007/1fa94758/attachment.htm>