Hello Matthew,
Quite a few Iron Age cattle in Britain have this reduced pillar on the molar. It is thought to be associated with the reduced size of the jaw (and the animal). It is also found sometimes in more recent cattle.
I have an illustration of the condition in a recent cow from the Hebrides in Scotland which I will send separately.
Best wishes
Dale
Dale Serjeantson
Archaeology
School of Humanities
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton SO17 1BJ
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/archaeology/about/staff/dale.page
Birds and Archaeology: New Research. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology Special Issue
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oa.v24.3/issuetoc
From: zooarch <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> on behalf of Matthew Compton <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Matthew Compton <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2015 18:56
To: zooarch <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: [ZOOARCH] Cattle lower M3 reduced/absent 3rd cusp
Hello all,
I have encountered some cattle lower third molars that have reduced or absent third minor cusps (hypoconulid and entoconulid):
http://zooarchaeology.ning.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=19fg2mn1jv6kt
Not pictured, but from the same collection is a cattle mandible with an abnormal depression on the surface of the articular condyle.
I know these morphological variations have been observed elsewhere (Baker and Brothwell 1980:112-114; Hillson 2005:279; Miles and Grigson 1990; Siegel 1976), but was wondering if anyone could direct me to any studies that provide evidence of their prevalence and/or association with certain breeds, regions, etc. The specimens I am working on are from early-nineteenth century North Carolina.
Thanks, Matt
Matthew Compton, Ph.D., RPA
Zooarchaeologist
Southeastern Zooarchaeological Research, LLC
3216 Arrowwood Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27604-2406
(919) 810-1776<tel:%28919%29%20810-1776>
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