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Home , Antelope, Bighorn sheep, Mountain goat, Odocoileus, Ovis

J. Ethnobiol. 10(2):169-181 Winter 1990

ANTELOPE, , BIGHORN AND MOUNTAIN : A GUIDE TO THE CARPALS

PAMELA J. FORD Mount San Antonio College 1100 North Grand Avenue Walnut, CA 91739

ABSTRACT.-Remains of , deer, mountain , and appear in archaeological sites in the North American west. Carpal bones of these are generally recovered in excellent condition but are rarely identified

beyond the classification 1/small-sized artiodactyl." This guide, based on the analysis of over thirty modem specimens, is intended as an aid in the identifi­ cation of these remains for archaeological and biogeographical studies.

RESUMEN.-Se han encontrado restos de antilopes, ciervos, cabras de las montanas rocosas, y de carneros cimarrones en sitios arqueol6gicos del oeste de Norte America. Huesos carpianos de estos animales se recuperan, por 10 general, en excelentes condiciones pero raramente son identificados mas alIa de la clasifi­ cacion "artiodactilos pequeno." Esta glia, basada en un anaIisis de mas de treinta especlmenes modemos, tiene el proposito de servir como ayuda en la identifica­ cion de estos restos para estudios arqueologicos y biogeogrMicos.

RESUME.-On peut trouver des ossements d'antilopes, de cerfs, de chevres de montagne et de des Rocheuses, dans des sites archeologiques de la . region ouest de I'Amerique du Nord. Les os carpeins de ces animaux, generale­ ment en excellente condition, sont rarement identifies au dela du classement d'

,I artiodactyles de petite taille." Le but de ce guide base sur 30 specimens recents est d'aider aidentifier ces ossements pour des etudes archeologiques et biogeo­ graphiques.

Four genera of relatively small artiodactyls have roamed the land­ scapes of western . The remains of antelope (Antilocapra americana), deer ( hemionus and O. virginianus), mountain goats ( ameri­ canus), and bighorn sheep ( canadensis) appear in various archaeological and paleontological deposits in the West (e.g., Grayson 1985, 1988; King 1950; Sinclair 1904). Throughout western North America, the distributions of these animals overlap, at least in part. In areas of the , for instance, antelope, deer and bighorn sheep have coincident distributions (Hall 1981). These three genera are typically found together in archaeological sites in the Great Basin (e.g., Grayson 1988) and in eastern (e.g., Livingston 1985). On the north­ west coast, the distributions of deer, bighorn sheep, and overlap (Hall 1981) and all may be represented in one archaeological site (King 1950). 170 FORD Vol. 10, No.2

Post-cranial remains of these genera are often difficult to distinguish. In addition, the condition of archaeological faunal material and incomplete com­ parative collections often preclude the generic or specific identification of the bones in question. Several zoologists and archaeologists have described criteria for identification of elements of these genera (e.g., Gilbert 1980; Hildebrand 1955; Lawrence 1951; Sandefur 1977), but with one exception (Sandefur 1977), carpals are not included in available guides. Carpals are small dense bones that make up the joint between the lower fore limb and the metacarpals (Fig. 1). In artiodactyls, this joint is tightly bound together by soft tissue. Because carpals are dense, they do not deteriorate as rapidly as other elements after the death of the (Brain 1981). They occur frequently in archaeological deposits but are often lumped under the taxonomic category "small-sized artiodactyl" during analysis. The identification of these elements to will aid subsistence studies about the variable treatment of carcasses. Additionally, biogeographical studies of these genera (e.g., Lyman 1988) may be advanced by the use of this tool.

LEFT CARPUS

DORSAL LATERAL

VIEW VIEW Ul nO Rodiul Rodiul

Metocorpal

CARPALS: I.Radial 2.lntermediale 3.Ulnor 4. Second / Thi rd 5.Fourth 6.Acceuory

FIG. I.-Relationship of various carpals to the radius and metacarpal in artiodactyls.

This guide is intended for use in conjunction with comparative skeletons for the identification of carpals recovered from archaeological and paleontological deposits. Few analysts have extensive collections of artiodactyls available and comparison of one archaeological carpal with one modem specimen of each genus may not allow the secure identification of the archaeological specimen. The purpose of this guide is to illustrate the characteristics that appear on carpals of various genera, but which might not be evident when examining single specimens. I initially utilized 31 skeletons from the collections of the Museum of Comparative Winter 1990 JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY 171

Zoology at Harvard University, the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum, and private collections to determine useful and valid distinguishing criteria. Carpals from twelve of these were used for the drawings in Figures 2-10. The drawings were compared with an additional set of seven modem specimens. Further analyses by others may bring to light additional distinctive criteria and require revisions in this guide.

ANTI LOCAPRA AMERICANA

for radius Dorsa I > :. < Volar \ <:.; .. : ..... : (~\ Proximal" \ ••.•.•••• :. ~\ ..... \\ ~._ for second It hi rd carpa I \d6J

ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS

,1~: .••. .. 1. Volar border slopes in \ .:::-: .::.:..:: antelope, 1S nearly vertical , ".:: ... : in deer and mountain goat, and is rounded in sheep. 2. The carpal in lateral ODOCOILEUS VIRGIN JANUS view IS narrowest in relation to height in . deer, widest in '. :.~.:: .: ::,.: >, ::···::-: :-:: relation to height in sheep ($(D..... - ..'. CtJ.. and goat.

OREAMNOS 'AMERICANUS

I I· • I '::.. . ::"': . l~'"I ~. . I :::..:',:.::. '" ..:::: .:.;-:-

aVIs CANADENSIS :.-: ...:.::::. ',' "I', ", Q0j', .. "

FIG. 2.-Radial carpal, lateral view. 172 FORD Vol. 10, No. 2

ANTI LOCAPRA AMERICANA / for intermediate carpal ~~Io;:~ @@, A Proximal .••• : ••:: r;£) ~ . ~ 'for second/third carpal

ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS

,. 1. At dorsal edge of the . . ­ medial surface (4), the ...... ',. ;~':: articular facets connect or ~..' are very close in antelope but are widely separated in deer and sheep. The facets ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS mayor may not connect in goat. ~ -'_"-"J

OREAMNOS AMERICANUS

r•••••••••••••••• 7' ea••"_>:.: ..· OVIS CANADENSIS

. i: ~~ ... "" .'..--.. . ., ..... yo @is): •••••• : •••• 8tJ=-~-:':"'~ .: '••

FIG. 3.-Radial carpal, medial view. Winter 1990 JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY 173

ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA

~:~~~II ~ t~_lorsecond/third carpal (~

~.:.: .0

ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS

1. The basIc outline of the :~~~~. articular surface for the ...··0 e 2nd-3rd carpal varies by V taxon, as 11lustrated. The shape of the dorsa-lateral ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS border slopes 1n antelope and sheep, resembles a rounded corner in deer, and 15 very rounded in goat. The A volar edge of the articular ld surface 1s horizontal (tn thiS view) for antelope, but parallels the dorsal margin AMERICANUS 1n sheep.

OVIS CANADENSIS ,," IC-/!."

Mez 265

FIG. 4.-Radial carpal, distal view. 174 FORD Vol. 10, No.2

ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA / for radius

1 •••..• I Proximal A Cd...·· •• '' ••·I ~::.: l ate r a I > .. ::. / for f0 ur thea r p a I '.~: :: • I" ':': ".:...:.:·· _/ ..... UI 'for second /thi rd carpal rtlJ

ODOCOILEUS HEMJONUS

: ..:.:.:.. 1. When the carpus 15 .: .: : .. ,J .- . articulated, the shaded area ~ ,~ : . ~ ~ 15 visible. The basic outl1ne of the shaded area varies by taxon, as illustrated. In antelope, wldth and helght ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS of visible surface are approximately eQual. In deer, height is greater than rF;7 width. In sheep and goat, ~l.SP I ~ . :! I·m2!.o' -: .: f;f width is greater than height. vi 2. In antelope, the notch at

FIG. 5.-Intermediate carpal, dorsal view. Winter 1990 JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY 175

ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA ~:~s~~r:1 /frJ/ for fourth carpal Ij:;} for second/third carpa I 1. Corset-shaped distal ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS articular surface is relat1vely narrow (latero-med1aD in propor­ ifT"( tion to length (dorsa-volar) \ (. in the antelope, and wider tn -:.: .. :..... )~r.d [! ~ deer, antelope, sheep and goat. 2. The basic outline of the ODOCOILEUS 'VIRGINIANUS distal articular surface is distinct for each genus, as illustrated. ~ ANTELOPE:

Notched 1atera Ity, concave curve medlal1y. DEER: OREAMNOS AMERICANUS 0 Straight (or sltghtly curved) laterally, concave curve med1ally. GOAT:

S1des nearly parallel, w1th aVIs CANADENSIS o art1cular surface wider at

I voIar end than at dorsalend. I :: t _ ~. \ Stra1ght medially. \ 0 SHEEP: ..: . I~ '. ..~.0. • •• - V Curved notch laterally. Stra1ght or sl1ghtly curved med1ally.

FIG. 6.-Intermediate carpal, distal view. 176 FORD Vol. 10, No.2

ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA

Dorsal> ~.-for ulna P. IA .:::: for intermediate rox. ma ...••,: ~ •••. carpal f:; "'" ..... for fourth carpal accessory carpal

ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS

~.::.:..~, ~)<~~~.:: :..: .. / ,:."..,,_,. t. At +, the most proxima1 ...... : ~~ part of the facet protrudes Q',.•.:.: .. :~ ..:.:!~. j ••• medially only in antelope and deer but remains flush ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS With the carpal in sheep and goat. There are antelope carpals on which it remains flush. 2. The most distal medial facet ror the fourth carpa I slopes distally and medially in antelope, medially and towards the volar in deer, dorso-med1a Ily In goat, and medially in Sheep.

OVIS CANADENSIS

FIG. 7.-Ulnar carpal, medial view. Winter 1990 JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY 177

ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA

Dorsal> .... Proximal" ~~- ....-, lor ul nor carpol ... ~'.~::::\ ) ©ID. .. -. "':-,'

ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS

1. The baSIC out Itne of the carpal 1n medIal VIew varies by genus, as Illustrated. 2. MId-section (Il") in antelope ts depressed, so OOOCOI LEUS VIRGINIANUS that dorsa1and va 1ar ends are curving towards each other. This curvature is only very Slight in the other ...... ···,. genera. .:...:.'. EtD......

OREAMNOS AMERICANUS

...... :f ...... ezl)...::.:::..:.

OVIS CANADENSIS

...... :.'.. ..'.' .:.::: '0:·':,':. \llirl)~'. '::-:.. ::. Q0D .. ",

FIG. B.-Accessory carpal, medial view. 178 FORD Vol. 10, No.2

ANTI LOCAPRA AMERICANA

Dorsal A : . Vola r V )'- Medial> ~/ (A 8 ..... for r adi a I ca r pa I fo r in termediate carpal

ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS 1. The volar margin is .. :..... concave 1n antelope, fairly stra1ght in deer, hor1zontal ) l in goat, and sloP1ng and ~f fA B) notched 1n sheep. 2. All are approx1mately sQuare tn basic outl1ne, but ODOCOILEUS VI RGI NIANUS 1n goat and sheep, the artic­ ulation for rad1al carpal is approximateIy as wide ~ C1atero-medlally) as it 15 deep (dorsa-volar). In ~ antelope and deer, the -----, articulation 15 deeper than it 1s wide. OREAMNOS AMERICANUS 3. The articular surface for the radial carpal tends to be flatter tn goat and sheep. 4. In antelope, part Bof the articu1ar surface slopes so that it 1s much htgher than A. In deer and sheep, A and Bare approximately the OVIS CANADENSIS same hetght...... ) . ~ ~A 8 ...... "......

FIG. 9.-Second/third carpal, proximal view. Winter 1990 JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY 179

ANTI LOCAPRA AMERICANA

. Dorsal A (i)'-- for intermediate ~ Volar V• •• carpal ...... ::. / . 'qtJ ~..' A for ulnar carpal

ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS

1. The shape or the volar I ~...... 1 border var1es. In antelope, B there may be a rounded notch adjacent to the art1cular surface at A In ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS deer, the most volar part of the volar margln 1s rounded and close to center (8). In mounta1n goat and sheep, the most volar extension is orr-center, and a notch is present at A. OREAMNOS. AMERICANUS (lJ...... OVIS CANADENSIS .

...... ' ...... ' ~A· ••::. @-..'.-.

FIG. lO.-Fourth carpal, proximal view. 180 FORD Vol. 10, No.2

Various views of at least two each of all six carpals illustrate variation within and between the five (Figures 2-10). Male and female are represented for each species, with the exception of mountain goat, for which specimens are either female or gender unknown. No attempt has been made to determine species-level criteria for the deer. All the specimens are from the left side. Articular surfaces on each are indicated by white: all other surfaces are shaded. Anatomical terminology is from Getty (1975) to allow consistency and eliminate confusion with human osteology terms (Table 1). Taxonomic nomenclature follows that of Jones et al. (1986).

TABLE I.-Synonyms used (or Carpal Bones (after Getty 1975).

Radial carpal as scaphoideum navicular scaphoid Intermediate carpal as lunatum semilunar lunate Ulnar carpal os triquetrum triangular cuneiform Accessory carpal os pisiforme pisiform Second carpal os trapezoideum trapezoid lesser mult- angular Third carpal os capitatum capitate magnum Fourth carpal os hamatum hamate unciform

In the Artiodactyls, the second and third carpals fuse to form a single element. An inter­ med.ioradial carpal and a first carpal are present in other (Getty 1975).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I eSpeciaUy thank M. Rutzmoser and M. Massaro who provided skeletons from the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, during the 1983 summer institute on fauna by the Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A travel and housing grant from the Center made this research possible. J. Rozdilsky of the section of the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum and R.D. Leonanl also provided specimens. R. L. Lyman examined. the guide in conjunction with seven additional specimens. The insights ofM. Glass, O.K. Grayson, K. Jue11, R.L. Lyman, R. Meadow and H.-P. Uerpmann have enhanced this guide.

LITERAlURE CITED

BRAIN, C.K. 1981. The hunters or the hunt­ GRAYSON, DONALD K. 1988. Danger ed? An introduction to African cave Cave. Last Supper Cave, and Hanging taphonomy. University of Chicago Rock Shelter: The faunas. Anthro­ Press, Chicago. pological Papers of the American GElTY, R. 1975. Sisson and Grossman's Museum of Natural History 66 (Part 1). The anatomy of the domestic animals, 1985. The paleontology of 5th edition. Saunders, Philadelphia. Hidden Cave: Birds and mammals. Gil..BERT, B. Mil..ES. 1980. Mammalian oste­ III The archaeology of Hidden Cave, ology. Modem Printing Company, , D.H. Thomas, editor. Anthro­ Laramie, . pological Papers of the American Winter 1990 JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY 181

Museum of Natural History 61:125-161. mary of faunal data. Pp. 365-420. In HILDEBRAND, M. 1955. Skeletal differences Summaryof results, Chief Joseph Dam between deer, sheep and goats. Cali­ Cultural Resources Project, Washing­ fornia Fish and 41:327-346. ton, Sarah K. Campbell, editor. Office JONES, J.K., JR., D.C. CARTER, H.H. of Public Archaeology, Institute for GENOWAYS, R.S. HOFFMAN, D.W. Environmental Studies, University of RICE, and C. JONES. 1986. Revised Washington. checklist of North American mammals LYMAN, R. LEE. 1988. Significance for wild­ north of , 1986. Occasional life management of the late Quaternary Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech Uni­ biogeography of mountain goats (Ore­ versity, Number 107. amnos americanus) in the Pacific north­ KING, ARDEN R. 1950. Point: A strati­ west, U.S.A. Arctic and Alpine Re­ fied site in the southern northwest coast search 20:13-23. region. Memoirs of the Society for SANDEFUR, ELSIE. 1977. Archaeology and American Archaeology, No.7, 94 pp. the : A guide to carpal identi­ LAWRENCE, BARBARA. 1951. Post-cranial fication. The Archaeological Survey skeletal characters of deer, , Association, Occasional Paper No. 10. and sheep-goat with notes on and SINCLAIR, WILLIAM J. 1904. The explora­ . Peabody Museum Papers, Har­ tion of the Potter Creek Cave. Univer­ vard University 35(3). sity of Publications, American LIVINGSTON, STEPHANIE. 1985. Sum- Archaeology and Ethnology. 2(1):1-27.

BOOK REVIEW

Recherches Amerindiennes au Quebec, Vol. XVIII No.1, Printemps 1988: La sante en transition. (Amerindian Research in Quebec, 18(1), Spring 1988: Health in Transition). Recherches amerindiennes au Quebec, 6742 Saint Denis, Montreal, Quebec H2S 2S2, Canada. Pp. 99. $7.00 (this issue), $20.00 (regular annual subscription).

"Recherches Amerindiennes au Quebec" is a journal devoted to the dis­ semination of information on the Amerindians of Quebec, and to research by Quebec authors on Amerindians. Articles are published in French only, but English abstracts are provided at the back of each issue (since 12(2): 1982). Each issue has a primary theme but may also include short articles on unrelated topics. The journal has been published quarterly since 1971. It is indexed in "Abstracts in Anthropology," "Historical Abstract," "America: History and Life," and "~Point de repere." The issue "La sante en transition" is edited by Robert Larocque, Anthro­ pology Department, University of Montreal. The seven main articles were selected to present several aspects of the relationship between diseases and cultural evolu­ tion, with a focus on the study of evidence from skeletal remains. The first two articles discuss the health status of Amerindian populations in the transitional period of first contact with Europeans. Larocque concludes that disease had a negligible effect, in comparison to the disruption of social order, in the process of colonization. Gagne examines the high infant mortality rate at a Jesuit mission during the colonial period, and finds that malnutrition and