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- Title
Fosszilis őstulok (Bos primigenius Boj.) a keceli tőzegteleprő.
- Authors
ANDREA, KŐRÖSI
- Abstract
The fossilised aurochs skull, kept by the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, was acquired by the collection in the 1970s. The skull is slightly damaged, missing its right horn core, which was later restored. The colour of the skull is dark brown and is in a good condition. Based on the skull's size, it might have been that of a fully formed, older aurochs bull. Comparing it to the sizes of already published Pleistocene and Holocene aurochs skulls from Europe, the skull kept by the museum is definitely that of a bull. It shares great similarities with other finds from Hungary both in terms of dimensions and characteristics. The general characteristics of aurochs: long, broad skull, thick and long horn cores, with thick walls. The horn cores develop on the sides, grow upwards slightly oblong, then turn forwards and upwards (Bökönyi 1972, Vörös 1981, Bohlken 1958: 169). Their tips then either turn inwards, facing each other (closed position) or point forwards (open position). The skull found in the museum belongs to the former group. Comparing the skulls of the aurochs and the Hungarian Grey cattle it can be concluded that both feature significant primigenius characteristics. The absolute length measurements of Hungarian Grey skulls do not attain those of the aurochs, the difference is between 10 and 20 per cent. Aurochs tend to have a shorter set of teeth. There are overlaps in the length and height of the cranium and the width of the coronal bone. As opposed to Grey cattle, the width of the aurochs cranium is shorter compared to the skull dimensions, and the width of the frontal bone is narrower compared to the length of the skull. The same can be observed by the comparison of skull indices. The mosaic-like differences between skull characteristics and dimensions show that no direct kinship can be established, that is cross-breeding with aurochs could definitely not contibute to the development of the Hungarian Grey cattle phenotype.
- Subjects
PEAT bogs; URUS; FOSSIL bos; ARCHAEOLOGICAL finds; FOSSIL animals
- Publication
Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum Közleményei, 2013, p9
- ISSN
0521-4238
- Publication type
Article