Enamel hypoplasia in modern and archaeological caprine populations : the development and application of a new methodological approach
Archaeological research into domestic animals has demonstrated that enamel hypoplasia is a potentially valuable tool for investigating a range of archaeological topics including domestication and animal management strategies. However, research into archaeological domestic populations has been hindered by the difficulty of recording and interpreting enamel hypoplasia in high-crowned species such as caprines and cattle. This research develops a methodological approach for recording enamel hypoplasia in high-crowned species which is applied to modern and archaeological caprine populations from three geographically distinct regions (Orkney, Kenya and Iceland). Modern caprines with known life histories are used to investigate baseline factors such as the impact of the environment and nutrition on the frequency and severity of enamel hypoplasia in caprines. These baselines are then used to interpret enamel hypoplasia in archaeological populations. Results indicate that enamel hypoplasia frequency and severity can be linked to variation in the climate /environment as well as nutrition levels in caprine populations. By comparing enamel hypoplasia frequency and severity between populations with similar baseline factors,
Upex, Bethan Rosemary
Enamel hypoplasia in modern and archaeological caprine populations : the development and application of a new methodological approach. Archaeological research into domestic animals has demonstrated that enamel hypoplasia is a potentially valuable tool for investigating a range of archaeological topics including domestication and animal management strategies. However, research into archaeological domestic populations has been hindered by the difficulty of recording and interpreting enamel hypoplasia in high-crowned species such as caprines and cattle. This research develops a methodological approach for recording enamel hypoplasia in high-crowned species which is applied to modern and archaeological caprine populations from three geographically distinct regions (Orkney, Kenya and Iceland). Modern caprines with known life histories are used to investigate baseline factors such as the impact of the environment and nutrition on the frequency and severity of enamel hypoplasia in caprines. These baselines are then used to interpret enamel hypoplasia in archaeological populations. Results indicate that enamel hypoplasia frequency and severity can be linked to variation in the climate /environment as well as nutrition levels in caprine populations. By comparing enamel hypoplasia frequency and severity between populations with similar baseline factors,
enamel_hypoplasia modern archaeological caprine population development_application new methodological_approach archaeological domestic_animal demonstrate enamel_hypoplasia potentially valuable tool_investigate range archaeological topic_include domestication animal management_strategy however archaeological domestic population hinder difficulty record interpret enamel_hypoplasia high specie cattle develops methodological record enamel_hypoplasia high specie apply modern archaeological caprine population geographically distinct region orkney kenya iceland modern know life_history use_investigate baseline factor_impact environment nutrition frequency severity enamel_hypoplasia baseline use_interpret enamel_hypoplasia archaeological_population indicate enamel_hypoplasia frequency severity link variation climate_environment well nutrition level caprine population compare enamel_hypoplasia frequency severity population similar baseline factor