Here is what some examples from our reference collection say (in mm):
Weasel (Mustela nivalis)
Female
GL 21.1 24.1 18.9
SD 1.5 1.8 1.3
Male
GL 26.5 24.5 24.9
SD 1.8 1.8 1.7
Stoat (Mustela erminea)
Female
GL 34.9 32.7
SD 2.3 2.3
Male
GL 38.1 39.5 38.7
SD 2.6 2.5 2.8
You're right about it matching best with a male weasel (though ours are
slightly stockier -- Note: my SD was taken in a medial-lateral direction
so not strictly the smallest breadth of the diaphysis).
Hope that helps,
Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Emily Vivien Murray
Sent: 13 September 2007 16:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ZOOARCH] Weasel and Stoat measurements
I have a humerus of a small carnivore from an Early Medieval site in
Ireland (GL 26mm; SD 1.3mm) that matches best with weasel (weasel is not
native to Ireland). The closest alternative is stoat although it seems
too small and the dimensions compare best with those of a humerus of a
male weasel held in the QUB reference collection. Unfortunately we only
have unsexed bones of stoat and no female weasel bones and the
collections in both the Ulster Museum (Belfast) and Natural history
Museum (Dublin) are also inaccessible at present.
I was wondering if anyone had comparative measurements they could send
me of sexed stoat or weasel humeri: greatest length (GL) and SD?
Many thanks,
Emily
******************************************************************
Dr Emily Murray
School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology (GAP), Queen's
University Belfast
Belfast BT7 1NN
Tel +44 028 9097 5282 [office] or 9097 3488 [bonelab]
Fax +44 028 9097 3897
P Before printing, think about the environment
_________________________________________________________________________________
This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the
views of English Heritage unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it
from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in
any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available.
|