Szakács Sándor szerk.: A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum Közleményei 1990-1991 (Budapest, 1991)
TAKÁCS ISTVÁN: The history of pig (Sus scrofa dorn L.) butchering and the evidence for singeing on subfossil teeth
scratching, splitting and cutmarks) reflect the method of butchering. Evidence for singeing off the hair, however, has not yet been identified to date. Incisor and canine teeth of pigs in a number of early settlement assemblages from Hungary show traces of burning and cracks on the enamel caused by heat may also be seen. These deformations are not apparent or only rare in the more aborally located premolar and molar teeth of the cheektooth row. When investigating the sources of this phenomenon, the effect of singeing off the hair offers an obvious solution. This suggestion is supported by evidence of modifications on two modem pig skulls in the collections of the Hungarian AGricultural Museum. As part of the acquisition procedure I took part at the slaughtering and singeing of these animals. Personal observations could thus be integrated into the odontological study of their macerated skulls. Before the detailed discussion of relationships between hair singeing and dental alterations the process of singeing itself should be briefly reviewed. Originally, dry plant materials wre used in hair singeing (today a special gas burner is usually available). Of the traditional materials, the straw from domestic Graminae has been most widely applied recently. The straw was spread out to form a medium thick bedding on which the slaughtered pig was placed. The body was covered by straw as well and set on fire (Fig. 2). Depending on the thickness of the hairy coat, straw may be added several times to the fire 2 . (Sometimes improperly slaughtered pigs, revitalized by pain have been known to run away causing major fires). Because of the high and even temperature to which the carcass is exposed under the burning straw, in addition to the loss of hair, the epithel of skin also roasts and becomes loose. After singeing off of the hair, the pig's body is washed with cold water (in earlier times the animal was smeared with mud following singeing). As a result, the roasted loose layer of the epithel may be scraped off using a knife or any similar sharp object Following this operation the skin becomes evenly bare and light in color (Fig. 3). During the course of singeing the hair off, both the upper and lower lip shrink under the influence of heat Thus, incisors, canines and sometimes even premolar teeth are directly exposed to the fire. During the procedures described here, the tip of the uncovered incisors and canines Fig. 1 : Pig of the coarse haired bakonyi breed. Prepared and stuffed in the XIX. century, /photo: G. Szegvári/
