ACCURACY IN MOODE MANDIBLE SIZE VERSUS TOOTH WEAR ASSESSMENTS

• Main Authors: McLaren, Brian, Curran, Richard
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 2001
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/533

Accuracy checks of tooth wear assessments and size measurements were undertaken for mandibles submitted by moose hunters in Newfoundland. Tooth wear class, a subjective assessment often used in age interpretation, was inconsistent in repeat measurements by the same technician in 23% of cases, and, in comparison between 2 technicians, in 53% of cases. There was confusion particularly between Classes II and III, and consistent bias in the interpretation of higher classes. Size measurement was much more consistent, with 1-2% relative error in repeat measurements of a sample size of n ≥ 77. Smaller sample sizes may result in larger relative measurement error because individual repeat measurements differed by as much as 17 mm.