Dog companionship in the Netherlands around the Dutch Roman frontier: An osteometry analysis of human-canid relations around the Roman frontier of the Dutch Rhine area

This master's thesis aims to explore the relationship between humans and dogs during the Roman period around the Dutch Rhine Delta and take a small step towards increasing the current knowledge of how people interacted with and utilised their dogs. To gain further insight into this matter, osteometric data from archaeological dog remains were collected and examined. Additionally, literary records and iconographic sources were examined. Within research, certain key elements are of great importance, comprising of the functionality of the dog, their morphology, their pathologies and how the dogs were treated. In addition to examining bone material from the dogs included in the research, several factors have been added to the study to gain a better understanding of the relationship between humans and dogs in the Roman period in the Dutch Rhine Delta. It also evaluates variations between the research sites included. An interdisciplinary approach is employed since a combination of...Show moreThis master's thesis aims to explore the relationship between humans and dogs during the Roman period around the Dutch Rhine Delta and take a small step towards increasing the current knowledge of how people interacted with and utilised their dogs. To gain further insight into this matter, osteometric data from archaeological dog remains were collected and examined. Additionally, literary records and iconographic sources were examined. Within research, certain key elements are of great importance, comprising of the functionality of the dog, their morphology, their pathologies and how the dogs were treated. In addition to examining bone material from the dogs included in the research, several factors have been added to the study to gain a better understanding of the relationship between humans and dogs in the Roman period in the Dutch Rhine Delta. It also evaluates variations between the research sites included. An interdisciplinary approach is employed since a combination of historical, archaeological and archaeozoological information is used. This type of research has already been conducted in other countries than the Netherlands, see reference list, but this type of research has not yet been applied in Dutch studies. Other research has proven that the relationship between humans and dogs is more complex than previously thought. In particular, the treatment of dogs at the time of death has resulted in a diversity of observations (Gene, 2018; Grieve, 2012).Show less

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Dog companionship in the Netherlands around the Dutch Roman frontier: An osteometry analysis of human-canid relations around the Roman frontier of the Dutch Rhine area