Zoology: Bones

Sheep are ruminant (cud-chewing) animals and are among the first animals to be domesticated. Discoveries in archaeological sites in the Middle East dating between 11,000 to 9,500 years ago include figurines, bones and dung suggesting the importance of sheep to early farmers. Sheep are incredibly versatile and can be found worldwide in various habitats from mountain forests to deserts. Sheep belong to the family Bovidae, which include cattle, antelope and goats. The dentition and skull of bovids support a grazing lifestyle. Teeth are tall, flat and high crowned, providing more tooth to wear down over time due to the side-to-side grinding while chewing fibrous foods. With eyes situated more on the sides of the skull, this allows sheep to have a greater visual awareness of its environment.
10¼" L x 5½" W x 6" H / 26 cm x 14 cm x 15.5 cm

2-part skull (separate cranium & jaw)