Recherches autour des critères d’identification sexuelle des bois de renne

Abstract

Antler has been one of the main raw material exploited by high latitude people such as that of prehistoric Europe when reindeer (Rangifer tarandus Linn. 1758) was a common species of Pleistocene Fauna. Following the retreat of glaciers during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, reindeer moved to the North to become today the northernmost ruminant in the world. The transformation of antler has one only goal: making objects. The structure and form of antler and of the different parts within the rack, and its physical and chemical or mechanical properties have a direct influence on the way objects are conceived, made and shaped so that they are best adapted to their function. Nonetheless, all these characteristics vary according to individuals, environmental conditions, anatomical position of the part used and development stage of the antler. As part of the technological analysis of archaeological or modern reindeer antler assemblages, one has to understand these characteristics to best identify where the piece of antler came from in the rack. This in time allows addressing questions such the economy of antler exploitation and/or time (season) of collect. Characterizing the morphology of antler and its mechanical constants and variants has been the main goal of building a reindeer antler reference collection.

Keywords

• osseous technology
• reindeer antler
• sexual antler identification
• reference collection