Med hunden i fokus - en metod att identifiera hundars användningsområde utifrån det postkraniala skelettet
Postkraniala skelettetHundars användningsområdeHundMorfologiProportionRörelsemönsterAnimal anatomyAnimal morphologyDjurs anatomi och morfologiArchaeologyArkeologiBiology and Life SciencesHistory and Archaeology
AbstractThis is a study of present day dogs with the purpose to establish a method to investigate archaeological dogs and determine their use in the past. The study has focused on measurements of five bone elements, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna and femur. A principal component analysis has been applied in order to decide which measurements to be further used in the analysis. Different proportions have been calculated on these measurements.A test to try the method has also been done on bones of a wolf and a dog without known background. The results from the different elements are positive, and they narrow the field down to two dog types of which one is more likely to be true than the other.The final results show that, although over lapses between the four different dog groups; hunting dogs, guard/work dogs, sled dogs and shepherd's dogs exists, it is possible to distinguish different dog usage from the proportions of the bones.