Dear Carol,
there was some discussion on this topic on zooarch earlier in the year. I am
reporting it below. (the articles mentioned also apply to Bos)
May I also take the opportunity to remind zooarchers that the archives of the
list that can be searched at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/zooarch.html
They represent an excellent source of information, with almost ten years of
correspondence among zooarchaeologists across the world about almost any
zooarchaeological topic you can think of.
Cheers,
Umberto
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sylvia Warman
Sent: February-16-09 7:31 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ZOOARCH] measuring ovis phalanges
Dear Zooarchs
I have a reasonable number of sheep phalanges (proximal, intermediate and
terminal).
Many are complete and I am thinking of measuring them.
In order to do this I assume I will need to identify where they are located
within each foot, so fore/hind, right/left and medial/lateral. I am familiar
with Dottrens 1946, for doing this with Bos phalanges. Has anything similar
been done for sheep or goats?
Many Thanks
Sylvia
Subject: Re: measuring ovis phalanges
From: Haskel Greenfield <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Haskel Greenfield <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:41:29 -0600
Hi. In von den Driesch 1976 (Measurements for Animal Bones), there is a nice
diagram indicating how you distinguish anterior from posterior first phalanges.
Through the years, I realized that the same pattern existed for second
phalanges. I could not do it for third phalanges, however.
I don’t know of any way, without a comparative collection in front of you, to
distinguish left lateral from right medial or right lateral from left medial.
If you figure it out, it would be great. i have not measured phalanges in years
once I realized that i could not control for which side of the foot it belonged
to. I felt that it would be like measuring and comparing apples and oranges
otherwise.
Good luck.
Best
Haskel
--
Umberto Albarella
Department of Archaeology
University of Sheffield
Northgate House
West Street
Sheffield S1 4ET
United Kingdom
Telephone: (+) 44 (0) 114 22 22 943
Fax: (+) 44 (0) 114 27 22 563
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/albarella.html
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