Activity reconstruction of Rangifer tarandus feet in Fennoscandian -archaeology: Methodological considerations and application to archaeological material from two Sámi habitation sites

IF 1.3 3区地球科学 Q3 PALEONTOLOGY

International Journal of Paleopathology Pub Date : 2023-11-15 DOI:10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.10.002

Emily Hull , Anna-Kaisa Salmi , Mitchell Semeniuk

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Objective

This study explores the presence and prevalence of working Rangifer tarandus tarandus (domestic reindeer) through entheseal changes present in Rangifer tarandus phalanges at the Sámi habitation sites of Juikenttä and Nukkumajoki, located in Finland and dating from the 14th to the 18th centuries.

Materials

Modern samples (n = 23 phalanges, Rangifer tarandus fennicus; n = 60 phalanges, Rangifer tarandus tarandus non-working; n = 72 phalanges, Rangifer tarandus tarandus working) with known life histories. Archaeological samples (n = 22 phalanges, Juikenttä; n = 118 phalanges, Nukkumajoki).

Methods

We analysed entheseal changes on the first and second phalanges of both the thoracic and pelvic limbs. The minute movements of reindeer feet create entheseal changes which are specific to different activity patterns. This analysis was compared to the results obtained from long-bone analysis.

Results

Our results show the presence of working reindeer at both sites and are consistent with previous analysis of the long bones found at the site.

Conclusions

This archaeological application of phalangeal entheseal changes suggests that reindeer phalanges may be used to assess both the presence and proportion of working animals in an assemblage.

Significance

This study provides more evidence for the use of working reindeer as early as the 14th century in Northern Finland. This work also helps to provide archaeological evidence for Sámi subsistence patterns, as well as proving new tools for zooarchaeological assessment.

Limitations

Small sample size and taphonomy may affect assessment. Additionally, entheseal changes take time to envelope and may under-represent the number of working reindeer.

Suggestions for further research

Assessment of additional modern and archaeological samples.

查看原文本刊更多论文

Fennoscandian考古学中Rangifer tarandus足的活动重建:方法论思考及其在两个Sámi居住地考古材料上的应用。

目的:通过14 - 18世纪芬兰Juikenttä和Nukkumajoki的Sámi栖息地中放牧驯鹿(Rangifer tarandus tarandus)趾骨的变化，研究放牧驯鹿(Rangifer tarandus tarandus)的存在和流行情况。资料:现代标本(n = 23个指骨，Rangifer tarandus fennicus;n = 60指骨，Rangifer tarandus tarandus非工作;n = 72个趾骨(Rangifer tarandus tarandus工作)，已知生活史。考古样本(n = 22个指骨，Juikenttä;n = 118指骨，Nukkumajoki)。方法:分析胸椎和盆腔肢体第一、第二指骨的骨骺变化。驯鹿脚的微小运动产生了特定于不同活动模式的内在变化。该分析结果与长骨分析结果进行了比较。结果:我们的研究结果表明，在这两个地点都有工作的驯鹿，并且与之前对该地点发现的长骨的分析一致。结论:这种指骨附骨变化的考古应用表明，驯鹿指骨可以用来评估一个组合中工作动物的存在和比例。意义:这项研究为芬兰北部早在14世纪就开始使用工作驯鹿提供了更多证据。这项工作还有助于为Sámi生存模式提供考古证据，并为动物考古评估提供新工具。局限性:小样本量和分类可能会影响评估。此外，这些变化需要时间来覆盖，并且可能不足以代表工作驯鹿的数量。进一步研究的建议:评估更多的现代和考古样本。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Paleopathology PALEONTOLOGY-PATHOLOGY

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

25.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Paleopathology is the study and application of methods and techniques for investigating diseases and related conditions from skeletal and soft tissue remains. The International Journal of Paleopathology (IJPP) will publish original and significant articles on human and animal (including hominids) disease, based upon the study of physical remains, including osseous, dental, and preserved soft tissues at a range of methodological levels, from direct observation to molecular, chemical, histological and radiographic analysis. Discussion of ways in which these methods can be applied to the reconstruction of health, disease and life histories in the past is central to the discipline, so the journal would also encourage papers covering interpretive and theoretical issues, and those that place the study of disease at the centre of a bioarchaeological or biocultural approach. Papers dealing with historical evidence relating to disease in the past (rather than history of medicine) will also be published. The journal will also accept significant studies that applied previously developed techniques to new materials, setting the research in the context of current debates on past human and animal health.