Osteometric Examination of Metapodial Bones in Sheep (Ovis aries L.) and Goat (Capra hircus L.) Unearthed from the Yenikapı Metro and Marmaray Excavations in Istanbul

Abstract

In this study, the metapodial bones of sheep and goats which were found out at Yenikapi Metro and Marmaray archaeological excavations in Istanbul were used. The variability of characteristic features of mentioned metapodia (CV values) were examined and calculations of shoulder heights were made with using metapodial evaluations. The results which were reached were compared with the data of modern and archaeological sheep and goats which belong to previous studies about this topic. Hereat, it is observed that the shoulder heights of Byzantine sheep are in same data range with Iron Age sheep and are in same size with one of the modern breeds Tuj sheep. It is confirmed that the shoulder heights of the Byzantine goats are higher than Iron Age goats and are in same size with one of the modern breeds Anatolian Black Goats.