An odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the North Atlantic islands. The potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context.
Abstract: Recent debate concerning the suitability of mortality profile analysis for identifying secondary product utilisation within archaeozoological assemblages has prompted the search for alternative methodologies. This research explores the potential of using weaning age to provide insight into...
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University of Bradford
2010
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ftunivbradford:oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/5106 2023-05-15T17:30:06+02:00 An odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the North Atlantic islands. The potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context. Ewens, Vicki J. Mainland, Ingrid L. 2010 http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5106 unknown University of Bradford Department of Archaeological Sciences http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5106 The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence . Ovicaprine Hypoplasia North Atlantic Husbandry Dental defects Molars Mortality profiles Archaeozoology Sheep molars Thesis doctoral PhD 2010 ftunivbradford 2023-04-06T21:02:09Z Abstract: Recent debate concerning the suitability of mortality profile analysis for identifying secondary product utilisation within archaeozoological assemblages has prompted the search for alternative methodologies. This research explores the potential of using weaning age to provide insight into herding strategies in ovicaprines, determined through the prevalence of developmental enamel defects. A histological methodology was developed, adapted to the specific nature of sheep molars through an understanding of formation processes and enamel structures. This established a relationship between weaning and developmental defects in modern sheep, revealed as distinct patterns in defect distribution within the enamel. Based on historical/archaeological data a weaning age model was developed for the North Atlantic region by which herding strategies could be recognised, specifically: mixed milk/meat subsistence, with an emphasis on milk (0-2 months) or on meat (2-4 months), and the optimisation of meat and/or wool (4-6 months). This methodology was then tested on archaeological material to interpret husbandry at Iron Age and Norse/Viking period sites. The results of this analysis showed that interpretations were in general agreement with those of mortality profile and correspondence analysis conducted as a methodological comparative. Some disparity, however, highlighted the ability of this new technique to provide more sensitivity in cases of mixed subsistence systems, possibly identifying the economic focus of husbandry, or where mortality profiles are confused. It was concluded that the study of weaning age has potential to provide valuable insight into ovicaprine husbandry in archaeological contexts, adding to the understanding of faunal assemblages, especially when supported with other evidence. Recent debate concerning the suitability of mortality profile analysis for identifying secondary product utilisation within archaeozoological assemblages has prompted the search for alternative methodologies. This ... Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis North Atlantic Bradford Scholars@University of Bradford |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Bradford Scholars@University of Bradford |
op_collection_id |
ftunivbradford |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Ovicaprine Hypoplasia North Atlantic Husbandry Dental defects Molars Mortality profiles Archaeozoology Sheep molars |
spellingShingle |
Ovicaprine Hypoplasia North Atlantic Husbandry Dental defects Molars Mortality profiles Archaeozoology Sheep molars Ewens, Vicki J. An odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the North Atlantic islands. The potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context. |
topic_facet |
Ovicaprine Hypoplasia North Atlantic Husbandry Dental defects Molars Mortality profiles Archaeozoology Sheep molars |
description |
Abstract: Recent debate concerning the suitability of mortality profile analysis for identifying secondary product utilisation within archaeozoological assemblages has prompted the search for alternative methodologies. This research explores the potential of using weaning age to provide insight into herding strategies in ovicaprines, determined through the prevalence of developmental enamel defects. A histological methodology was developed, adapted to the specific nature of sheep molars through an understanding of formation processes and enamel structures. This established a relationship between weaning and developmental defects in modern sheep, revealed as distinct patterns in defect distribution within the enamel. Based on historical/archaeological data a weaning age model was developed for the North Atlantic region by which herding strategies could be recognised, specifically: mixed milk/meat subsistence, with an emphasis on milk (0-2 months) or on meat (2-4 months), and the optimisation of meat and/or wool (4-6 months). This methodology was then tested on archaeological material to interpret husbandry at Iron Age and Norse/Viking period sites. The results of this analysis showed that interpretations were in general agreement with those of mortality profile and correspondence analysis conducted as a methodological comparative. Some disparity, however, highlighted the ability of this new technique to provide more sensitivity in cases of mixed subsistence systems, possibly identifying the economic focus of husbandry, or where mortality profiles are confused. It was concluded that the study of weaning age has potential to provide valuable insight into ovicaprine husbandry in archaeological contexts, adding to the understanding of faunal assemblages, especially when supported with other evidence. Recent debate concerning the suitability of mortality profile analysis for identifying secondary product utilisation within archaeozoological assemblages has prompted the search for alternative methodologies. This ... |
author2 |
Mainland, Ingrid L. |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Ewens, Vicki J. |
author_facet |
Ewens, Vicki J. |
author_sort |
Ewens, Vicki J. |
title |
An odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the North Atlantic islands. The potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context. |
title_short |
An odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the North Atlantic islands. The potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context. |
title_full |
An odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the North Atlantic islands. The potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context. |
title_fullStr |
An odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the North Atlantic islands. The potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context. |
title_full_unstemmed |
An odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the North Atlantic islands. The potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context. |
title_sort |
odontological study of ovicaprine herding strategies in the north atlantic islands. the potential of dental enamel defects for identifying secondary product utilisation in an archaeological context. |
publisher |
University of Bradford |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5106 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5106 |
op_rights |
The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence . |
_version_ |
1766125908058439680 |