THE FORMER PLACE OF EXECUTION (1562-1798) AND THE KNACKERS YARD (1562-1866) AT EMMEN (CANTON LUCERNE) - PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN EXCAVATED ANIMAL BONES

During archaeological excavations of the former knackers yard in Emmen (Canton Lucerne) skeletons and individual bones of more than 700 anim als were recovered. 110 bone samples had lesions and were examined mac roscopically and radiologically, 100 were horses, 9 from dogs and only one from cattle. According to morphological and etiopathogenetical cr iteria, lesions are presented in the following groups: tooth irregular ities (10), degenerative changes in bones and joints due to overload a nd aging (80), trauma and infection (10), other lesions (10). Over 80% of pathological bone samples presented degenerative changes; spondylo sis and spondylarthrosis, arthropathies (mainly spavin and ringbone in horses) and ossifying periostitis due to mechanical stress (Periostit is of phalanx I and periostitis of the dorsal cortex of the third meta carpal bone.