Joint health in free-ranging and confined small bovids - Implications for early stage caprine management

The transition from a foraging lifestyle to plant cultivation and animal husbandry represents a milestone in the history of humankind. However, the osteological markers most relevant to the recognition of early ungulate management and domestication remain a matter of debate. This study then reports on a novel pathological marker observed in the articular joints of medium-sized ruminants. In focus here is articular damage of the ankle bone, talus and astragalus, a skeletal element frequently found in archaeological sites worldwide.

In the frame of this study, a total of 1,721 ankle bones from archaeological and modern Ovis and Gazella were investigated. For the populations used as baselines, the living conditions, such as mobility or nutrition, as well as life data are well documented.

The results demonstrate that intra-articular bone damage is significantly more pronounced in animals living confined to enclosures. Similar non-physiologic conditions have been evidenced in juvenile and adult sheep from early Neolithic contexts. Still in the course of the early Neolithic, joint health improved significantly. This implies a better mastering of sheep management over the centuries. In conclusion, pathologic profiling yields the potential for tracing initial management of captive ruminants.

The results were able to demonstrate a causal relationship between the extent of osteopathy in a population and its living conditions. Advanced damage of the articular bone surfaces of limb joints most probably reflect restrictions in movement imposed by humans. Moreover, in the course of the early Neolithic, overall joint health improved slightly visually, although statistically significant. This illustrates that centuries of learning were needed to adjust human management to the needs of animals under their care.