Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus elaphus</i> Linnaeus, 1758)
A stray find of red deer antler from Sweden with the braincase was collected due to an apparently pathological deformation, the strongly retarded right antler. Measurements of the complete left antler inspired the analysis of general antler conformation in order to place this archaeological specimen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Heritage |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/4/4/233 |
| _version_ | 1827672207312027648 |
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| author | László Bartosiewicz |
| author_facet | László Bartosiewicz |
| author_sort | László Bartosiewicz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A stray find of red deer antler from Sweden with the braincase was collected due to an apparently pathological deformation, the strongly retarded right antler. Measurements of the complete left antler inspired the analysis of general antler conformation in order to place this archaeological specimen in a zoological context. This stray find and another prehistoric antler from Sweden as well as three complete prehistoric antlers from Hungary were metrically compared using measurements of over 17,000 trophies of extant red deer from Hungary. The results confirmed that the stray specimen from Sweden and prehistoric antlers from Hungary were similar in that they were stouter (smaller length measurements but greater circumferences) than their 20th century counterparts. Most of their measurements fell within the ±1 standard deviation interval of the means of extant trophies. The pathological lesion on the studied stray specimen directed attention to the role of human selection. Twentieth century record trophies show a significant increase in antler weight and “quality” as defined in the international trophy grading system. While these morphometric observations cannot be taken as a proxy for absolute dating or precise contextual identification for the stray find central to this study, its size and apparent lack of consistent human selection (pathological deformation, “archaic” antler proportions) point to possibly early origins, prior to major human influence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:59:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4bfa2633c1084e9b983b60d95841adb7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:59:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage |
| spelling | doaj.art-4bfa2633c1084e9b983b60d95841adb72023-11-23T08:37:07ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082021-11-01444233424810.3390/heritage4040233Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus elaphus</i> Linnaeus, 1758)László Bartosiewicz0Osteoarchaeological Research Laboratory, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, SwedenA stray find of red deer antler from Sweden with the braincase was collected due to an apparently pathological deformation, the strongly retarded right antler. Measurements of the complete left antler inspired the analysis of general antler conformation in order to place this archaeological specimen in a zoological context. This stray find and another prehistoric antler from Sweden as well as three complete prehistoric antlers from Hungary were metrically compared using measurements of over 17,000 trophies of extant red deer from Hungary. The results confirmed that the stray specimen from Sweden and prehistoric antlers from Hungary were similar in that they were stouter (smaller length measurements but greater circumferences) than their 20th century counterparts. Most of their measurements fell within the ±1 standard deviation interval of the means of extant trophies. The pathological lesion on the studied stray specimen directed attention to the role of human selection. Twentieth century record trophies show a significant increase in antler weight and “quality” as defined in the international trophy grading system. While these morphometric observations cannot be taken as a proxy for absolute dating or precise contextual identification for the stray find central to this study, its size and apparent lack of consistent human selection (pathological deformation, “archaic” antler proportions) point to possibly early origins, prior to major human influence.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/4/4/233red deerantler measurementsantler pathologyHolocenetrophy gradingselection |
| spellingShingle | László Bartosiewicz Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus elaphus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) Heritage red deer antler measurements antler pathology Holocene trophy grading selection |
| title | Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus elaphus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) |
| title_full | Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus elaphus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) |
| title_fullStr | Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus elaphus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus elaphus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) |
| title_short | Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus elaphus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) |
| title_sort | human impact on antler conformation in western red deer i cervus elaphus elaphus i linnaeus 1758 |
| topic | red deer antler measurements antler pathology Holocene trophy grading selection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/4/4/233 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laszlobartosiewicz humanimpactonantlerconformationinwesternreddeericervuselaphuselaphusilinnaeus1758 |