Multivariate Analyse spätmittelalterlicher Rindermetapodien aus der Stadt Bern : Möglichkeiten und Grenzen osteometrischer Methoden zu Fragen nach Geschlecht, Grösse, Gewicht und Rasse

Osteometric measurement of cattle metapodials can under certain circumstances provide reasonably correct information on the sizes of the animals and their sex. Ultimately, with enough data, this may lead to understanding the cultural background and economic impact of cattle stockbreeding and husbandry. We present an extensive osteometric and statistical review of cattle metapodials from a medieval site (13th and 14th Century) in Bern, Switzerland, which has provided 65 metacarpals and 43 metatarsals from adult cattle. Interestingly, multivariate analysis of seven measurements shows – at least with the metatarsals – four distinct clusters. This clearly prevents us from assigning the clusters to the two (three if we consider the oxen) sexes. We therefore assume that in medieval Bern respectively in its surroundings at least two different native breeds of cattle must have existed. We discuss our results against the background of possible geographic, climatic or special rearing conditions. The evaluation of body size shows that medieval cattle in Bern weighted between 75 kg and 150kg and had a height at the withers between 100cm and 115-120cm. Our results clearly demonstrate that certain care has to be exercised when sexing and sizing cattle by osteometric analysis of metapodials. Osteometrie - Metapodien - Geschlechtsbestimmung