Archaeology of an Early 20th Century Carcass Disposal Pit, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State College

Abstract

Three buried carcass disposal pits, containing the bones of numerous large animals, primarily horse, plus smaller taxa, and a variety of associated artifacts, were unexpectedly discovered during 2006 as a result of earth moving activities associated with the construction of an addition to Memorial Union, Iowa State University, Ames. Over a period of 11 days, a program of archaeological excavation documented a remnant of one of these features. Pit 2 dates to ca. 1910-1912 and contains carcasses discarded from laboratory classes in anatomy taught in the Division of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State College, as well as a variety of historical artifacts. The skeletal specimens include the remains of at least 19 mature to aged horses, plus a handful of cow, dog, pig, cat, chicken, and rodent remains. The intact portion of the bonebed was filled and buried over the course of a short time, probably less than a single year. Two organizationally distinct but contemporaneous debris streams contributed to Pit 2, incorporating carcasses from the Veterinary Medicine program as well as historical artifacts from inside the Veterinary Hospital. The discard of a diverse assemblage of historical items, including bottles with corks still in place, complete pieces of English ironstone china, a cut glass goblet, ceramic crockey, electrical insulators, oil lantern parts, and numerous small items including shell and bone buttons, was coordinated with the dumping of carcass portions, probably over the course of a single academic year taught by the Division of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State College. Pit 2 is one of at least three similar features situated in a paddock located behind the Veterinary Medicine building, reflecting a long established tradition of carcass disposal in this area, probably dating to 1884-1885.