Determining Age and Season of Death by Use of Incremental Lines in Norwegian Reindeer Tooth Cementum

Beijersbergen, L.M. Takken

doi:10.1080/14614103.2017.1394625

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 33 publications

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“…Reindeer is one of the most common species in European zooarchaeological assemblages since the Palaeolithic (e.g., Napierala, 2009; Salmi et al, 2015; Takken Beijersbergen, 2017b). Methods that are currently in use to estimate age‐at‐death of archaeological, sub‐modern and modern reindeer include measuring molar crown height (e.g., Enloe & Turner, 2002; Morrison & Whitridge, 1997; Pike‐Tay et al ., 2000), counting cementum annuli (e.g., De Bie, 1977; Loison et al, 2001; Miller, 1974a; Pasda, 2006; Reimers & Nordby, 1968; Takken Beijersbergen, 2017a) and, most commonly, observations on occlusal wear and eruption patterns (e.g., Bromée‐Skuncke, 1953; Bouchud, 1966; Bergerud, 1970; Miller, 1972; Miller, 1974b; Pasda, 2009; Takken Beijersbergen, 2017b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Judging a reindeer by its teeth: A user‐friendly tooth wear and eruption pattern recording scheme to estimate age‐at‐death in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Berg

Loonen

Çakırlar

2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) have shaped the cultures and provided livelihood to peoples of the Northern Hemisphere for thousands of years. They are still the socio‐economic cornerstone of many northern cultures. Insight into reindeer mortality patterns is important for understanding past human–reindeer interactions and reindeer population fluctuations in relation to climatic and environmental change. Beyond archaeology, assessing the age structures of modern reindeer populations is important for developing wildlife management strategies. This paper presents a quick, non‐destructive and cheap method to estimate age in reindeer in both modern and ancient populations based on tooth wear and eruption patterns of mandibular teeth. We devised the method using a large sample of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) of known age. We blind‐tested the method and tested its applicability on another known‐age Svalbard reindeer mandible assemblage. The tests demonstrate our methods' user‐friendliness and reliability to generate reproducible, reusable datasets and accuracy in estimating reindeer age‐at‐death.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Judging a reindeer by its teeth: A user‐friendly tooth wear and eruption pattern recording scheme to estimate age‐at‐death in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Berg

Loonen

Çakırlar

2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Zooarchaeology

Outram¹

2023

Handbook of Archaeological Sciences

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The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids

et al. 2020

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Individual age is an important element in models of population demographics, but the limitations of the methods used for age determination are not always clear. We used known-age data from moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) to evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of age estimated by cementum annuli analysis of longitudinally sectioned permanent incisors. Four observers with varying experience performed blind duplicate age estimation of 37 specimens from each cervid. The relationship between known age and estimated age was linear, except for Svalbard reindeer where a quadratic model gave a slightly better fit. After correcting for observer ID and animal ID, there was a slightly declining probability to assess the correct age with increasing age for moose, red deer and Svalbard reindeer. Across cervids and observers, estimated age equalled known age in 69% of all readings, while 95% age ± 1 year. Predicted probability of correct age assessment for experienced observers was 93% for red deer, 89% for Svalbard reindeer, 84% for moose and 73% for semi-domestic reindeer. Regardless of observer experience and cervid, there was a high agreement between repeated assessments of a given animal’s tooth sections. The accuracy varied between cervids but was generally higher for observers with former ageing experience with a given cervid. We conclude that the accuracy of estimated age using longitudinally sectioned incisors is generally high, and even more so if performed by observers with former ageing experience of a given species. To ensure consistency over time, a reference material from known-age individuals for each species analysed should be available for calibration and training of observers.

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Determining Age and Season of Death by Use of Incremental Lines in Norwegian Reindeer Tooth Cementum

Cited by 6 publications

References 33 publications

Judging a reindeer by its teeth: A user‐friendly tooth wear and eruption pattern recording scheme to estimate age‐at‐death in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Judging a reindeer by its teeth: A user‐friendly tooth wear and eruption pattern recording scheme to estimate age‐at‐death in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Zooarchaeology

The accuracy and precision of age determination by dental cementum annuli in four northern cervids

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