Dog Pathologies in Central–Eastern Gaul During the Iron Age and Roman Period (500 bce– 400 ce )

Diachronic Perspectives

Bibliographic Data

ID12371257
AuthorsCamille Lamarque (0000-0003-4120-1506, UMR5133—Archéorient, Sociétés et Environnements Anciens Université Lumière Lyon 2 Lyon France, corresponding author), Koen Chiers (0000-0002-7449-1047, Faculteit Diergeneeskunden Universiteit Gent Ghent Belgium), Thierry Argant (0000-0003-0308-9584, UMR5138—ArAr Archéologie et archéométrie Université Lumière Lyon Lyon France), Aurélien Creuzieux (UMR5138—ArAr Archéologie et archéométrie Université Lumière Lyon Lyon France)
Year2025
Volume35
Issue4
Pages37-52
Publication date2025-06-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.70001
OpenAlexW4411384339
LanguageEN
References cited29

This article presents an analysis of paleopathologies in dogs from the Iron Age through the Roman period (500 bce– 400 ce ) in Central–Eastern Gaul. The analysis focuses on the quantification of paleopathological traces in an attempt to identify changes in human–dog relationships between these two periods. The number of paleopathologies remains marginal in dog populations during these periods. However, oral pathologies represent the most prevalent identified lesions. Nevertheless, a discernible increase in joint and traumatic diseases can be observed in urban centers from the beginning of the Roman Empire onwards, which coincided with a rise in morphological diversity and the cessation of cynophagy. The number of “multipathological” cases also increased during the same period. This upsurge of joint and traumatic pathologies raises questions about the living conditions and treatment of dogs according to their potential functions in ancient societies. Nonetheless, the majority of paleopathologies are multifactorial or of unknown etiology and therefore cannot be unequivocally linked or attributed to certain dog's functions

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Period (music · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology