That's pretty interesting
Paleopathology of brown bears (Ursus arctos, L. 1758) from Liptovská Mara,
Northern Slovakia
Abstract
During the archaeozoological investigations in Liptovská Mara, 13 bones belonged to brown bear skeleton were
identified. The materials were analysedmacroscopically in order to determine the presence of the pathological bone
changes. Moreover, X-ray imagination and microscopical analysis of the dental root cross-sections were done. The
age of animal was estimated to 10-15 years. The pathological changes in periodontal area (chronic periodontitis) and
in the metacarpal bones (hypertrophic bone formations) were described. According to accessible literature,
archaeological and archaeozoological investigations results in the above-mentioned site, the bears from Liptovská
Mara were killed, because of their potential attacks on domestic animals herds.
Discussion
The brown bear is the largest and strongest carnivore
in the Middle European environment (Saco and
Valkenburgh, 2004). Modern brown bears have an
omnivorous seasonal diet, but about 30% of the digested
food comes from meat, though the amount of meat eaten
varies from year to year (Mattson, 1997; Ćwiklowski and
Ćwiklowski, 2011). Bears usually avoid areas of human
inhabitation and live in large forests. An estimation of
age, based on the histological analysis of teeth, suggests
10-15 years. The mean life-span of brown bear is 25-35
years (Ćwiklowska and Ćwiklowski, 2011), so all
investigated individuals cannot be classified as an
advanced age for animals living in the wild. Pathological
changes observed in the metacarpal bones can be typical
of an old individual or may be caused by chronic
inflammatory process as a result of injury (Fig. 5)
(Kitchener, 2004; Withalm, 2004; Bendrey, 2007, Bourne
et al., 2010). It is clear thatthis chronic disease brings
with it suffering and animal discomfort. These types of
changes cause intensive pain especially during thoracic
limb use. These symptoms are probably severe during
humid springs and autumns. It is important to underline
the fact that the brown bear’s natural behaviour includes
thoracic limb usage in short distance running, climbing,
hollowing and the catching and killing of its prey.
Osteoarthritis as a pathological process of the locomotive
apparatus has a significant influence on hunting and other
food acquisition abilities. Locomotive apparatus diseases
are frequently (51%) observed in old bears from
zoological gardens (Föllmi, 2005). Sick animals become
less active, weaker, cachectic, sleep more, climb less and
are generally slower or more irritable. Interestingly,
osteoarthritis in cave bears (Ursus spelaeus)living in cold
damp caves in Italy was extremely rare (Capasso and
Caramiello, 1999). In contrast, osteoarthrosis and
osteoarthritis in cave bears from Potocka Zijalka
(Slovenia) occurred more frequently (Withalm, 2004).
Advanced periodontitis is described in modern brown
bears. Investigations carried out on bears living in the
wild in Norway have proved oral cavity status deteriorate
with age. Similar results were obtained from the
observations conducted in Zoos (Kitchener, 2004;
Störmquist et al., 2009). Capasso and Caramiello (1999)
described many oral cavity pathologies, including
periodontal disease in cave bears. They posit that the
above sicknesses could be one of the reasons why cave
bears died out. Periodontal disease was also mentioned by
Withalm (2004). Dental analysis proved the age at death
on 11-15 years.
The human population of Liptovská Mara in the La
Tène period consisted of Celtic farmers and breeders.
Analysis of archaeofaunal material suggests wellorganized and developed animal husbandry practices in
this settlement. Analysis ofanimal bone remains from
Liptovská Mara has proved that the hunt was not an
important and frequent activity in this community. Cattle
and small ruminant breeding was the main sort of animal
production (Chrószcz et al., 2010). These animals were an
important source of milk and wool; moreover, meat
production was not the primary aim of the breeding.
Sheep were probably, like today, fed in mountain
pastures. It is clear that domestic animals in large groups
are an easier target for predator attack than other species
living in the wild. Older and disabled or injured bears
could try to hunt sheep, causing counteractions from
shepherds. Similar incidents take place today too (Sagor
et al., 1997).
There is another potential interpretation, but the
injury hypothesis rather excludes it. Wild bears aged
about 11-15 years are usually strong and healthy and
mortality caused by factors other than human activity is
extremely low in this age group (McNamee, 1997). A
similar situation was described for the cave bear
population in the Mokrica Cave (Debeljak, 2007). It is
well known that November–March (4–5 months)
represents the period of torpidity for the Carpathian
population of brown bear (Micu, 1998). During the
hibernation period brown bears do not eat, drink,
defecate, urinate or have any physical activity (Hissa,
1997). Black bears are characterized by similar
observations (Hellgren et al., 1989). In hibernating
animals the loss of body mass is the consequence of the
consumption of fat reserves and varies from 250 to 500 g
per day, depending on the size of the animal and ambient
temperature (Hissa et al., 1998a; 1998b). The main
protein and fat source in the bear diet after hibernation is
animal meat, especially that of ungulates (Clevenger and
Purroy, 1991). It is possible that after the winter
hibernation the weakened and hungry bears hunted on
easy prey like domestic animals, and in this situation
herders might protect the breeding flock by killing bears.
If bears were special objects of hunting, the
occurrence of these animal remains would be more
frequent and more varied in terms of age in La Tène
Liptovská Mara site. In our opinion, the bears from
Liptovská Mara were killed because of their attacks on
domestic sheep, and not as quarry on targeted hunting
expeditions for meat.
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