A novel method for integrated age and sex determination from archaeological cattle mandibles

TY - JOUR

T1 - A novel method for integrated age and sex determination from archaeological cattle mandibles

AU - McGrory, S.

AU - Svensson, E. M.

AU - Götherström, A.

AU - Mulville, J.

AU - Powell, A. J.

AU - Collins, M. J.

AU - O'Connor, T. P.

PY - 2012/10

Y1 - 2012/10

N2 - Analysis of ancient cattle husbandry is compromised by the need for conventional analysis of sex and age at death to use different elements of the skeleton, usually from different individuals. We demonstrate a technique using aDNA acquired from cattle mandibles and combined with age-at-death estimation based on dental eruption in the same specimens. Application to small sample groups from two sites in Na h-Eileanan Siar (the Scottish Western Isles) show a high success rate, and demonstrates the potential for a more nuanced interpretation of ancient cattle husbandry.

AB - Analysis of ancient cattle husbandry is compromised by the need for conventional analysis of sex and age at death to use different elements of the skeleton, usually from different individuals. We demonstrate a technique using aDNA acquired from cattle mandibles and combined with age-at-death estimation based on dental eruption in the same specimens. Application to small sample groups from two sites in Na h-Eileanan Siar (the Scottish Western Isles) show a high success rate, and demonstrates the potential for a more nuanced interpretation of ancient cattle husbandry.

KW - Cattle

KW - DNA

KW - Husbandry

KW - Mortality

KW - Zooarchaeology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84864390515&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2012.05.021

DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2012.05.021

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84864390515

SN - 0305-4403

VL - 39

SP - 3324

EP - 3330

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

IS - 10

ER -