Peuce (Nov 2017)
Biometric Separation of Domestic Pig (sus domesticus) and Wild Boar (sus scrofa) Remains Identified in Sites of the 9th-13th Centuries AD from South-Eastern Romania
Abstract
The separation of pig (Sus domesticus) remains from those of wild boar (Sus scrofa) is important in archaeozoological study, but also quite difficult because there are no clear morphological criteria for this discrimination. The separation of the two forms is based on dimensional criteria and very little on morphological differences. The most numerous measurable cranial remains are the mandible fragments. For this anatomical element, length of the third molar is the most common criterion used. Our results reveal that variation limits for the length of the third molar are 28-34 mm (pig) and 41-51 mm (wild boar) respectively. In our samples, the postcranial skeleton is better represented than the cranial remains. A clear distinction between the two species is obvious when considering the humerus, the breadth of the distal part (Bd) varying between 30 mm and 40 mm for the domestic pig, and 50 mm and 70 mm for the wild boar.
