| Title: |
Dental microwear in grazing and browsing Gotland sheep (Ovis aries) and its implications for dietary reconstruction
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| Issue: |
J Archaeol Sci 30 (11) |
| Series: |
Journal of Archaeological Science
|
| Volume: |
30
(11)
|
| Page Start/End: |
1513 - 1527 |
| Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
|
| Publication Type: |
Journal
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| Abstract: |
Microwear patterns and formation processes are examined in modern browsing and grazing Gotland sheep from Denmark. Clear differences in microwear patterning are identified between sheep which included a high proportion of leaves, bark and twigs of deciduous trees and shrubs in their diet, and those which primarily had access to graze, with the browsing group exhibiting enamel surfaces dominated by pitted microwear features, the grazers a predominance of striations. Analysis of abrasives in dung suggests that these trends can be attributed to higher levels of soil ingestion in the grazing population and are a consequence both of grassland management practices and height of feeding within the vegetation canopy. These findings question previous interpretations of microwear patterning in browsing and grazing ungulates and have significant implications for palaeodietary reconstruction in such species. To address further the implications of these results, comparison is made between the Gotland sheep and modern grazing and fodder-fed sheep and goats from elsewhere in Europe. It is concluded that dental microwear analysis has the potential to address questions relating to grassland management practices and the use of certain fodders, such as leafy-hay, but that it may ultimately prove more difficult to distinguish `fresh' browsing sheep from some grazing populations, specifically those in which levels of soil ingestion are reduced. |
| Year of Publication: |
2003
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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| Grazing (Auto Detected Subject) |
| Sheep (Auto Detected Subject) |
| Gotland Sheep (Auto Detected Subject) |
| Leaves Bark (Auto Detected Subject) |
|
Sheep
(BIAB)
|
|
Teeth
(BIAB)
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|
|
| Note: |
Author Keywords: Dental microwear; Diet; Sheep; Browsing; Grazing; Archaeology
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(The British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography (BIAB))
|
| Created Date: |
28 Apr 2004 |
