The role of age, sex and body weight in the formation of ‘buttresses’ on sheep metatarsals

During recent years, the presence of linear ridges or islands of bone (‘buttresses’) on the anterior aspect of sheep metatarsals has assumed increased visibility in zooarchaeological studies. Although a number of causes have been suggested, the etiology and pathogenesis of this condition has remained unresolved. In this paper, the systematic analysis of skeletal pathology in a modern collection of sheep skeletons with known history reveals connections between the formation of these lesions and age, sex and body weight. It is concluded that rather than being pathological sensu stricto, these ridges of bone mostly represent normal bone remodeling processes.