On Aug 30, 2007, at 9:46 PM, Carol Serr wrote:

> So...you are saying that dogs/pigs Don't eat discarded cow, sheep, or
> pig bones?
Sorry, don't see how you could infer that from my post. Of course  
they eat them, but as they're more robust, they are less likely to be  
consumed entirely.

> I sure thot folks gave their dog "soup bones" to chew on (and they  
> bury
> them)...
Dogs, cats and pigs are the garbagemen of the rural life. One problem  
I remember with dogs and chicken bones was that they'd splinter the  
smaller ones, causing problems if eaten. So cats got the first crack  
at chicken bones, and the dog go the thigh bones.
>
> - - -
> Has anyone else seen tiny gnaw marks on bone buttons, handles
> (toothbrushes) and such...from rodents?  I wonder how common this  
> is, in
> dumped refuse?
Rodents, and this would include squirrels, devour bones for calcium.  
Deer antlers are consumed very quickly.
>
> Also noticed this on hard rubber 'irrigators' (douche and enema tubes)
> from a privy.  The bone, I can see the critters wanting calcium, or
> something...but rubber??
Critter damage is a big problem with underground electricity cables  
as well.

Lyle Browning


>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>> Behalf Of Lyle E. Browning
>> Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 6:18 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: avian vs mammal bone deterioration
>>
>> Poultry bones are well appreciated by dogs and pigs. If either
>> were present, then the preservation should approach zero.