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6.2.3 Species representation and quantification

Table 36 and Figs.63-4 illustrate the relative abundance of the three major domesticates. These data demonstrate the problems caused by variations in different methods of quantification. The NISP shows cattle to be the most abundant, while calculations of the MNI suggests that there is more caprovid material. This discrepancy can be explained in two ways. Firstly, the NISP for cattle is inflated by the large numbers of first phalanges. This may be a reflection of differential preservation (this bone is compact and durable) or of some specialist carcass utilisation. The MNI is, in all cases, based upon mandibles. This again may be biased by the relative durability of caprovid mandibles and the potential economic value of cattle mandibles (Dobney et al. 1996a, 25). Table 37 shows that there is no significant change in the relative frequency of the species represented between Phases 1 and 2.

Species NISP NISP % MNI MNI %
Cattle 215 57 12 26
Caprovid 143 38 28 61
Pig 20 5 6 13
Table 36: Welton Road, Brough: number and frequency of main domestic mammals using NISP (number of identified specimens) and MNI (minimum number of individuals) counts. (MNI counts calculated using the method outlined by Dobney and Rielly 1988)

figure 63
Fig.63: Welton Road, Brough: frequency of the main domesticates using NISP counts

figure 64
Fig.64: Welton Road, Brough: frequency of the main domesticates using MNI counts

Phase 1 Phase 2 Total
SpeciesNo. % No. % No. %
Cattle 94 56 121 52 215 54
Caprovid 55 32 88 38 143 36
Pig 10 6 10 4 20 5
Horse 7 4 10 4 17 4
Dog 1 0.6 2 0.8 3 0.75
Roe deer 1 0.6 0 0 1 0.2
Table 37: Welton Road, Brough: fragment counts for all recorded taxa by phase

The remaining mammalian species represented in the assemblage are horse (17 fragments), dog (three fragments) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus (L.) (one fragment). In terms of the NISP, these three species represent only 5% of the total analysed sample (Table 38 and Figure 65).

Element Cattle Caprovid Pig Horse Dog Roe deer
Horncore 2 1 - - - -
Mandible 22 50 8 - - -
Scapula 4 6 - 4 1 -
Humerus 9 10 2 - - -
Radius 4 4 2 - 1 -
Metacarpal 16 4 - 3 - -
Pelvis 6 10 1 - - -
Femur 1 3 1 - - -
Tibia 6 31 2 2 1 1
Metatarsal 15 6 1 1 - -
Metapodial 1 2 - 1 - -
Calcaneum 12 2 1 1 - -
Astragalus 15 4 - 1 - -
Phalanx 1 78 5 2 4 - -
Phalanx 3 18 - - - - -
M3 4 2 - - - -
Dp4 2 3

-
- -
Total 215 143 20 17 3 1
Table 38: Welton Road, Brough: skeletal element counts for all identified taxa

figure 65
Fig.65: Welton Road, Brough: frequency of all the identified species


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