On 15 December 2003 14:46, stephen davie wrote: > Back to the Orkney topic, while a crude but enthusiastic amateur > student of Orkney history, I have read and believe that dog > bones were > found in elaborate stone manmade cave-like structures, carefully > excavated by the scientists of the day. I was wondering > simply if there > was any data from these archaeologists and scientists examining the > findings, as to the probable size and structure of these dogs, and if > there was similarities that were somewhat commonplace like big leg > bones and big skulls. Dog skulls have been found within the Neolithic chambered cairns at Cuween (where 24 were found) and Burray (seven found), along with the remains of numerous other animals such as sheep, red deer, otter, pig, sea-eagle, fish, cattle etc etc. A single (small) canine skull was one of the only surviving artefacts after the Iron Age structre Minehowe was "excavated" in 1945. Unfortunately these "excavations" (the crudeness of which is remarked upon by archaeologist John Hedges who examined the Isbister Cairn)took place in the 1800s and as such were not as meticulous as they would have been were the cairns opened today. Reading through an excavation report of the Cuween cairn opening this morning, although he does document the dog bones, there is no real analysis. However, they were, I believe, not big dogs but probably terrier/Jack Russell type of size. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk

On 15 December 2003 20:30, Sigurd Towrie wrote: > Reading through an excavation report of the Cuween > cairn opening this morning, although he does document the dog > bones, there is no real analysis. Forgot to mention that the Cuween skulls were "lost" at some point after the excavation, but in April this year, when speaking to Dr Colin Richards, who is carrying out a project on the chambered cairns of Wideford, Quanterness, Cuween etc, he confirmed that human skulls and two of the 24 dog skulls found in the "excavation" had turned up in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Their re-discovery will allow the cairn to be finally dated accurately - a date which is thought could be much earlier than the current 3,000BC estimate. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk