Archaeologists discover remains of 'war camel' in trash-filled cellar
Archaeologists have discovered the first complete camel skeleton unearthed in central Europe. And the strangest part is that it was buried in a trash-filled Austrian basement.
The cellar dates to the 17th century, and archaeologists believe the animal was a "war camel" ridden by the Ottoman army. Using DNA analysis, the researchers identified the camel as a cross-bred, Bactrian-dromedary hybrid, which would have been common in the army. Its bone defects also suggest it was ridden using a harness, BBC News reports. The findings are described in Wednesday's issue of the journal PLOS One.
The archaeological team wasn't looking for anything at the site, either — the dig was a precaution before construction began on a local shopping center. So the researchers were shocked to find the well-preserved skeleton amid "ancient household rubbish, flagons, plates, and pans," BBC News notes.
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The study authors told BBC News the find is of particular note, because the skeleton was buried inside the town of Tulin, which the Ottomans never actually captured. The researchers believe the camel was either left behind or traded after the Ottomans lost the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
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