Animals Finds from Torčec - Gradić Archaeological Site

Arheozoološkom analizom obuhvaćeno je 22 (2002. g.) te 611 (2003. g.) kostiju, odlomaka kostiju i pojedinačnih zuba s arheološkog nalazišta Torčec - Gradić, Koprivničko-križevačka županija, Hrvatska. Taksonomski su određena dva nalaza (phalanx proximalis i os tarsi centroquartale, domaćeg goveda, Bos taurus L. 1758) iz prve godine istraživanja (2002.; SJ 001, 002, 003; IV i V stratigrafska faza). Iz druge godine istraživanja (2003.; SJ 002, 023, 024, 025, 026, 029, 032, 033, 034, 035, 038, 040, 041; stratigrafske faze lokaliteta IV i V) taksonomski je određena pripadnost za 164 nalaza. Prevladavaju nalazi iz skupine Sus sp. (domaća i divlja svinja) te domaće govedo, a malobrojni su nalazi ptica, pasa i ostale divljači.Archaeozoology (AZ) is multidisciplinary science, which integrate knowledge from biology, veterinary medicine and archaeology. AZ analysis usually includes research on archaeological site and in the AZ laboratory. In this paper, 633 specimens of bones, bone fragments and teeth of domestic and wild animals were submitted to AZ analysis. Those specimens originated from Middle ages (13-15 century), from Torčec-Gradić site. Mechanical treatment were done on archaeological site, and laboratory analysis yield data about determination skeletal remains, distributions upon taxonomic category and taphonomical factors or tracks on the bones. The most represented are limb bones, than bones of head and trunk. According to 164 taxonomic determinate specimens, the most common animals were Sus sp. category and domestic cattle. Mechanical alterations were noticed on some fragments. They include tracks of a knife and very interesting holes on two skeletal elements

Bronze and Iron Age settlements at the site of Osijek – Ciglana and Zeleno polje

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 Tene 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

Primjena visina zubnih kruna u određivanju životne dobi jelenske divljači eneolitika.

Abrasion of dental crown and the shape of denture occlusal surface are significant indicators in age determination of domestic mammals. The factors that significantly influence age determination of Eneolithic deer game in conditions of an open wildlife habitat are climatic changes that influenced their survival, as well as specific features of teeth morphological structure. In this paper the age of Eneolithic red deer is determined on the basis of dental crown abrasion of the third and fourth permanent premolars, and the first and third permanent molars. The obtained values for dental crown height of Eneolithic deer were compared with the values for dental crown height of the same tooth material of recent red deer whose age was clearly determined (5-7 years). Dental crown abrasion of Eneolithic deer (“Vučedol deer”) is greater than the dental crown abrasion of European deer (Cervus elaphus L.), that is to say, the age of “Vučedol deer” is within a range of 7-10 years.Istrošenost zubne krune i oblik grizne površine značajni su pokazatelji za utvrđivanje životne dobi domaćih sisavaca. Ti pokazatelji znatno utječu na utvrđivanje životne dobi jelenske divljači koja je živjela u razdoblju eneolitika u uvjetima otvorenog staništa divljine i bila podložna klimatskim promjenama koje su određivale uvjete preživljavanja i specifičnost morfološke građe zubiju. U radu je utvrđena životna dob eneolitičkog jelena običnog na osnovi istrošenosti zubnih kruna trećeg i četvrtog stalnog pretkutnjaka, te stalnog prvog i trećeg kutnjaka. Dobivene vrijednosti visina zubnih kruna eneolitičkog jelena običnog uspoređene su s vrijednostima visina zubnih kruna istog zubnog materijala recentnog jelena običnog točno utvrđene životne dobi (5 do 7 godina). Istrošenost zubnih kruna u eneolitičkog jelena (»vučedolskog jelena«) veća je od istrošenosti zubnih kruna u europskog jelena običnog, odnosno životna dob »vučedolskog jelena« kreće se u rasponu od 7 do 10 godina

Primjena visina zubnih kruna u određivanju životne dobi jelenske divljači eneolitika.

Abrasion of dental crown and the shape of denture occlusal surface are significant indicators in age determination of domestic mammals. The factors that significantly influence age determination of Eneolithic deer game in conditions of an open wildlife habitat are climatic changes that influenced their survival, as well as specific features of teeth morphological structure. In this paper the age of Eneolithic red deer is determined on the basis of dental crown abrasion of the third and fourth permanent premolars, and the first and third permanent molars. The obtained values for dental crown height of Eneolithic deer were compared with the values for dental crown height of the same tooth material of recent red deer whose age was clearly determined (5-7 years). Dental crown abrasion of Eneolithic deer (“Vučedol deer”) is greater than the dental crown abrasion of European deer (Cervus elaphus L.), that is to say, the age of “Vučedol deer” is within a range of 7-10 years.Istrošenost zubne krune i oblik grizne površine značajni su pokazatelji za utvrđivanje životne dobi domaćih sisavaca. Ti pokazatelji znatno utječu na utvrđivanje životne dobi jelenske divljači koja je živjela u razdoblju eneolitika u uvjetima otvorenog staništa divljine i bila podložna klimatskim promjenama koje su određivale uvjete preživljavanja i specifičnost morfološke građe zubiju. U radu je utvrđena životna dob eneolitičkog jelena običnog na osnovi istrošenosti zubnih kruna trećeg i četvrtog stalnog pretkutnjaka, te stalnog prvog i trećeg kutnjaka. Dobivene vrijednosti visina zubnih kruna eneolitičkog jelena običnog uspoređene su s vrijednostima visina zubnih kruna istog zubnog materijala recentnog jelena običnog točno utvrđene životne dobi (5 do 7 godina). Istrošenost zubnih kruna u eneolitičkog jelena (»vučedolskog jelena«) veća je od istrošenosti zubnih kruna u europskog jelena običnog, odnosno životna dob »vučedolskog jelena« kreće se u rasponu od 7 do 10 godina

An Arheozoological Analysis of Teeth of Lower Jaw of Pigs Coming from the Kostolac Culture (3,250–3,000 B.C.), Originating from Vučedol, Including Comparison with Recent

An investigation has been made within the expertise regarding teeth of 10 left halves of mandibles of recent sows as well as teeth of 18 pig mandibles originating from Kostolac culture (3,250 –3,000 B.C.) from Vu~edol archaeological location. TWS (Tooth Wear Stage) has been determined at all molars, according to Grant method1 and a corresponding numerical equivalent has been added, so MWS (Mandibular Wear Stage) has been obtained by summing up the above. On the basis of these values and ranges of MWS, an approximate age at the time of death has been determined for each unit. All the recent units have been older than 17 months, while the age of Kostolac units has come out to be between 14 and 17 months

Osteometrijska analiza kostiju metapodija i članaka prstiju jelena lopatara (Dama dama L.) s Brijuna (Hrvatska).

The purpose of this study was to measure the length and width proportions of the metapodial bones and phalanges of fallow deer (Dama dama L.) from the Brijuni Islands (Croatia) and correlate those osteometrical values with body mass. The osteometrical analysis included 28 metapodial bones and 168 phalanges of seven individual fallow deer of known age, sex and weight. The descriptive statistics for the obtained measurements show that the variability coefficient is less than 10% for the metapodial bone measurements and the phalanges length values, and greater than 10% for the width measurements. Comparison of osteometrical values for all the bones with body mass shows a negative correlation. After excluding the measurement values for the three juvenile individuals, the correlation becomes highly positive. Width measurements correlate better with body mass than the length measurements. Osteometrical studies are invaluable as only these data derived from recent populations can be compared with ancient animal populations in interdisciplinary archaeo-zoological investigations.Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je izmjeriti dužinu i širinu kostiju metapodija i članaka prstiju jelena lopatara (Dama dama L.) s Brijuna i usporediti dobivene osteometrijske vrijednosti s tjelesnom masom. U radu je obavljena osteometrijska analiza 28 kostiju metapodija i 168 članaka prstiju sedam jedinki jelena lopatara poznate dobi, spola i težine. Opisna statistika izmjera pokazuje da je koeficijent varijabilnosti kod izmjera metapodija i dužinskih vrijednosti članaka prstiju ispod 10%, dok je kod širinskih izmjera članaka prstiju iznad 10%. Usporedbom osteometrijskih vrijednosti svih kostiju s tjelesnom težinom korelacija je negativna. Izuzećem mjernih vrijednosti tri juvenilne jedinke korelacija postaje visoko pozitivna. Širinski su izmjeri bolje korelirani s tjelesnom težinom od dužinskih. Osteometrijska istraživanja su neprocjenjiva stoga što se samo podatci dobiveni od današnjih populacija mogu usporediti s populacijama drevnih životinja u interdisciplinarnim arheozoološkim istraživanjima

Morfološke osobitosti pasivnog fleksornog mehanizma ptica s različitim rasporedom prstiju

Birds possess a mechanism which allows passive flexion of the digits of the hind limbs which consists of two components: “automatic digital flexor mechanism” (ADFM) and “digital tendon-locking mechanism” (DTLM). The aim of this paper was to establish the existence and specificities of those components in examples of birds with anisodactyl (domestic chickens) and zygodactyl (parrots) digit layout using standard anatomical dissection and histological methods. Spatial distribution of the parrots’ muscles with a central role in DTLM (M. flexor digitorum longus and m. flexor hallucis longus) was the same as the chickens’. The plantar position of the fourth digit, which makes the difference between the anisodactyl and the zygodactyl digit layouts, did not cause changes in the position and function of this flexor muscles. The domestic chickens’ tendon sheath ridges, as well as the tendon tubercles of the flexor muscles were less developed while the parrots’ tubercles and ridges were clearly defined and the differences in their morphology were visible. There were no chondrogenic elements or they were barely noticeable in the parrots’ tendons. A potential cause of these distinctions could be the difference in the load which the tendons endure due to the different biomechanical composition. The parrots primarily inhabit trees where they move agilely around by grasping the branches. The Galliformes have a much larger body mass which is a consequence of their life on the ground, so the flexor muscle tendons suffer a greater load than the parrots and the cartilage tissue embedded in the tendon itself could act to distribute the weight of the body borne by the foot and the tendonPtice posjeduju mehanizam koji im omogućuje pasivnu fleksiju prstiju noge, a sastoji se od dvije komponente: automatskog digitalnog fleksornog mehanizma (ADFM) i digitalnog mehanizma zatvaranja tetiva (DTLM). Cilj ovoga rada bio je ustanoviti postojanje i specifičnost ovih komponenti u predstavnika ptica s anizodaktilnim (domaća kokoš) i zigodaktilnim (papige) rasporedom prstiju, primjenjujući standardnu anatomsku sekciju i histološke metode. Prostorna organizacija mišića koji imaju središnju ulogu u DTLM-u (m. flexor digitorum longus i m. flexor hallucis longus) jednaka je u papiga i domaće kokoši. Plantarni položaj četvrtog prsta, što čini razliku između anizodaktilnog i zigodaktilnog rasporeda prstiju, nije uvjetovao promjene položaja i funkcije tih fleksornih mišića. Nabori tetivnih ovojnica i kvržice na tetivama fleksornih mišića bili su slabije razvijeni u domaće kokoši, dok su u papiga nabori i kvržice bili jasno definirani, a njihove morfološke razlike vidljive. Hondrogeni elementi nedostaju ili su jedva zamjetni u tetivama papiga. Mogući uzrok ovoj pojavi mogla bi biti razlika u opterećenju koje trpe tetive zbog različitih biomehaničkih prilika. Papige su primarno vezane za krošnje drveća gdje se vrlo spretno kreću prihvatom za grane. Kod galiformnih je ptica masa tijela znatno veća, što je posljedica prilagodbe životu na tlu, pa tetive fleksornih mišića trpe veće opterećenje nego kod papiga, dok hrskavično tkivo uklopljeno u samu tetivu može djelovati na raspodjelu mase tijela koje podnosi stopalo, pa samim tim i tetiva

Opis deformacija glave šarana (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758).

Head deformities in cultured fish reduce their growth rate and survival, as well as degrading their external morphology, all of which can lead to considerable economic losses. While spinal deformities in cultured common carp have been analyzed in detail, relatively little is known about the prevalence, types or causes of head deformities. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of head bone deformities in 52 common carp, aged 2 years old, with spinal disorders from a farm in Croatia. Deformities were detected by clinical analysis, followed by detailed bone analysis, using X-rays and stereomicroscopy. Of the 52 fish, 8 (15.4 %) were found to have head deformities. Most deformities were bilateral and primarily affected the jaw arch and opercular string bone. Genetics and mechanical stress are proposed as possible causes of these deformities.Deformacije glave u uzgajanih riba smanjuju njihov rast i preživljavanje te narušavaju vanjski izgled što dovodi do znatnih ekonomskih gubitaka. Deformacije kralježnice uzgajanog šarana istražene su vrlo detaljno dok se o učestalosti, vrsti ili uzrocima deformacija glave malo zna. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi prevalenciju deformacija glave u 52 dvogodišnja šarana s jednog ribnjačarstva u Hrvatskoj kojima su utvrđene deformacije kralježnice. Deformacije su otkrivene kliničkim pregledom te istražene rendgenološki i uz pomoć lupe. Od 52 šarana 8 (15,4 %) ih je imalo i deformacije glave. Većina deformacija je bilateralna, a najčešće su bile zahvaćene kosti čeljusnog luka i operkularnog niza. Genetska predispozicija i mehaničko djelovanje navedeni su kao mogući uzroci utvrđenih promjena

Arheološki i arheozoološki dokazi o mlijeku kao namirnici na području Hrvatske

According to the recent data the cattle domestication and use of milk as a food was older then considered before. Cattle domestication started 8,000 years B.C. that was proven from the various bones debris, whereas milk use was confirmed on the bases of fatty acid analyses on the pottery fragments as early as 5,000 years B.C. Early centres of cattle domestication were located at the Eastern Mediterranean area, and in the North Africa from where the cattle were spreading also to today’s Croatian area. In Copper and Bronze Age Europe new pottery forms appear that have been associated with dairying. Chemical analysis of late Eneolithic Baden culture pottery showed that some pottery types were used for production or storage of milk and its products. Based on the faunal data from the Eneolithic Vučedol archaeological site, numbers of bones, teeth and horn fragments were identified, with the significant domination of the female population throughout all cultural layers. It is believed they were most probably used for the reproduction and the milk production. Direct proofs for milk consumption by the local prehistoric population, based on the fatty acid determination from the pottery fragments were not evident. It can only be assumed that lactose tolerance was developed similarly to central and northern European populations. Simultaneously with genetic research, mentioned analyses and results will be valuable contribution for better understanding in development of metabolic and degenerative disease in modern humans, developed under the influence of the changes in dietary habits and environmental factors during the evolutionary interval.Prema novijim podacima udomaćivanje goveda, kao i upotreba mlijeka kao namirnice, starije je nego što se smatralo. Domestikacija goveda započela je 8000 g. pr. Kr., a izravni dokazi o mogućem korištenju mlijeka postoje na temelju ostataka životinjskih kostiju i na temelju ostataka mliječne masti, prvenstveno masnih kiselina na posuđu, prema kojima se mlijeko koristilo već unazad 5000 g. pr. Kr. Centri rane domestikacije goveda rasprostirali su se na području istočnog Mediterana i sjeverne Afrike i otuda su se goveda proširila i u naše krajeve. U razdoblju eneolitika i brončanog doba u Europi se javljaju novi keramički oblici koji se dovode u vezu s mljekarstvom. Kemijske analize keramike kasnoeneolitičke badenske kulture pokazale su na nekoliko tipova posuđa da su korišteni za proizvodnju ili čuvanje mlijeka i mliječnih proizvoda. Na temelju podataka o fauni eneolitika vučedolskog arheološkog nalazišta utvrđen je veći broj fragmenata kostiju, zuba i rogova goveda, sa značajnom dominacijom ženki u svim kulturnim horizontima. Smatra se da su najvjerojatnije korištena u rasplodu i za proizvodnju mlijeka. Direktnih dokaza o upotrebi mlijeka na temelju utvrđivanja ostataka masnih kiselina u posuđu nema, no možemo pretpostaviti da se tolerancija na laktozu razvila kao i na području centralne i sjeverne Europe. Istovremeno s genetskim istraživanjima navedene analize i rezultati mogli bi imati primjenu u svrhu boljeg poznavanja razvoja metaboličkih i degenerativnih bolesti vezanih uz prehrambene navike današnjeg stanovništva

Različitosti u nastanku n. femoralis, n. obturatorius i n. ischiadicus u svinja.

Research was carried out on 135 pigs from the Sljeme Farm in Sesvete during 1999. Differences in n. femoralis, n. obturatorius and n. ischiadicus were noticed in pigs with six and seven lumbal vertebra. N. femoralis emerged by connecting ventral branches of two final lumbal nerves in 65.92% of pigs, equally often in pigs with six (31.11%) lumbal vertebrae and in pigs with seven (34.81%) lumbal vertebrae. Ventral branches of final lumbal nerves in pigs with six and seven lumbal vertebrae showed n. femoralis in 26.66% of observed pigs, and somewhat more often in pigs with seven lumbal vertebrae. N. obturatorius most frequently emerged from ventral branches of final lumbal nerves in pigs with six and seven lumbal vertebrae in 66.66% of animals, and somewhat more often in pigs with seven lumbal vertebrae. Much more rarely it emerges from ventral branches of prefinal lumbal nerves more often in pigs with seven lumbal vertebrae. In pigs with six lumbal vertebrae, emergence of n. obturatorius from ventral branches of the 4th, 5th and 6th lumbal nerves was noticed in 2.96% of cases and from the ventral branch of the 5th lumbal nerve in only 1.48% of observed pigs. N. Ischiadicus demonstrated the largest variation from the most frequently described emergence. In only 19.25% cases did it emerge from the ventral branches of 5th and 6th lumbal nerves and 1st and 2nd sacral nerves, and more rarely in pigs with seven lumbal vertebrae. It was observed most frequently in the ventral branches of the two final lumbal nerves and 1st sacral nerve (52.58%), more often in pigs with seven lumbal vertebrae. Ventral branches of the final lumbal and 1st and 2nd sacral nerves participated in the emergence of 20.70% cases, and somewhat more frequently in pigs with six lumbal vertebrae. Emergence of n. ischiadicus from the ventral branches of the final lumbal and the 1st sacral nerves was noticed, more frequently in pigs with seven lumbal vertebrae.Istraživanja su provedena na 135 svinja podrijetlom s farme “Sljeme” Sesvete tijekom 1999 godine. Ustanovljena je razlika u nastanku n. femoralis, n. obturatorius i n. ischiadicus u svinja sa šest i sedam slabinskih kralježaka. N. femoralis je nastao povezivanjem ventralnih grana posljednjih dvaju slabinskih živaca u 65,92% svinja podjednako učestalo u svinja sa šest (31,11%) i sedam (34,81%) slabinskih kralježaka. Ventralne grane posljednjih slabinskih živaca u svinja sa šest i sedam slabinskih kralježaka tvorile su n. femoralis u 26,66% pretraženih svinja, a n. obturatorius je najučestalije nastajao iz ventralnih grana posljednjih slabinskih živaca u svinja sa šest i sedam slabinskih kralježaka u 66,66%, a neznatno učestalije u svinja sa 7 slabinskih kralježaka. Znatno rjeđe nastaje iz ventralnih grana pretposljednjih slabinskih živaca (28,88%), a učestalije u svinja sa šest slabinskih kralježaka (18,51%). U svinja sa šest slabinskih kralježaka zapažen je nastanak n. obturatorius iz ventralnih grana 4., 5. i 6. slabinskog živca u 2,96%, a samo iz ventralne grane 5. slabinskog živca u 1,48% pretraženih svinja. N. ischiadicus pokazao je najveće odstupanje od najčešće opisivanog nastanka. U svega 19,25% slučajeva nastao je iz ventralnih grana 5. i 6. slabinskog te 1. i 2. križnog živca, rjeđe u svinja sa 7 slabinskih kralježaka. Najučestalije su ga tvorile ventralne grane dvaju posljednjih slabinskih živaca i prvog križnog živca (52,58%), znatno češće u svinja sa sedam slabinskih kralježaka. Ventralne grane posljednjeg slabinskog te 1. i 2. križnog živca sudjelovale su u nastanku 20,70% pretraženih svinja sa 6 slabinskih kralježaka. Zabilježen je nastanak n. ischiadicusa iz ventralnih grana posljednjeg slabinskog i prvog križnog živca češće u svinja sa sedam slabinskih kralježaka