PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AT LATTON LANDS 131 
Table 11. Cattle age data (epiphysial fusion) 
lack definitive features and were classified as ‘large 
longbone’ (included with unidentified). Butchery 
marks are common on horncores, due to removal of 
the horn sheath and sometimes chopping of the 
core from the skull, and on mandibles where cheek 
meat and/or tongue have been removed. They also 
occur on axial elements (scapula and inominate) 
and are commoner towards the limb extremities 
(radius, tibia and metapodials). Both chops and 
cuts were noted, generally around joints where 
meat had been stripped off: one scapula had been 
chopped through the spine. Overall butchery marks 
were seen on 5% of cattle fragments (excluding 
teeth), and this is certainly an underestimate 
because of the poor surface condition of many 
fragments. Less easy to quantify are bones fractured 
for marrow, which relies on analysis of breakage 
patterns and is particularly difficult where there is 
considerable post-depositional breakage, as here. 
Fracture patterns and bone splinters were noted 
that could have resulted from such deliberate 
breakage, but these were not rigorously quantified. 
The cattle bones can be interpreted as food remains, 
with killing, butchery and other processing, and 
waste discard taking place on site. 
Table 12,MNI, NIF and butchery marks on different 
cattle elements 
Element n % 
NIF MNI NIF | +butchery | +butchery 
3 14 3 : 
horncore 21.4 
skull fragment 
mandible 
Cattle probably accounted for a major proportion of 
meat eaten, though it is not possible to estimate the 
overall proportion of meat in the diet. Evidence for 
other uses of cattle - manuring, traction, milk, 
carcase products other than horn such as fat and 
hides - and their place in the agricultural and social 
system is more elusive, though the occurrence of 
hip/hindlimb pathologies may indicate their use for 
traction. 
Sheep 
Only 27 fragments (200 g) are identified as sheep/ 
goat (no positive goat), so conclusions are limited. 
There were no measurable bones or recordable 
mandibles - of the 2 lower 3rd molars, one was 
unworn and one was in wear stage g (Grant 1982). 
The commonest element was tibia, which is both 
robust and recognisable, followed by loose teeth 
(Table 13). Butchery was noted on one femur, as a 
series of short cuts where meat had been stripped. 
We can only assume that sheep played their 
usual role in the economy, providing manure, meat 
and other carcase products, wool and possibly milk. 
Ina mixed farming economy sheep would thrive on 
