This study investigated the historical consumption of pork in Croatia through a comprehensive analysis of pig bones from six medieval archaeological sites, comprising three castles and three ...monasteries dating from the 13th to the 16th century A.D. Employing a detailed morphological analysis of pig bones and teeth, the study quantified the number of identified specimens (NISP) per site. On bones and teeth, identification of sex and age was performed, and butchery patterns were documented. The results revealed a significant presence of pork in the diet of castle and monastery inhabitants, with pig bones being the most abundant animal remains. Age analysis suggested a prevalence of juvenile pigs, predominantly males. The findings implied that from the 13th to the 16th century A.D., pork was a staple in the diet of castles and monasteries in continental Croatia, sourced from pig breeding outside these sites. Typically, male pigs aged under two years were delivered for consumption to these establishments.
A special part of archaeology, so-called archaeozoopathology or veterinary paleopathology is dedicated to studies of paleopathological changes in animal remains and contributes to the knowledge of ...ancient veterinary medicine and the history of diseases. In our study, we analyze paleopathological changes determined by gross observation and diagnostic imaging in the animal material originating from eight archaeological sites in Croatia. A standard archaeozoological analysis was carried out and specimens with visually detected macrostructural changes were radiographed. In total, 50 animal remains with altered macrostructure were identified in the archaeozoological material excavated from 2010 to 2022 at eight archaeological sites in Croatia. According to the taxonomic analysis, most of the bones with macrostructural changes originated from cattle (N = 27, 54% of the total number of bones with macrostructural changes), followed by the bones of small ruminants (N = 12, 24%) and pigs (N = 8, 16%). The horse, carnivore and chicken were represented with one bone each (2%). Radiological examination showed that three samples (6%) had a regular bone macrostructure, i.e., no pathological changes were visible upon radiological examination. The majority (64%) of pathologically altered bones are a consequence of keeping/working, followed by traumatic causes (20%). Changes in the oral cavity were found in 10% of specimens. Our study showed that gross examination will continue to be the primary method for the identification of pathologically altered remains in archaeozoological material. However, diagnostic imaging techniques such as radiography should be implemented to confirm or exclude suspected alterations and to help the classification of the specimen by etiology.
Anatomical variations of the thoracic duct in the dog Korpes, Kim; Kolenc, Magdalena; Trbojević Vukičević, Tajana ...
Anatomia, histologia, embryologia,
November 2021, 2021-11-00, 20211101, Letnik:
50, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Anatomical variations can be frequently found in the lymphatic system, which is also true for the shape and course of the thoracic duct (ductus thoracicus), the biggest lymph vessel in the body. From ...2012 to 2019, the thoracic duct was successfully dissected in 43 dog carcasses that were used in the anatomy course at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb. The thoracic duct originated from the cranial border of the cisterna chyli as one lymph vessel in 36 dogs (83.7%), as two vessels in six dogs (14%) and as three vessels in one dog (2.3%). We divided the observed thoracic duct variations into six groups according to their anatomical similarities. Considering the specific embryonic development, we can conclude that all observed variations are the result of minor deviations from the standard ontogenesis. However, the importance of thoracic duct variations is significant in surgical procedures done in the thoracic cavity to prevent or cure the chylothorax. Since this research showed variations in 39 out of 43 dogs (90.7%) throughout the whole course of the thoracic duct, great care must be taken while performing the ligation or embolization of the thoracic duct.
The horse is central to many Indigenous cultures across the American Southwest and the Great Plains. However, when and how horses were first integrated into Indigenous lifeways remain contentious, ...with extant models derived largely from colonial records. We conducted an interdisciplinary study of an assemblage of historic archaeological horse remains, integrating genomic, isotopic, radiocarbon, and paleopathological evidence. Archaeological and modern North American horses show strong Iberian genetic affinities, with later influx from British sources, but no Viking proximity. Horses rapidly spread from the south into the northern Rockies and central plains by the first half of the 17th century CE, likely through Indigenous exchange networks. They were deeply integrated into Indigenous societies before the arrival of 18th-century European observers, as reflected in herd management, ceremonial practices, and culture.
Wolf diet and prey selection in Croatia Octenjak, Daria; Pađen, Lana; Šilić, Valentina ...
Mammal research,
10/2020, Letnik:
65, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Tensions between humans and wolves have led to intensive worldwide studies of wolf feeding habits and their relative preference for domestic and wild ungulates. The aim of this study was to provide ...further insight into the diet composition of wolves in Croatia, based on stomach contents of dead wolves. We examined spatial variation in wolf diet and prey selection relative to availability of wild and domestic animals. Furthermore, we aimed to determine selectivity in feeding habits in relation to wolf gender and age. The study was conducted on the stomach contents of 42 gray wolves (18 females, 24 males). Samples were collected from three regions of Croatia with different ratios of domestic and wild prey availability. The density ratio of domestic to wild ungulates increased gradually from north-west (5.8), through central (11.6) to south-east (134) Croatia. Wolf diet followed this pattern with the ratio of domestic animals increasing from 0.7 to 1.3 and 5.3, respectively. The relative share of wild ungulates in wolf diet was significantly higher in all three regions of wolf range in Croatia, even where livestock availability was high. Female wolves ate birds, rodents, and dogs more than males and in the south, where wild ungulates were scarce. This study showed wolves’ selectivity for wild ungulate, rather than for abundant, but well-guarded livestock. The European idea of coexistence of humans and wolves in human-dominated landscape seems possible with some effort and understanding from humans’ side.
Arheološkim istraživanjima na lokalitetu Osijek – Ciglana i Zeleno polje utvrđeni su ostaci naselja iz brončanoga i željeznoga doba. Najstarije naselje, osnovano tijekom srednjega brončanog doba, ...kontinuirano je živjelo do starije faze kasnoga brončanog doba. Nakon dužega hijatusa, položaj je ponovno naseljen u mlađoj fazi starijega željeznog doba te zatim ponovno u kasnolatenskome razdoblju. Istraženost veće površine omogućila je praćenje promjena u strukturi i organizaciji naselja, dok provedene arheozoološke i arheobotaničke analize svjedoče o privredi stanovništva naseljenoga na istome prostoru tijekom dužega vremenskog razdoblja. Na brončanodobnom naselju najveće su promjene primjetne na prijelazu starije u mlađu srednjobrončanodobnu fazu, što se poklapa s nestankom inkrustirane keramike srednjega brončanog doba te nešto češćom pojavom materijala kakav se pripisuje kulturi grobnih humaka. Rezultati arheozooloških i arheobotaničkih analiza pokazuju kako se, bez obzira na promjene arheoloških kultura i razdoblja, privreda stanovništva naseljenoga na istome mjestu nije bitno mijenjala.
Archaeological research at the site of Osijek – Ciglana and Zeleno polje revealed remains of a Bronze and Iron Age settlement. The earliest settlement was established during the Middle Bronze Age and was continually settled till the early phase of the Late Bronze Age. After a long hiatus, the site was settled again in the late phase of the Early Iron Age and in the Late La Tène period. Excavation of a larger area enabled researchers to track changes in the structure and organization of the settlement, while the conducted archaeozoological and archaeobotanical analyses testified to the economy of a population settled in the same area over a longer period of time. In the Bronze Age settlement, the most significant changes are noticeable at the turn of the early to the late phase of the Middle Bronze Age, which corresponds to the disappearance of encrusted pottery of the Middle Bronze Age and somewhat more common appearance of material assigned to the Tumulus culture. The results of archaeozoological and archaeobotanical analyses show that, regardless of the changes of archaeological cultures and periods, the economy of the population settled in the same area did not significantly alter.
Horse domestication revolutionized warfare and accelerated travel, trade, and the geographic expansion of languages. Here, we present the largest DNA time series for a non-human organism to date, ...including genome-scale data from 149 ancient animals and 129 ancient genomes (≥1-fold coverage), 87 of which are new. This extensive dataset allows us to assess the modern legacy of past equestrian civilizations. We find that two extinct horse lineages existed during early domestication, one at the far western (Iberia) and the other at the far eastern range (Siberia) of Eurasia. None of these contributed significantly to modern diversity. We show that the influence of Persian-related horse lineages increased following the Islamic conquests in Europe and Asia. Multiple alleles associated with elite-racing, including at the MSTN “speed gene,” only rose in popularity within the last millennium. Finally, the development of modern breeding impacted genetic diversity more dramatically than the previous millennia of human management.
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•Two now-extinct horse lineages lived in Iberia and Siberia some 5,000 years ago•Iberian and Siberian horses contributed limited ancestry to modern domesticates•Oriental horses have had a strong genetic influence within the last millennium•Modern breeding practices were accompanied by a significant drop in genetic diversity
Genome-wide data from 278 ancient equids provide insights into how ancient equestrian civilizations managed, exchanged, and bred horses and indicate vast loss of genetic diversity as well as the existence of two extinct lineages of horses that failed to contribute to modern domestic animals.
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of rubber mats in service unit on displaying stereotypies in gilts. Four 28-day production cycles in all seasons were observed. Each cycle included 28 ...gilts housed in gestation stalls with slatted concrete floor, which was covered with adjusted mats for 14 gilts (experimental group), while the remaining 14 gilts served as controls. Display of stereotypies and other behaviours observed, mat manipulation and postural behaviours were estimated by direct 1-hour observation of gilts at 2-minute intervals after morning feed supply on days 1, 8, 15 and 28 of each cycle. During the study period, displaying stereotypies was significantly less frequent (P < 0.05) in experimental group as compared with control group. The rate of particular forms of stereotypies, i.e. vacuum chewing, bar biting and teeth grinding, was also significantly lower (P < 0.05 all) in experimental group throughout the study period. A significant negative correlation (P <.05) was found between the service unit air temperature and frequency of displaying stereotypies in control group, which could be attributed to the significantly more common standing posture (P < 0.05) in control gilts in the conditions of lower air temperature. During the cold period, experimental gilts took a lying position significantly more frequently (P < 0.05). In the experimental group of gilts there was no significant correlation (P > 0.05 all) between the frequency of displaying stereotypies and the frequency of lying and other postures observed, as well as between the stereotypy display and the air temperature. There was no significant correlation (P > 0.05 all) between the frequency of mat manipulation and displaying stereotypies in total or its particular forms, suggesting that the less pronounced stereotypy display in experimental gilts may have been influenced by factors other than those observed in the present study.
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