Butchery of horse and dog at Witney Palace, Oxfordshire, and the knackering and feeding of meat to hounds during the post-medieval period

Wilson, Bob; Edwards, Peter

doi:10.1179/pma.1993.004

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Although never present on cat bones, butchery marks have been found on dog bones from several medieval assemblages. Their interpretation is debatable and among the possible explanations we may mention the possibilities that dog meat might have been eaten occasionally (Dobney et al undated), that it would be used for feeding other dogs [Wilson &Edwards 1993) or that the marrow fat would be exploited for cosmetic or other uses (Gidney 1996). Once again the documents are inconclusive in finding a solution to this problem, although they can provide some clues.…”

Section: The Missing Animals Of the Historical Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘The mystery of husbandry’: medieval animals and the problem of integrating historical and archaeological evidence

Albarella

1999

Antiquity

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Section: The Missing Animals Of the Historical Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘The mystery of husbandry’: medieval animals and the problem of integrating historical and archaeological evidence

Albarella

1999

Antiquity

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“…These dogs were used to guard homes or livestock, control pests, hunt wild game, and act as pets. Cut marks identified on dogs from medieval and postmedieval contexts in England are believed to indicate knackering, the use of dead dogs as food for other livestock (Thomas & Lacock, 2000;Wilson & Edwards, 1993) or the collection of hides for tanning (Albarella, 1999;Thomas, 2005).…”

Section: Dogs In the British Isles And Continental Europementioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the introduction of European dogs to North America through shoulder height

Welker

Dunham

2019

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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The introduction of domesticated species to new environments has been used to identify colonisation events in the archaeological record but rarely provides the opportunity to investigate colonists' selection of particular breeds or stock. This analysis employs morphometrics, the measurement of skeletal landmarks, supported by historic documentation to explore the intersection between colonists' breed preferences and species translocation. In doing so, this analysis provides insight into the differential effects of human selective breeding on domestic dog's (Canis familiaris) physical characteristics in Native American and European societies. Historic sources suggest that European colonists selectively imported large dog breeds capable of defending settlements and livestock, acting as war dogs, and aiding hunters. Colonists' dogs are reputed to have been significantly larger than Native American dogs. This study compares standardised measurements taken on bones to estimate shoulder height. We find that dog populations in England and North America spanning the period 0–1,800 AD exhibit an almost identical average stature; however, the range of shoulder height variation in European dogs is far greater than seen in eastern Native American dog populations. Dogs in colonial American contexts are statistically larger than both Native American and European dog populations, supporting documentary accounts that colonists selectively imported breeds from the largest available in Europe.

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“…In seeking to answer this question, we must be aware that not all butchery marks necessarily represent preparation of horseflesh for humans to eat; other species may instead have benefitted. In post‐medieval England, the practice existed of feeding horsemeat to hounds, especially those associated with hunting (Wilson and Edwards , 54; Thomas and Locock , 89–90). It is unclear how old this practice was; it may have occurred in the medieval period, but, even then, seems to have been extremely rare (Cummins , Appendix 1, note 39).…”

Section: Evidence For Horse Consumptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Horses for Courses? Religious Change and Dietary Shifts InAnglo‐SaxonEngland

Poole¹

2013

Oxford J Archaeology

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Summary The evidence for horse consumption in Anglo‐Saxon England is examined with regards to the spread of Christianity from the late sixth century onwards. It is argued that the negative attitudes of Church leaders to hippophagy relate largely to the perceived links of this practice with pagan beliefs and were closely allied to attempts at establishing greater religious orthodoxy. In considering the effects of such attitudes, previous studies have made little attempt to relate textual sources to the physical remnants of such activities – horse bones themselves. By combining these sources, this paper suggests that horses were probably eaten by at least some people before, during and after the Conversion period, but that Christianity may have had some effect on these practices. However, the impact varied according to social identity and perhaps also regions of the country.

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Butchery of horse and dog at Witney Palace, Oxfordshire, and the knackering and feeding of meat to hounds during the post-medieval period

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

‘The mystery of husbandry’: medieval animals and the problem of integrating historical and archaeological evidence

‘The mystery of husbandry’: medieval animals and the problem of integrating historical and archaeological evidence

Exploring the introduction of European dogs to North America through shoulder height

Horses for Courses? Religious Change and Dietary Shifts InAnglo‐SaxonEngland

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