In a message dated 10/17/2006 7:58:59 AM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Dear
all,
We found a complete skeleton of a
bovid calf at a prehistoric site and by the size of it; it was originally
identified as Aurochs. We obtained a 14C-date and a stable isotope signature
from it. The date is 13th century and the signature more in line
with cattle... Does someone know of a death sure morphological detail (also
applicable to an immature skeleton) to tell cattle and aurochs apart? Your
help is greatly appreciated!
Jessica
Unfortunately, I think you're going to have a hard time making a firm
species identification for a calf. Even in adult cattle, there is too much
potential overlap in size between the wild and domestic forms, especially
between aurochs cows and domestic bulls. To date, I've been willing to identify
specimens as aurochs only when there is definitive evidence for the sex of the
animal and the size clearly exceeds the range of variation in the local domestic
population. Needless to say, sexing a juvenile skeleton can be a bit of a
challenge in and of itself!
