RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE METHODS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT OF REINDEER
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 02/11/2020

One potential method for studying human-animal relationship is via the associated effects on animal physical activity. In reindeer, human influence can be observed as changes in feeding behavior, i.e. when reindeer are fed, there is less need for the reindeer to engage in activities related to feeding, such as digging lichen from under the snow. Those reindeer willing to work and interact with humans have also been used to help in laborious tasks such as carrying and pulling loads, and, in some areas in Siberia, even for riding. Inter-individual variation among the reindeer in the amount of activity without human influence may differ; also regional variation in the required activity levels can vary according to snow cover and terrain relief. These factors have the potential to influence the levels of physical activity experienced by a reindeer. Recent developments in physical activity assessment of reindeer offer a possibility to identify these variations in reindeer activity in the archaeological record. This paper presents some of the recent developments in zooarchaeological methodology, such as the development of muscle attachment site scoring for reindeer, identification
of working-related pathological lesions in reindeer skeletons, and the use of bone cross-sections in physical activity assessment of reindeer.


Author(s): Niinimäki, Sirpa - Puolakka, Hanna - Salmi, Anna-Kaisa (University of Oulu)