Cherokee Dog Burials 



Fig. 1. Dog Burial 3 in situ, note extreme flexure of neck, view south (photograph 

 by Gerald F. Schroedl). 



accommodate the dog, and approximately 20 cm of fill had accumulated 

 in the pit when the animal was interred. The position of the bones 

 indicates that the animal was laid on its right side so that its back 

 followed the curvature of the pit wall. The dog's head was bent forward 

 and under the animal's neck. It is impossible to determine whether 

 this was done after the dog was dead or whether this had caused its 

 death. Given the relationship between the skull and the pit wall, it 

 appears that this was done because the dog's neck was too long to 

 fit the burial pit. 



The animal's bones were in poor condition, but most of the skull 

 was recovered and could be reconstructed (Figs. 2 and 3). Elements 

 of the postcranial skeleton were recovered, but none was well enough 

 preserved to obtain measurements or to identify any anomalies or bone 

 pathologies that might have been present. At some time after the dog's 

 interment, a prepared clay hearth was built partially covering the pit 

 outline. It is impossible to determine if this event was behaviorally 

 related to the dog's death and burial. 



Dog Burial 1 



The remains of this individual consisted of isolated teeth, cranial 

 fragments, and sections of both lower jaws with several teeth in place 



