Sorting the Sheep from the Goats: Morphological Distinctions between the Mandibles and Mandibular Teeth of AdultOvis and Capra

Authors: Halstead P.¹; Collins P.¹; Isaakidou V.²

Source: Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 29, Number 5, May 2002 , pp. 545-553(9)

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Abstract:

Diagnostic criteria are described for the taxonomic discrimination of adult mandibles of sheep (Ovis aries) and goat (Capra hircus). These criteria, based on morphological distinctions in the mandible, permanent premolars (P3–P4) and molars (M1–M3), have been successfully tested on a large and diverse body of modern reference material. In conjunction with published work on deciduous premolars, the new criteria enable complete and fragmentary mandibles of young, adult and elderly individuals to be identified to sheep or goat with acceptable levels of accuracy. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Archaeology and Prehistory, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 4ET, U.K. 2: Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31–34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, U.K.

Publication date: 2002-05-01