Animal bone, cow (bos taurus) tibia
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Title:
Animal bone, cow (bos taurus) tibia
Subject:
Food fuels us; the bones left in the aftermath reflect the foodways of consumption. The large 13.8 cm by 4.5 cm size places this bone as the tibia of a cow. The slight and deep indentations inflicted on the bone reflect the consumption of beef on campus while highlighting the role of butchers and chefs.
The “Great Butter Rebellion” of the 18th century makes evident the poor food quality at the college. The evidence of marrow removal from the tibia reflects the practical use of the whole animal.
In juxtaposition with the bone, Jonathan Fisher’s “Orthographical Projection of Hollis Hall” in 1792 includes two bulls grazing and a pen next to Hollis, reflecting the legend of the Hollis Professor of Divinity holding bovine grazing rights. However, bulls and grazing rights reflect animals less used for consumption and more so economic status, while the tibia’s butcher marks mean it was likely outsourced from a nearby farm or butchery.
To end the foodway journey, the soft edges of the tibia, rather than a clean-break, mean it was likely thrown into a trash pitt. My dating hypothesis is the late 18th century, reflecting the excavation in unit H980 at Level 6. The amount of debris situated Level 6 with the fire of the first Harvard Hall in 1764. The substantial quantity of nails and glass, assumed to be from Harvard Hall I, along with bone fragments, highlights the femur’s foodway in conjunction with the greater history of Harvard’s reinvention.
Source:
Support Source #1: The "Great Butter Rebellion" of 1766 archival/primary source drawing.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/battle_commons_hall_hud_2818-75_605.jpg
- The “Great Butter Rebellion” of 1766 reflects student protest in response to the poor dining of Harvard during the 18th-century. The supposedly repulsive food likely included the tibia in discussion.
The Great Butter Rebellion
1766. Harvard University Archives.
Support Source #2: Harvard Library Research Guide.
https://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.ARCH:4735827?n=1
- The bulls and pen pictured in this 18th-century painting reflect both animals on campus but also the likelihood of this cow bone being from a nearby farm, not on-campus.
Fisher, Jonathan
1792 Orthographical Projection of Hollis Hall. Mathematical theses. Harvard University Archives.
Support Source #3: Manuscript of the Book of Harvard, 1776. https://viewer.lib.harvard.edu/viewer/URN-3:HUL.ARCH:12627905?canvasId=https%3A%2F%2Fnrs.harvard.edu%2FURN-3%3AHUL.ARCH%3A12627905%3AMANIFEST%3A3%2Fcanvas%2Fcanvas-drs%3A49175439
- A satirical account led by Asa Dunbar about student-led initiative like the Great Butter Rebellion. The communal-style eating, the poor cuisine, and repetitive foods, like beef, used at Harvard.
Manuscript Copy of the Book of Harvard
1767. Harvard University Archives. https://viewer.lib.harvard.edu/viewer/URN-3:HUL.ARCH:12627905?canvasId=https%3A%2F%2Fnrs.harvard.edu%2FURN-3%3AHUL.ARCH%3A12627905%3AMANIFEST%3A3%2Fcanvas%2Fcanvas-drs%3A49175439, accessed March 21, 2026.
Contributor:
Charlotte Hodgson