TY - JOUR

T1 - Are We Betting on the Wrong Horse? Insignificant Archaeological Leather Fragments Provide the First Evidence for the Exploitation of Horsehide in Renaissance Denmark

AU - Brandt, Luise Ørsted

AU - Lillemark, Marie Rathcke

AU - Toftdal, Mia

AU - Andersen, Vivi Lena

AU - Tøttrup, Anders P.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Large archaeological, organic materials can be difficult to preserve, conserve, and store in their entirety, which is why prioritisation is often necessary. Priority is generally given to recognisable objects rather than smaller fragments. Nevertheless, for archaeological leather, exactly such insignificant fragments can provide new information on the diversity of species exploited. In this pilot study, we use a Citizen Science approach for the first time to identify archaeological leather fragments using the protein-based method Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS). By inviting the public to participate in archaeological research, the project's first 52 samples, including both recognisable and unidentifiable objects, were analysed. We show that the participants not only generated good data, but also contributed to current knowledge by identifying two hitherto undescribed animal species for leather in medieval and Renaissance Copenhagen. The finding of deer suggests that Copenhagen citizens now and then had access to game through the nobility and the finding of horse suggests that the unclean status of horses was sometimes overlooked to exploit its hide. Our findings are promising for more identifications and the new knowledge the project will generate. The study calls into question how we prioritise and assign value to cultural heritage materials.

AB - Large archaeological, organic materials can be difficult to preserve, conserve, and store in their entirety, which is why prioritisation is often necessary. Priority is generally given to recognisable objects rather than smaller fragments. Nevertheless, for archaeological leather, exactly such insignificant fragments can provide new information on the diversity of species exploited. In this pilot study, we use a Citizen Science approach for the first time to identify archaeological leather fragments using the protein-based method Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS). By inviting the public to participate in archaeological research, the project's first 52 samples, including both recognisable and unidentifiable objects, were analysed. We show that the participants not only generated good data, but also contributed to current knowledge by identifying two hitherto undescribed animal species for leather in medieval and Renaissance Copenhagen. The finding of deer suggests that Copenhagen citizens now and then had access to game through the nobility and the finding of horse suggests that the unclean status of horses was sometimes overlooked to exploit its hide. Our findings are promising for more identifications and the new knowledge the project will generate. The study calls into question how we prioritise and assign value to cultural heritage materials.

KW - ZooMS

KW - citizen science

KW - archaeological leather

KW - resource exploitation

KW - cultural heritage

KW - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION

U2 - 10.3390/heritage5020053

DO - 10.3390/heritage5020053

M3 - Journal article

VL - 5

SP - 972

EP - 990

JO - Heritage

JF - Heritage

SN - 2571-9408

IS - 2

ER -