This grassroots research project was created from discussions on Twitter with many global specialists based on their love of dogs, wolves and horses. We formed a collaborative team of zooarchaeologists, zoologists, geneticists, geochemists, radiocarbon dating specialists and archaeologists, along with a visual artist in residence, and of course our Guardian, Nala, a Caucasian Shepherd dog to watch over us.
This pioneering project will run from 2022 to 2028, studying bones from across several sites in Ireland and Britain. The Researcher Pack will investigate the origins, diet, sizes and gender of dogs and wolves, their roles, and the roles of horses in human societies in Viking-Age and Medieval times.
Not much is known about dogs from Viking-Age and Medieval periods, apart from their body sizes: small, medium and large types. There were no dog breeds as we know them today.
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Perhaps some were ‘pet’ wolves or dogs interbred with wolves?
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Were some dogs associated with status of their owner?
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Were there special working or functional relationships between horses and dogs?
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Did different dog types have different roles in Medieval societies?
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Did Vikings bring their own dogs with them from their far-reaching travels?
Find out more about the project at the official site here.
Technical skills utilized: Zooarchaeology; Zoology; Geochemistry; Radiocarbon dating; Genetics testing