Offspring of the Aurochs : a comparison of a reference collection of Dexter cattle skeletons with archaeological and historical data
This thesis aimed to re-evaluate archaeological interpretations of cattle exploitation strategies and propose new and integrated interpretations informed by archaeological and historical evidence. In addition, the study used the modern Dexter breed as a comparandum for the small cattle represented on British archaeological sites from the Bronze Age onwards. Data from a real death assemblage of forty complete and partial skeletons of Dexter cattle in the authorâs reference collection, ranging in age from stillborn calves to an eighteen year old cow, and eight partial skeletons of juvenile Jersey and Jersey cross cattle were presented. The analysis was approached from the management of live cattle by age and sex groupings, rather than bones, an approach influenced by recent archaeological interpretations of the concept of the Operational Chain, or âbiographyâ, incorporating the social aspect into the analysis. Critical examination and integration of information from historical and modern sources pertaining to husbandry, together with observations made in the authorâs Dexter herd, were used to give insights into the reconstruction of herding strategies. The data from the Dexters, of known life history,
Gidney, Louisa Jane
Offspring of the Aurochs : a comparison of a reference collection of Dexter cattle skeletons with archaeological and historical data. This thesis aimed to re-evaluate archaeological interpretations of cattle exploitation strategies and propose new and integrated interpretations informed by archaeological and historical evidence. In addition, the study used the modern Dexter breed as a comparandum for the small cattle represented on British archaeological sites from the Bronze Age onwards. Data from a real death assemblage of forty complete and partial skeletons of Dexter cattle in the authorâs reference collection, ranging in age from stillborn calves to an eighteen year old cow, and eight partial skeletons of juvenile Jersey and Jersey cross cattle were presented. The analysis was approached from the management of live cattle by age and sex groupings, rather than bones, an approach influenced by recent archaeological interpretations of the concept of the Operational Chain, or âbiographyâ, incorporating the social aspect into the analysis. Critical examination and integration of information from historical and modern sources pertaining to husbandry, together with observations made in the authorâs Dexter herd, were used to give insights into the reconstruction of herding strategies. The data from the Dexters, of known life history,
offspring comparison reference_collection cattle skeleton archaeological_historical data aim_re evaluate archaeological_interpretation cattle exploitation strategy propose_new integrated interpretation inform_archaeological historical_evidence addition study use modern breed small cattle represent british archaeological_site bronze_age onwards data real death assemblage forty complete partial skeleton cattle author reference_collection range age calf partial skeleton juvenile cross cattle present analysis approach management live cattle age_sex grouping rather bone influence recent_archaeological interpretation concept operational chain biography incorporate social_aspect analysis critical_examination integration information historical modern source pertain husbandry together observation_make author herd use give_insight reconstruction herd strategy data know life_history