1,500-year-old burial of lynx with 4 dogs stacked on it puzzles archaeologists (www.livescience.com)
from recreationalplacebos@midwest.social to archaeology@mander.xyz on 09 Apr 2024 23:14
https://midwest.social/post/10899602

The discovery of a lynx buried with four dogs at an early-medieval settlement in Hungary is confounding archaeologists, as these wild cats are rarely found in archaeological digs.

The fifth-to-sixth-century pit, which was about 4.6 feet (1.4 meters) deep, contained a complete lynx skeleton at the bottom and the skeletons of four dogs — the size of present-day pointers or German shepherds — layered on top of it. Possible interpretations of the unique find, such as a hunting accident and a lynx cult, are detailed in a new study published March 21 in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.

#archaeology

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fartsparkles@sh.itjust.works on 09 Apr 2024 23:35 next collapse

Could they have been pets?

Subnet64@lemmy.world on 10 Apr 2024 00:15 next collapse

Thinking pet pit. Dig 1 deep hole and then bury as they die.

Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca on 10 Apr 2024 03:43 collapse

It seems to describe that they were all buried at the same time.

Devi@kbin.social on 10 Apr 2024 23:10 collapse

This really seems the obvious answer

TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 10 Apr 2024 01:27 next collapse

The lynx tripped into a hole and the 4 dogs chasing it comically tripped in the exact same exaggerated manner, one after another.

BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world on 10 Apr 2024 02:08 next collapse

So, the Hungarian prankster 1500 years ago succeeded?

Grimy@lemmy.world on 10 Apr 2024 03:01 next collapse

Can a Lynx kill four dogs? Seems like a hunt gone wrong.

Synthuir@lemmy.ml on 10 Apr 2024 13:10 collapse

That’s what I’m thinking. The lynx took down those dogs before finally being overpowered, and the dogs’ handler(s) buried them all together to show respect for the impressive fight that the lynx put up.

EmoDuck@sh.itjust.works on 10 Apr 2024 07:28 next collapse

Ceremonial purpose

Synthuir@lemmy.ml on 10 Apr 2024 13:12 collapse

“our rather special find is indeed the ‘missing lynx’ in this story,” Bartosiewicz said.

Oh, you!

h3mlocke@lemm.ee on 12 Apr 2024 04:36 collapse

I get it