A floor partially filled in with cow bone “tiles” has been discovered during renovations of a townhouse in Alkmaar, North Holland. The metacarpal and metatarsal bones of cattle were used to replace lost and broken earthenware tiles, a mysterious practice that rarely survives and has only been found before in The Netherlands’ province of North Holland.
The bones were all cut to the same height and laid in a pattern, with the bones in one plane placed with the top side up and in another plane with the sawn underside of the bone facing upwards.
The reason for the use of animal bones in the floor remains unclear. Archaeologists speculate that the bones may have been chosen for a specific reason, possibly related to the trades or activities carried out in the building at the time. However, it is also possible that the bones were used as a cheap way to fill in the gaps where tiles were missing.
“The floor tiles were worn down from intense use, and it is possible that the bones were placed there either for practical or symbolic reasons,” De Jong said. “They may have fit well with the craft being practiced in this space, or they could have been an inexpensive way to complete the floor.”
The building on the Achterdam was constructed in 1609, but these floors typically date to the 15th century. Archaeologists hypothesize that it may have been the foundation of an older structure that was left in place when the new house was built. The floor is still being excavated; the team is hoping to uncover its original extent and find out more about how it was used. They will also study the bones and tile to determine exactly when the floor was laid.
* This article was originally published here
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