Analysis of enamel ultrastructure in archaeology: The identification of Ovis aries and Capra hircus dental remains

Ultrastructural features of deep, intermediate and superficial enamel were quantitatively assessed for the mandibular first permanent molars of 10 specimens each of the domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) and goat ( Capra hircus). The means of a number of variables differed interspecifically at high levels...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science 1986-11, Vol.13 (6), p.579-595
Main Authors: Grine, Frederick E., Fosse, Gisle, Krause, David W., Jungers, William L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
dental remains
discrimination
enamel ultrastructure
Environmental studies
Fauna
Methodology and general studies
Prehistory and protohistory
prism size
scanning electron microscopy
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Ultrastructural features of deep, intermediate and superficial enamel were quantitatively assessed for the mandibular first permanent molars of 10 specimens each of the domestic sheep ( Ovis aries) and goat ( Capra hircus). The means of a number of variables differed interspecifically at high levels of statistical significance, especially with regard to the enamel of intermediate depth. A canonical discriminant function analysis employing nine variables at all three enamel depths resulted in the correct taxonomic assignment of 95% of the specimens comprising the present sample. These results, coupled with the simple preparative and analytical methods presented here, may enable archaeozoologists to utilize enamel ultrastructure in order to discriminate between fragmentary dental remains of these caprine species.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1016/0305-4403(86)90042-7