PATTERNS OF IRON AGE HORSE SUPPLY: AN ANALYSIS OF STRONTIUM ISOTOPE RATIOS IN TEETH* |
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| Authors: | R BENDREY T E HAYES M R PALMER |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Archaeology, University of Winchester, Winchester, Hampshire, S022 4NR, UK;2. School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, NOC, European Way, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 3ZH, UK;3. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Tina Hayes, whose infectious enthusiasm contributed so much to this work. |
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| Abstract: | This paper presents a pilot study of strontium (Sr) isotope ratios from Iron Age horse tooth enamel samples. It compares 87Sr/86Sr ratios from horse teeth to estimates for local ranges of biologically available strontium, to investigate whether horses were being bred at the sites where their remains were discovered. A horse from Middle Iron Age Rooksdown, Hampshire, was not bred at the site but, rather, came from as far away as Wales, Scotland or continental Europe. Horse teeth from Middle Iron Age Bury Hill, Hampshire, returned 87Sr/86Sr values typical of local chalkland. |
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| Keywords: | SUPPLY OF HORSES IRON AGE SOUTHERN BRITAIN STRONTIUM ISOTOPE RATIOS TOOTH ENAMEL |
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