A nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyvei 54. (Nyíregyháza, 2012)

Régészet - Vörös István: A Mátraszőlős–királydombi kelta temető (1957–1958) archaeozoológiai vizsgálata

Vörös István Other pieces of pigs' bodies found in Celtic graves were remains of vertebrae, ribs, scapulae and limbs. In Mátraszőlős heads of 27 pigs and headless skeletons of 33 individuals were unearthed (Table 1,5). It seems to us that the cutting up of the pig's body went on according to a rigid procedure. After cutting off the head, the animal was split into two lengthwise. They did not split the spinal column, but cut off the sets of ribs from both sides. Spinal column was taken out in one piece. Complete neck-back vertebrae spinal column was placed into grave in a single case, in the cemetery of Ludas, grave 662, at the individual I of a double pig burial. (

MÉNIEL 2006. 346, Fig. 1

.4). In the course of the further drawing of the half-pig, skinned scapula and skinned limb were cut. The drawing of the limb happened in several ways: the „short" limb was cut together with the pelvic bone or without it. In the case of the „long" limb the „pork chop" was also cut. In the latter case side extensions of the lumbar vertebrae (proc. transverus) were found in graves in all cases. In the Iron Age pigs were of relatively large size. In many cases the large size of the bones made researchers think that these were remains of wild boars. The age distribution of the sacrificial pigs of the Celtic cemetery from Mátraszőlős is the following: 9 individuals were young, 6-12 months old pigs, 21 individuals 1-2 years old, 13 individuals 2-3.5 years old (Table 2). Pigs reach the extent characteristic for their species at the age of 1.5-2 years. Measurements and values of height were included into Table 2. Statistical data of bone sizes of the 1-3.5 years old male and female pigs separated on the basis of measurements are included into table 3. The average withers height of the 21 female individuals is 67.92 cm (59.4-71.6 cm), the average withers height of 5 males is 76.72 cm (73.7-79.0 cm). The average withers height of 5 infantilis (6-12 months old) pigs is 59.58 cm (52.0-65.3 cm). These animals were primitive pigs with wedge-shaped long heads, thin bones and medium height. Domestic fowls (Table 5): in 21 graves there were 21 individuals (in 19 graves 1 individual + pig, in 2 graves 1 individual). The majority of domestic fowl remains found in the graves of the Mátraszőlős Celtic cemetery is represented by bones of limbs: in 8 graves wing + tibia, in 7 graves wing and in 2 graves tibia bones. Limbs could be even and single, left or right side. A „whole chicken" was found in a single grave (6): skull+vertebrae+wings and limbs from both sides. The lack of breastbone and pelvic girdle is striking. Only one individual had the complete set of bones making the limb (limb - 3 bones, grave 40). In the case of the rest of the shoulder girdle-wing and limb different number of bones was missing. In 3 graves only the wing-tip (cmc, 40, 57, 61) and foot-tip (tmt, 12,40, 57) was found. Finger bones were also missing. The distribution of domestic fowls according to bones is the following: in 11 graves there were bones of the shoulder girdle (1 individual: clavicle, 9 individuals: coracoideum, 5 individuals: scapula), in 14 graves there were wing bones (6 individuals hum.-rad/ulna, 3 individuals hum.-rad/ ulna-carpometacarpus, 4 individuals hum./rad./ulna) and in 12 graves there were limb bones (6 individuals: fem-tibiotarsus, 1 individual: fem.-tibiotarsus-tarsometatarsus, 3 individuals: fem./tibiotarsus, 2 individuals: tibiotarsus-tarsometatarsus). Bone sizes of the few chicken bones are included into Table 4. Domestic fowls found in Celtic cemeteries belong to the ancient (not bred), small sized species of the so-called primitive hen. All of the individuals (20) from the Mátraszőlős Celtic cemetery were laying hens of small size. Domestic fowls were found in 7 male, 5 female graves and 8 graves of unknown gender. 238