Hi Jen, antlers are variable depending on conditions as well as age so
the letters show the progessive stages rather than strict age - a
well-fed lowland stag could be like 'D' for its 2nd head when a
deficient highland one might still be only a 'spiker' like stage B.
There are also many, many, variations on the naming of parts and 'heads'
! Starting from the base I know them as brow, bez, trez, crown/cup, and
tops, and if an extra one between trez and crown that would be a
sur-royal. A normal 'full' head is a royal stag - 12 points (6 each
side), the one with the extras is an imperial (14 points). They are
amazingly variable however and can have more than 3 tops, extra brows -
and the two sides don't always match either! Old stags can 'go back' ie
grow fewer points, even reverting to singles. Maybe just describing
what you have and measuring the parts is the best option!
Sheila
SH-D ArchaeoZoology
http://www.shd-archzoo.co.uk
On 16/10/2014 21:02, Jen Wood wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have a complete shed red deer antler from a pit from a Roman site
> and I am attempting to record it fully. I have a photocopy sheet from
> Schmidt which categorizes the stages of growth from A to F but not
> actual interpretation of what these stages are. I am assuming age
> categories. Can anyone enlighten me further or suggest where I can
> look for further information?
>
> Many thanks
>
>
> Jen Wood
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