Radiocarbon dating of musk-ox ( Ovibos moschatus ) remains from northeast Greenland

Northeast Greenland supports a large indigenous population of musk-oxen ( Ovibos moschatus ). Radiocarbon dating of remains of this mammal collected on the terrain surface and from archaeological sites has yielded mid- and Late Holocene ages. The species probably arrived shortly before this part of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Record
Main Authors: Bennike, Ole, Andreasen, Claus
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2005
Subjects:
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Ecology
Geography, Planning and Development
Greenland
eskimo*
musk ox
ovibos moschatus
Polar Record
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s003224740500464x
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S003224740500464X
Description
Summary:Northeast Greenland supports a large indigenous population of musk-oxen ( Ovibos moschatus ). Radiocarbon dating of remains of this mammal collected on the terrain surface and from archaeological sites has yielded mid- and Late Holocene ages. The species probably arrived shortly before this part of Greenland became inhabited by the first hunter cultures. Only Late Holocene dates are available from the southern part of northeast Greenland, but the authors suggest that musk-ox spread south to this region at an early date, because there are no physical barriers. The lack of older dates may reflect the lack of palaeo-Eskimo sites with bones.

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