( CNN ) The complete skeleton of a camel thought to to have been used by Ottoman troops besieging Vienna in the 17th century has been found beneath a cellar in Austria . The remains were uncovered by archaeologists from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna ( Vetmeduni ) , exploring the construction site for a shopping center in the city of Tulln in 2006-2007 . `` The partly excavated skeleton was at first suspected to be a large horse or cattle , '' archaeozoologist Alfred Galik said . `` But one look at the cervical vertebrae , the lower jaw and the metacarpal bones immediately revealed that this was a camel . '' In their research , published in the journal `` PLOS ONE , '' the archaeologists said Ottoman troops had besieged the area around Tulln in 1683 as they tried to reach Vienna , but that Tulln itself had never been conquered . The Ottoman Army had a `` camelry , '' using camels for transportation and to ride , they said . Despite their city not falling , Tulln inhabitants and the Ottomans were in contact , with historic documents referring to the invading army 's peaceful surrender of two prisoners of war , the researchers said . But they said it would be impossible to say how it got into the city . `` Its appearance might be linked to an exchange of local people with the troops or the Ottoman army simply left it behind . Apparently , the citizens took it inside the town , where they probably kept and displayed it as an 'exotic animal , ' '' they said . `` It seems quite conceivable that being not familiar with behavioral and feeding habits , the scarcity of food in wartimes , people did not keep it for long . '' While other camel bones have been found in Central Europe , the researchers said this was unique . `` It is the first complete camel skeleton found in Central Europe and Central European territories under the control of the Ottoman Empire , apart from the complete skeleton of a dromedary recovered from the sediments of the Theodosius harbor on the European part of Istanbul . '' DNA analysis on the Tulln skeleton confirmed that it had been one of a hybrid species of camel , specifically a `` Tulu , '' the offspring of dromedary female and a male with Bactrian DNA . `` The two species are able to interbreed , which results in larger , more powerful and efficient hybrid offspring , '' researchers said . `` The camel specimen from Tulln is the first archaeozoologically and genetically confirmed evidence of a Tulu hybrid camel . '' The camel was also believed to have been castrated to make it easier to handle . The Austrians ' unfamiliarity with such a beast may have led to the skeleton 's preservation . As opposed to the Ottoman troops -- who would likely have eaten the camel 's flesh -- the residents of Tulln apparently buried the camel whole . `` The dismemberment of the carcasses certainly is a reason for the scarce preservation of camel finds in general and is indicated by bones with butchering marks in particular . However , the citizens buried this camel in a typical post-mortal position , and together with rubbish in the remnants of a cellar that was leveled , '' researchers said . In their report , the researchers said the camel was found on the site of what had been an old tavern called `` Auf der Rossmuhle . '' `` The backfill of the cellar yielded masses of domestic refuse like animal bones and ceramics ( e.g . plates , pans and flagons ) , pieces of a tiled stove and enameled pipe bowls which date the filling in the early modern period , '' they said . A coin dating from 1643-1715 and a medicine bottle from a chemist 's operating from 1628-1665 helped the team date the site . Flooding and plagues affected Tulln in the 17th century and many buildings were demolished , they said . `` Two building plots got new owners at the end of the century around the 1690 , certainly the time when the cellar was backfilled , offering enough space to bury such a big cadaver in the center of the town , '' their report explains . `` The skeleton remained there for more than 300 years to raise questions in the future . ''
Archaeologists have found the skeleton of a camel below a cellar in an Austrian village . They believe the camel was from the end of the century Osmanic-Habsburg war . Ottoman troops used camels as troops during the conflict .