Study of the medieval dogs from novgorod, Russia (X–XIV century)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of dogs in medieval Novgorod. Based on the unique osteological collection of canine bones from layers of 10th to 14th centuries AD, research showed that the 'classical' medium-sized mesocephalic animals were the most widespread in the city in the discussed times. Well suitable for the alarm guarding, they were rarely used for food or skins. Smaller and larger specimens are rare and most likely represent the luxury breeds of upper classes or prosperous citizens.

Study of the medieval domestic cats from Novgorod with reference to cats from medieval Tver (Russia; 10–14 centuries)

“…Nevertheless, some comparison is necessary to better envision the cat constitution. Almost complete skulls show slightly dolichocephalic animals that are close to the local forms more subject to natural, rather than artificial selection (Smith, 1998). This can be observed in communities of stray cats in many modern European cities,…”

“…Although we do not have written evidence of cat skins used in Novgorod or other medieval Russian cities, they have been traded in Western Europe (McCormick, 1988;Smith, 1998). There is also ambiguous evidence of cat skins exported from Russia (Backus, 1879), but they might have belonged to wild animals.…”

“…observ.). Generally smaller in size than modern domestic cats in Europe, they must have had a poorer nutrition, even in comparison with cats from Roman and Early Christian periods (Avd & Boessneck, 1983;Krajcarz et al, 2016;Smith, 1998). Left to fend for themselves for food and shelter, they usually died at younger ages than dogs (Zinoviev, 2015a).…”

Mammoths, Deer, and a Dog: Fossil and (Sub) Recent Allochthonous Remains from the Northeastern Croatia (Podravina Region), with the First Radiocarbon Dating of the Croatian Woolly Mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius)

“…The results are expressed in conventional 14 C age (BP) and median value. Golden jackal (Canis aureus) skull with measured craniometric parameters on the specimens presented in this paper (partly after [6,7]): (a)-dorsal, (b)-lateral (left), (c)-basal, (d)-nuchal view, (e)-detail of dentition with measurements on P4, M1, and M2. Craniometric elements (A: akrokranion, B: basion, Ec: ectorbitale, En: entorbitale, Fm: frontal midpoint, N: nasion, O: opisthion, Ot: otion, P: prosthion, Po: palatinoorale, S: synsphenion, St: staphylion, Z: zygion) and measured parameters are as follows.…”

Of Friends and Food: Dogs in Medieval Novgorod the Great

“…Dog skulls from the Desyatinniy excavation site. Arrows show the absence of incisors, canines and the last two molars, fallen out during the life of the animal (after Zinoviev, 2012 SL, skull length; GBL, condylobasal length; BL, basal length; CL, cranial length; NL, neurocranium length; UNL, upper neurocranim length; VCL, viscerocranium length; FL, facial length; GLN, greatest length of the nasals; SnL, snout length; MPL, median palatal length; PL, palatal length; LHP, length of the horizontal part of the palatine; LMR, length of the molar row; LPR, length of the premolar raw; GMW, greatest mastoid width; BEAM, breadth dorsal to the external auditory meatus; MWOC, maximum width of the occipital condyles; GBJP, greatest breadth of the bases of the jugular processes; MWFM, maximum width of the foramen magnum; HFM, height of the foramen magnum; LDN, length of the dorsal notch of the foramen magnum, MWN, maximum width of neurocranium; MZW, maximum zygomatic width; LBS, least breadth of the skull; FB, frontal breadth; LBO, least breadth between the orbits; GPB, greatest palatal breadth; LPB, least palatal breadth; SH, skull height; SHWS, skull height without the sagittal crest; HOT, height of the occipital triangle.…”