Rangifer tarandus

Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — NISP =113; MNI =16.

1842 sample: 1 left antler; 3 antler fragments; 1 left talus.

1989-1992 sample: 2 right antlers; 1 left antler; 3 antler fragments; 3 petrosal bones; 1 left P2; 1 left P2-3; 2 right P3-4; 1 right M1-2; 3 left M1-2; 1 right M2; 1 right M3; 1 right i1; 1 left i1; 4 left p4; 1 left m1; 2 left m2; 1 right m3; 4 left m3; 2 right m1-2; 1 left m1-2; 4 tooth fragments; 5 right humeri; 2 left humeri; 4 humeri; 2 left radii; 4 radii; 1 ulna; 2 left magnum; 1 right lunate; 1 left scaphoid; 1 left metacarpal III-IV; 1 left femur; 4 femorae; 1 patella; 4 right tibiae; 1 left tibia; 4 tibiae; 2 naviculo-cuboids; 3 right metatarsals III-IV; 1 left metatarsal III-IV; 2 metatarsals; 1 sesamoid; 2 vestigial metapodials; 1 long bone fragment; 4 metapodials; 7 first phalanges; 5 second phalanges; 4 third phalanges.

A D

DESCRIPTION

One hundred and thirteen bone remains (both cranial and postcranial elements) have been referred to as the reindeer, R. tarandus. Their stratigraphical location at Fouvent suggests a minimal number of 16 individuals. All the typical reindeer morphological features (see Magniez 2010 for a review) could be observed on the material (including teeth, antler and postcranial elements). Unfortunately, this material is too much altered and the sample is not sufficiently abundant to meet the conditions for any population structure analysis (age-structure, sex-ratio...). Be as it may, a left basilar fragment of shed antler (FVT.1842.106) can be associated to a male adult (Fig. 9M). Another small fragment (FVT.1992.F10.B.329) could match a female or a young male (Averbouh pers. comm.; Fig. 9N). Finally, distinct tooth wear stages as observed on isolated teeth suggest various age classes (young adults, adults, old adults, and seniles).