Whitby horse skeleton

The skeleton of an early 20th century AD draught horse excavated from Whitby Abbey by English Heritage archaeologists.  A number of pathologies are present on the skeleton.  These include fusion of the vertebrae, a condition called ankylosing spondylitis (see thoracic vertebrae and lumbar vertebrae), osteophytic bone growth on the phalanges (see first phalanges) and an abnormally worn third molar (see mandibular teeth).  The third phalanges were differentially preserved, probably due to acidic or bacterial action in the microenvironments of the hoof coverings (see third phalanges). 

The skeleton is reported in:

Daulby, P and Baker, P 2003 'An Early 20th Century Horse Skeleton from Whitby, North Yorkshire (Centre for Archaeology Report 8/2003)'. Unpublished report, English Heritage

Thoracic vertebrae 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lumbar vertebrae 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

First phalanges 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mandibular teeth 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Third phalanges