Objective

To assesses the patterns of age-related changes and bone pathologies in modern non-draft cattle to assist archaezooological analysis of draft cattle remains from antiquity.

Materials

The study area is located in the steppe zone of the Southern Urals on the territory of Russia near the border with Kazakhstan.

Methods

Over 300 bones of modern cattle were examined, mostly metapodials and phalanges, using standard archaeozoological methods to reconstruct the size of animals and to describe observed pathological conditions

Results

Minor lipping and exostoses of metapodials and phalanges, as well as ankylosis and hip joint eburnation, are common in modern non-draft cattle. In rare cases, lipping and exostoses are observed.

Conclusions

The observed changes in the bones of the distal extremities alone are insufficient for archaezooological reconstruction of cattle as draft animals.

Significance

The study revealed problems in the reconstruction of etiologies of pathological conditions in draft cattle from archaeological sites.

Limitations

Limited samples sizes and genetic differences between modern and archaeological populations can influence data recorded and derived conclusions.

Future directions

Continued analyses of modern and archaeological faunal populations using multiple lines of evidence is encouraged.

中文翻译：

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在俄罗斯南乌拉尔地区放牧系统和环境影响的背景下，现代非吃草牛 (Bos Taurus) 的骨骼病理学

客观的

评估现代非吃草牛与年龄相关的变化和骨骼病理的模式，以帮助对古代的吃草牛遗骸进行考古学分析。

材料

研究区位于俄罗斯境内与哈萨克斯坦接壤的南乌拉尔草原地带。

方法

使用标准考古动物学方法重建动物的大小并描述观察到的病理状况，检查了 300 多块现代牛的骨头，主要是后足和趾骨

结果

在现代非吃水牛中，后足和趾骨的轻微咬合和外生骨赘，以及强直和髋关节烧灼感很常见。在极少数情况下，观察到唇部和外生骨赘。

结论

仅观察到四肢远端骨骼的变化不足以对牛作为役用动物进行考古学重建。

意义

该研究揭示了在考古遗址中重建牛的病理状况的病因学方面存在的问题。

限制

现代和考古种群之间有限的样本量和遗传差异会影响记录的数据和得出的结论。

未来发展方向

鼓励使用多种证据对现代和考古动物种群进行持续分析。