Palaeopathological study of Cattle and Horse bone remains of the Ancient Roman city of Sirmium (Pannonia/Serbia)

Abstract

This paper considers the observation of pathological changes in animal skeletal remains from four archaeological sites in Sirmium and one rustic villa (Vranj) located near the city. Before the pathological analysis, skeletal elements, as well as insight of taxonomic and age of animals were determined. 13599 bones or bone fragments were examined. In 72 specimens various abnormal changes have been observed. Most of the pathological changes were present in skeletal remains of cattle and horses. Macroscopic and radiographic analysis of pathological changes in the animal bones established that the lesions had proliferative and chronic character. Proliferative changes in the bones of cattle and horses indicate that these animals were used as draught animals and/or carrying cargo. Considering that most of the horses skeletal remains are from the Hippodrome, it is very possible that they were animals for amusement purposes in ancient city of Sirmium.