Hi Elan,
The best withers height estimate equations to use are in
May, E. 1985. Wideristhohe und Langknochenmasse bei Pferd - ein immer noch
aktuelles Problem. Zeitschrift fur Saugertierkunde 50. pp 368-382.
This paper addresses some of problems with the factors quoted in von den
Driesch and Boessneck and allows for the use of greatest length as well as
lateral length measurements. If you can't get hold of it let me know and
I'll send you a copy.
The size of your MC is well within the range for the Roman period although
slightly larger than the average.
If you can take all the following measurements GL, Ll, Bp, Dp, SD, Bd and Dd
then it would be possible to test whether this could be a mule bone rather
than horse,as the Roman mules seem to be as tall and taller than many of the
horses. If you contact me off list if you have those measurements I'll see
if I can run it through my preliminary method for discriminating between
horses and mules. I'll also see if I can give you some references to sites
with similar size equids.
For those waiting for my methodology to be published the ICAZ volume with my
paper in should be out soon I hope!
Yours Cluny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Elan Love" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 5:31 PM
Subject: [ZOOARCH] Comparable Horse Metacarpal Data
> Hello again Zooarch,
> First of all, many thanks to everyone who responded to my posting a few
weeks ago
> concerning a possible skinned or butchered wolf.
> Among the equid material from the same site is a metacarpal with a GL
measurement of
> 235mm. Unfortunately I've had a great deal of trouble finding relevant
data, including how to
> estimate size from cannon bones and comparable measurements from other
sites, but what
> little I have read seems to indicate that this metacarpal is unusually
large for ancient horses,
> especially in Roman Italy.
> Could anyone help me to locate:
> 1. The equation for estimating height from cannon bone measurements
> 2. Any sites (from any period or region) with horses of similar size?
>
> Thanks again,
> Elan Love
> Oberlin College
>
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