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Scientists link 8,000 frog bones in a Roman-era British ditch to birds of prey
Researchers say short-eared owls and hen harriers left more than 8,000 frog bones in a Roman-era ditch, solving a decade-long archaeological mystery.
- After a decade-long investigation, researchers from Bournemouth University and the Museum of London Archaeology identified short-eared owls as the culprits behind more than 8,000 frog bones found in a Roman-era settlement.
- During the Roman Era, clearing woodlands for livestock grazing created open terrain, making juvenile frogs vulnerable to short-eared owls that used the ditch as a quiet roosting spot.
- Researchers ruled out human consumption because the bones lacked cut marks or charring, and breakage patterns confirmed the frogs were consumed by birds of prey nearly 1,700 years ago.
- "We don't often get an owl's-eye view of the past," said Paul Clarkson, a zooarchaeologist at Bournemouth University, noting the findings reveal how human activity reshaped local ecosystems.
- The Cambridgeshire Fens study demonstrates how zooarchaeology provides insights into ancient animal behavior, helping scientists reconstruct the natural world and human land use during the Roman Era.
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Scientists solve mystery of 8,000 ancient frog bones
For centuries, thousands of frog bones buried beneath the English countryside have puzzled archaeologists, raising questions about how so many tiny creatures ended up in one place. The remarkable discovery includes more than 8,000 amphibian bones found inside an ancient ditch at a Roman-era settlement in Britain. Now, scientists believe they have finally solved the […] Read the original article here: Scientists solve mystery of 8,000 ancient fro…
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Total News Sources6
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
L 20%
C 80%
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