Separating caprine (Capra/Ovis) distal tibiae: A case study from the Polish Neolithic

Abstract

Distinguishing the skeletal remains of sheep (Ovis aries) from goats (Capra hircus) is a fundamental and habitual problem in zooarchaeology. Such a distinction is desirable because the taxa can be raised to serve variable purposes, are behaviourally different, and are biologically dissimilar; all factors influencing their role in past human economies. Whilst considerable effort has been spent exploring various methods for their distinction in the Near East, the Mediterranean world, and in modern populations, the rarity of Neolithic caprines north of the Alps has meant distinction has not been attempted on any systematic basis. In this study, we present the first attempt to do so, using one of the more problematic elements, the distal tibia, to investigate the caprine remains from Racot 18, Poland, a settlement of the Neolithic Late Lengyel culture. The assemblage is characterised by an unusual proportion of caprines, and ZooMS results indicate relative parity in numbers of sheep and goats. Standard and new biometrics and morphological identifications were also applied. Morphological identifications did not reliably distinguish the taxa. Nonetheless, both standard and new biometrics demonstrate significant size differences between the taxa in this assemblage. This study represents the first step required of establishing effective criteria for differentiation of caprines in Neolithic Poland, and by extension other Neolithic contexts north of the Alps.