Monday, October 23, 2006

Domestication event: Why the donkey and not the zebra?
A few years ago, Egyptologists found a new Pharaonic burial site more than 5,000 years old. They opened up a tomb.

"They're expecting to find nobles, the highest courtiers," said Washington University archaeologist Fiona Marshall. "And what do they find? Ten donkey skeletons."

"The ancient Egyptian burial shows how highly valued (donkeys) were for the world's first nation state. After the horse came, they became lower status. Of course, they're the butt of jokes and all the rest of it. That has to do with the name mostly."


The poor donkey, probably the most abused animal in the world.