On the basis of the standard measurements of 1277 long appendicular bones of the domestic sheep, a universal point scale has been elaborated. The bones examined were obtained from European, Asian and African archaeological sites dating from 4500 BC to 1500 AD. A comparative analysis of the metapodial bones of the domestic sheep from Central Europe (Poland, Germany and Hungary) has been undertaken, using this scale

Kobryń, Henryk

Przespolewska, Helena

English

Via Medica Journals

Folia Morphol. Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 187–189Copyright © 2003 Via MedicaISSN 0015–5659www.fm.viamedica.plO R I G I N A L  A R T I C L E187Address for correspondence: Helena Przespolewska, Department of Morphological Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw Agri-cultural University, ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02–776 Warszawa, Poland, tel/fax:+48 22 847 37 83, e-mail: wet_knm@alpha.sggw.waw.plA point scale in the study of excavated osseusremains of the domestic sheep(Ovis ammon f. aries)Helena Przespolewska, Henryk KobryńDepartment of Morphological Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University, Warszawa, Poland[Received 4 June 2003; Accepted 18 June 2003]On the basis of the standard measurements of 1277 long appendicular bones ofthe domestic sheep, a universal point scale has been elaborated. The bonesexamined were obtained from European, Asian and African archaeological sitesdating from 4500 BC to 1500 AD. A comparative analysis of the metapodialbones of the domestic sheep from Central Europe (Poland, Germany and Hun-gary) has been undertaken, using this scale.key words: domestic sheep, excavated bone material, point scaleINTRODUCTIONOne of the research methods applied in archaeo-zoology is the point scale, used for the first timewith reference to cattle [2]. It enables measurementsof different bones to be estimated simultaneously.In this way, bone measurements of excavatory andcontemporary animals can be compared. Moreover,it is possible to asses the size of an animal withouthaving to recalculate the lengths of appendicularbones into withers heights. The study was aimed atelaboration of a point scale and at its practical ap-plication in the examination of excavated osseus re-mains of the domestic sheep.MATERIAL AND METHODSThe material examined consisted of standardmeasurements [4] of 1277 appendicular bones (hu-merus, radius, III and IV metacarpal bones, femur,tibia and III and IV metatarsal bones), which wereobtained from 162 archaelogical sites located inEurope, Asia and Africa and dating back to the peri-od from around 4500 BC to 1500 AD. This materialwas divided into five approximate chronological pe-riods: I — before 2000 BC, II — from around 2000BC to around 500 BC, III — from aroud 500 BC toaround 500 AD, IV — from around 500 AD to around1250 AD, V — after 1250 AD [3].Based on the Lasota-Moskalewska method [2]a universal point scale for the maximal lengths of theabove-mentioned bones was worked out. The meth-od consists in transferring variously denominated mea-surements of different size ranges onto a commonabstract scale. The scale comprises 100 points. The leastsize of a given trait is assumed to be the zero point,while the maximal size of the trait is granted 100 points.This is the first time that the point scale has beenworked out in such a way for the domestic sheep.The material taken into consideration was obtainedfrom archaeological sites varying in geographical aswell as in chronological terms, making the estab-lished scale universal. It was used in order to com-pare the changes in the adequate metapodial partsin the thoracic and pelvic limbs of domestic sheepliving in Central Europe (Poland, Germany and Hun-gary) over a period of 6000 years.RESULTSThe measurements of maximal appendicularbone length and adequate scores are representedin Table 1.188Folia Morphol., 2003, Vol. 62, No. 3The general rhythm of changes in the metapodi-um of the thoracic and pelvic limb over time is iden-tical (Table 2). Two major tendencies are to be ob-served. Firstly, the size of the domestic sheep gradu-ally increases, beginning in the first of the periodsdistinguished and continuing over the second andthird. This growth in size started in the later stage ofthe Stone Age (Neolithic Age), and continued overthe Bronze Age, up to the period of Roman influ-ence in the Iron Age. The second tendency is a peri-od of change just opposite to the earlier ones. Be-ginning with the fourth and the fifth period (the Earlyand Late Middle Ages) the size of domestic sheepvisibly decreased, returning to that of the NeolithicAge. Such a rhythm of morphological change musthave been influenced by domestication and varyingenvironmental factors [3].A comparison between the changes in the metac-arpal and metatarsal bones may also be interesting.In the first of the periods distinguished the III and IVmetatarsal bone of domestic sheep living in CentralEurope was 11 points longer than the III and IV metac-arpal bone, making the greatest difference betweenthose bones from all the periods investigated (Table 2).In the second period both metapodial bones length-ened, the III and IV metacarpal bone by 12 points,and the III and IV metatarsal bone by only 6 points.The difference between the bones fell to 5 points. Inthe third period the average length of III and IV metac-arpal bone and III and IV metatarsal bone increasedby 8 points, the difference between them remainingthe same. However, in the fourth period, the differ-ence between the metapodial bones amounted to 9points. In the fifth period no changes were observedin the average length of either bone.DISCUSSIONThe changes in homological sections of the ap-pendicular skeleton of the domestic sheep, both interms of their character and the time of their mani-festation, are similar, regardless of differences in theirmechanisms. Slightly greater relative changes oc-curred in III and IV metacarpal bones, as comparedwith III and IV metatarsal bones. The pelvic limb, withits propulsive function, is subject to much fasterphenotypical changes and more prone to the influ-ence of various morphogenic factors than the sup-porting thoracic limb. According to Lasota [1], stud-ies on cattle have proved that some factors, mostlylocomotive, that are either strong and of short du-ration or weak and long-lasting, induce modifica-tions in the size and proportions of the metatarsuswithout deforming the metacarpus. Modificationsto the metacarpus can only be caused by strong andprolonged agents. Such changes are more perma-nent and scarcely reversible.In conclusion then, modifications to the pelviclimb are probably mainly influenced by environmen-tal conditions, whereas changes in the thoracic limboccur due to genotypical factors.More considerable changes have been noticed inIII and IV metacarpal bones of the domestic sheepthan in III and IV metatarsal bones, which may pointto a greater influence of genotypical factors overenvironmental agents in forming the morphotypeof the animal under examination.The above-mentioned changes apply to both sex-es. Earlier studies have proved that dimorphism inthe domestic sheep does not show in the osteomet-ric features of examined osseus material [3].Table 1. Score and adequate maximal length of appendic-ular bones (mm) of the domestic sheepScore Humerus Radius III and IV Femur Tibia III and IVmetacarpal metatarsalbone bone100 167 185 178 195 272 18990 162 178 170 191 262 18080 157 171 162 187 252 17170 152 164 154 183 242 16260 147 157 146 179 232 15350 142 150 138 175 222 14440 137 143 130 171 212 13530 132 136 122 167 202 12620 127 129 114 163 192 11710 122 122 106 159 182 1080 117 115 98 155 172 99Table 2. Average maximal bone length of the metapodi-um of the domestic sheep (points)Chronological III and IV III and IVperiod metacarpal bone metatarsal boneI 25 36II 37 42III 45 50IV 30 39V 30 39189Helena Przespolewska et al., A point scale in the study of excavated osseus remains of the domestic sheepREFERENCES1. Lasota A (1973) Przydatność badań archeozoologic-znych dla studiów nad rozwojem hodowli pierwotnej.Kwart Hist Kult Mater, 213: 449–454.2. Lasota-Moskalewska A (1980) The skeleton of prehis-toric cow with characteristic of both Primigenious andBrachycerous cattle. Ossa, 7: 173–178.3. Przespolewska H (2000) Cechy morfologiczne owcy do-mowej (Ovis ammon f. aries) z Europy Środkowejw świetle badań kostnych materiałów wykopali-skowych. Fundacja „Rozwój SGGW”, Warszawa 1–92.4. Driesch A (1976) A quide to the measurement of ani-mal bones from archaeological sites. Peabody Muse-um Bulletin. Peabody Museum Archeology and Eth-nology, Harvard University, 1: 1–136.

A point scale in the study of excavated osseus remains of the domestic sheep (Ovis ammon f. aries)

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A point scale in the study of excavated osseus remains of the domestic sheep (Ovis ammon f. aries)

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