Studying Ancient Cattle at Eketorp Ringfort
Author Information
Author(s): Ylva Telldahl, Emma Svensson, Anders Götherström, Jan Storå
Primary Institution: Stockholm University
Hypothesis
How did the use of cattle change over time at the Eketorp ringfort in Sweden?
Conclusion
The study found that the skeletal remains indicate a predominance of female cattle, suggesting that dairying was important, while also revealing different usage patterns for male and female cattle.
Supporting Evidence
- The skeletal assemblage from Eketorp is dominated by skeletal elements from females, indicating the importance of dairying.
- Pathological lesions on bones suggest different uses for male and female cattle.
- The study found little evidence for the use of different types of animals for specific purposes.
Takeaway
Researchers looked at old cow bones to see how people used cattle a long time ago. They found that most of the bones were from female cows, which means people probably kept them for milk.
Methodology
The study combined osteometric analysis with molecular sex identification of cattle bones to investigate usage patterns over time.
Potential Biases
There may be bias in the representation of male and female cattle in the skeletal assemblage.
Limitations
The sample size for some genetic analyses was small, which may limit the conclusions that can be drawn.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.09
Statistical Significance
p=0.09
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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