Biometry and climate change in Norse Greenland:The effect of climate on the size and shape of domestic mammals

• Main Author: Cussans, Julia E.M.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2017
• Subjects: Biogeography; Bone growth; Goats; Nutrition; Sheep; Temperature; Greenland
• Online Access: https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/publications/c462f2bc-f1ba-4c0d-aee4-50ac4bcc9119; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1106-5_11; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044925920&partnerID=8YFLogxK; http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85044925920&partnerID=8YFLogxK

This paper examines the climatic deterioration occurring in the 14 th and 15 th Centuries towards the end of the Norse Settlement in Greenland and its possible effects on the size and shape of domestic mammal (sheep and goat) bones. A review of biogeographical and nutritional factors affecting the size and shape of mammal bones is presented and used as a framework to predict potential changes in sheep bone size and shape at two sites from Norse Greenland; Gården under Sandet in the Western Settlement and Ø34 in the Eastern Settlement. The results are tentatively interpreted as indicating that bone growth was influenced both as a direct result of decreased temperature and as a result of a reduction in the vegetation productivity and hence animal nutrition. The negative effect of this on the human population is discussed.