ABSTRACT
Empirical data from 20 Neolithic settlements was systematically examined in all aspects of the proposed research procedure of interpretive social zooarchaeology. The body part representation of sheep/goats differs distinctly. It is characterised by a considerable diversity of proportions between particular anatomical segments, and no predominant pattern can be distinguished. Dogs primarily damage cattle and sheep/goat bones. Such damage was especially noticeable with long bones, such as the humerus, tibia, femur and radius, but could also be seen with cattle astragali, calcanei, mandible, cervical, lumbar and thoracic vertebrae as well as sheep/goat ribs. Sheep/goat body part composition differs considerably and is characterised by diverse frequency of particular segments of limb bones. Interesting patterns emerges in a comparison of the proportion of bones of individual species and the composition of their anatomical parts. The leglessness pattern for cattle occurs in a wide array of features.
