The dogs of Roman Vindolanda, Part II

Time-stratigraphic occurrence, ethnographic comparisons, and biotype reconstruction

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12480481
AutoresDeb Bennett (autor correspondente), Robert M Timm (0000-0001-6203-3316, University of Kansas)
Ano2016
Fascículo25
Páginas107-126
Data de publicação2016-06-13
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoArchaeofauna (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1132-6891
EditoraServicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15366/archaeofauna2016.25.005
OpenAlexW2529758863
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas10
Referências citadas8

The Roman fort-village complex at Vindolanda in northern England has yielded extensive well-preserved remains of domestic dogs, Canis familiaris. Herein, we pose the questions—did the Romans breed for distinctive dog morphotypes, or were dogs breeding panmictically; and if dogs were bred, was it for functionality. We address these questions utilizing remains that are correlated to age and context; morphometric analysis; dental wear stage; bone pathology; pawprints impressed in tiles, and contemporary written records and artwork. All age classes of dogs are represented. There is no evidence that dogs were butchered for food; survivorship curves suggest the typical U-shaped distribution found in populations at equilibrium. Small, medium-sized, and large dogs are represented with frequency changing over time and corresponding to change in the region of origin of the resident military cohort. Husbandry is confirmed on an individual with healed wounds and with the discovery of a beehive-shaped wattle doghouse. Dogs were used extensively in hunting wild game and bred for that activity. By integrating many diverse kinds of data we are able reconstruct biotypes of Roman dogs, greatly facilitating the interpretation of their functionality

Art · Humanities · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Veterinary Equine Medical Research · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation