I believe that the foramen was discussed long ago by Boessneck et al. in
their seminal 1963 publication on Sheep and Goat distinctions. This
should not be forgotten in the desire to cite only more recent
publications. of
Haskel J. Greenfield, Professor
University of Manitoba
Department of Anthropology
Fletcher Argue 435
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V5, Canada
Home Tel.: 204-489-4962
Office Tel.: 204-474-6332
Office Fax: 204-474-7600
Email: [log in to unmask]
Webpage: http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~greenf/
GOD PUT ME ON EARTH TO ACCOMPLISH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THINGS. RIGHT NOW
I'M SO FAR BEHIND I WILL NEVER DIE!
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nellie Phoca-Cosmetatou
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 10:07 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] Non-metric traits on sheep and goat mandibles
Dear Fay,
Although your query is primarily on the extra foramen, I'd like to make
a
brief comment on the presence of the foramen below P2/P3 and sheep vs.
goat distinction- which also relates to Terry's e-mail.
Halstead and colleagues (P. Halstead, P. Collins and V. Isaakidou
2002. "Sorting the Sheep from the Goats: Morphological Distinctions
between the Mandibles and Mandibular Teeth of Adult Ovis and
Capra". Journal of Archaeological Science 29 (5): 545-553) have
identified a distinction between sheep and goat based on the presence of
this foramen below P2/P3. They notice that this foramen is found
predominantly in sheep, whereas goats tend to have it anteriorally,
along
the diastema.
My work on Neolithic assemblages in Greece (Ftelia, Dispilio) supports
their conclusions. Only sheep might have a foramen below P2/P3; not all
sheep do, but if a foramen is there, then it is always a sheep (sheep ID
based on diagnostic criteria on teeth). Goats (again, ID based on teeth)
never have a forament below P2/P3.
I hope this is of some use, and I'd be glad to hear from others if their
work supports- or not!- these conclusions!
Best wishes from a very hot Oxford,
Nellie
On 20 Jul 2006 at 16:38, fay worley wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> I am looking at a large assemblage from a Roman site in southern
> England and am noticing that just under half the sheep/goat mandibles
> have an extra foramen below the p2 or p3 on the buccal side. Some also
> have a double mental foramen. So far I have only recorded approx. 50
> mandibles but the assessment data suggests that there are probably 150
> more in the complete assemblage. I was wondering if anyone has
> recorded these extra foramen and can suggests whether they are a
> frequently present. Or are there any papers which consider non-metric
> foramen on mandibles? I can only find references to foramen on sheep
> femora.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Fay
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------- Fay Worley, Oxford Archaeology [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> This message has been scanned for viruses by BlackSpider MailControl -
> www.blackspider.com
----------------------------
Dr. Nellie Phoca-Cosmetatou
Research Fellow & Tutor in Archaeology and Anthropology
Keble College, Oxford OX1 3PG
Tel: +44 (0)1865 282395
Fax: +44 (0)1865 272705
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/fellows/fellow.php?fellowD
"Engrave yourself somewhere, in any possible way,
and then again erase yourself with magnanimity"
O. Elytis
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