In their work with predicting paleohabitat based on bovid astragali, DeGusta
and Vrba (2003) published a regression equation for body weight prediction
from a series of African bovids. It is based on a series of eight
measurements, which they also outline in the publication. Perhaps this can be
of some help.
DeGusta, D. and E. Vrba (2003) A method for inferring paleohabitats from the
functional morhphology of bovid astragali. Journal of Archeaological Science
30:1009-1022.
Sincerely,
Dan
>===== Original Message From Cheryl Smith-Lintner <[log in to unmask]> =====
>Hello,
>
>I have been experimenting with allometric formulae and
>body mass based on the astragalus (GLI) in mammals
>(cattle). I have also looked at the femur head.
>However, the body mass numbers I end up with for the
>astragalus versus femur are vastly different, and I am
>wondering if it is because the allometric values I am
>using for the astragalus are based on a small sample
>of measurements (n=6). I am using numbers from Reitz
>and Cordier 1983 (BAR international Series, Animals
>and Archaeology: 2. Shell Middens, Fishes and Birds).
>
>It's possible that I just have a large range in body
>mass at this site, but I tend to think the femur
>values (i.e. smaller body mass) are more accurate
>based on what is known historically about cattle in
>the area. But I have more complete astraguli than
>femur heads!--it would be great to use them. I have
>been unable to locate more recent studies that make
>use of the astragalus: does anyone know of
>adjusted/more recent allometric values for the
>astragalus since the above publication?
>
>Many thanks,
>Cheryl Smith-Lintner
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>http://mail.yahoo.com
Daniel C. Weinand
University of Tennessee
Department of Anthropology
250 South Stadium Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-0720
(865)974-4408
|