Dear Sabine,
Habermehl (1975) and Silver (1969) give 60 months, whereas the system developed by Reichstein states 48-60 months. Silver further mentions that the wings of the atlas do not fuse till 6 months.
Silver, I.A., 1969: The aging of domestic animals. In: D. Brothwell & E. Higgs (eds): Science in Archaeology a survey of progress and research, Thames and Hudson: 283-302.
Hope this helps, Jessica (but from my own experience it seems that there is a lot of variation!)
____________________________
Jessica Grimm MA AIFA
Zooarchaeologist
Wessex Archaeology Ltd
Portway House, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury, Wilts. SP4 6EB
Tel No:- +44 (0)1722 326867
Fax No:- +44 (0)1722 337562
Website: www.wessexarch.co.uk
P Before printing, think about the environment
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sabine Deschler-Erb
Sent: 31 August 2007 09:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ZOOARCH] Cattle age determination
Good morning
The part of a cattle torso has been found in a Roman ritual pit from
Avenches (CH). The epiphysis of the thoracic vertebras and the parts of
the atlas are not fused, though the animal is quite large. Does anybody
have an idea how old the animal was when it was sacrified?
Thanks for any advice
Sabine
--
Dr. Sabine Deschler-Erb
Institut für Prähistorische und Naturwissenschaftliche
Archäologie (IPNA)
Spalenring 145
CH - 4055 Basel
[log in to unmask]
http://pages.unibas.ch/arch/personen/deschlers.htm
Tel. 0041 61 201 02 44
|