ABSTRACT
In the 19th and 20th century, in the course of the levelling of the dwelling mounds in the coastal area in the north of the Netherlands for agricultural reasons, a great number of ancient remains, including many bones, were found. Dutch archaeozoology started with the investigation of these terp finds. During the preparatory work for the building of the Paddepoel extension scheme of the city of Groningen, three clusters of small, clay-covered terpen situated on the west bank of the river Aa were found, as was also a small graveyard more to the north. The habitation of the small Paddepoel terpen occurred partly in transgression phases. From time to time clay was deposited by floods. During the excavation the bone fragments that were visible to the naked eye were collected. Due to this method small bones and bone fragments may have been overlooked.
