Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin. / "Lapham bibliography": leaves 290-297. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: leaves 298-305.

The difficullty to distinguish between sheep and goats is a well-known problem in archaeology and osteology. Distinguishing sheep and goats in archaeological animal remains takes time and time is often limited for osteologists. Because of this difficulty osteologists and archaeozoologists often use the term sheep/goat or ”ovicaprids” in their analytical reports. But even if the term sheep/goat comprise both species, this is often not the case when archaeologists and osteologists interpret and present archaeological findings. Sheep usually dominates in the interpretations and is often seen as a more important animal than goats which ultimately lead to false representations of the species and their relation to humans in the past. Zeder and Lapham (2010) have gathered criterias for post-cranial bone elements which show a high degree of reliability in osteological species determination between sheep and goats. However, when working on archaeological remains you do not know if the evaluation is done correctly.      In this thesis, the use of ocular osteological methods from by Zeder and Lapham (2010) are combined with genetical analyzis of selected sheep and goat bones from an archaeological assemblage in order to evaluate how well these osteological methods perform and assess which criterias on the bone elements can be seen as reliable when used to distinguish between the species. According to the results, only three criterias of a total of 21 criterias are seen as reliable. It is also apparent that previous osteological experience is relevant for successfully distinguish between sheep and goat with these methods. However, several criterias show tendencies towards reliability and are probably affected by the small sample set for each bone element, few osteological analysts, and the fact that all genetically analyzed bones resulted in sheep.

To differentiate between bones from sheep (Ovis aries) and bones from of goats (Capra hircus) is a long lasting challenge for zoologists, archaeozoologists and osteologists. Especially considering archaeological remains which are often found fractured and poorly preserved due to taphonomic processes. Zeder & Pilaar’s (2010) and Zeder & Lapham’s (2010) methods of species differentiation has shown promising results when used on bones from modern sheeps and goats. This paper aims to evaluate these methods by exerting them on excavated bones from kv. Apoteket 4-5, a late Viking Age and early Medieval quarter in central Visby. The results have shown that Zeder & Pilaar’s (2010) methods of identifying sheeps and goats with the mandibular teeths and mandibles are unreliable due to disturbances from wear, fragmentation and weak criterias. Results from Zeder & Laphams (2010) methods for post cranial bones shows mixed results considering a pilot study with the implementation of ancient DNA, which was executed att Gotland University during summer and fall 2011. More extensive studies in the future with the implementation of archaeogenetics are planned which can be used to further develop these methods and thus increase the reliabiltiy of the results.In this study 5,3kg of bones were osteologically species identified and analyzed. The results were used to recreate the use of sheep and goats including butchery techniques, animal husbandry and livestock health status with focus on the sheeps and goats in an early Medieval town quarter in Visby. / Att skilja mellan ben från får och ben från get har länge varit en utmaning för zoologer, arkeozoologer och osteologer. Särskilt när ett arkeologiskt benmaterial undersöks eftersom materialet ofta är fragmenterat och sämre bevarat. Zeder & Pilaar (2010) och Zeder & Laphams (2010) metoder för att skilja mellan får och get har uppvisat lovande resultat när ben från moderna får och getter har undersökts. Syftet med denna kandidatuppsats är att utvärdera dessa metoder genom att tillämpa dem på ett arkeologiskt material från kv. Apoteket 4-5 i Visby.Resultatet från analysen visar att Zeder och Pilaars metod för underkäkar och underkäkständer är otillförlitlig på grund av förekomst av slitage, fragmentering och svaga kriterier. Resultatet från Zeder och Laphams metod för postkraniala benslag visar en mer blandad tillförlitlighet om man ser till de jämförelser som har gjorts mot en studie av förhistoriskt DNA som genomfördes på Högskolan på Gotland under 2011 på material från kv. Apoteket 4-5. En mer omfattande studie vilket inkluderar en arkeogenetisk undersökning är planerad i framtiden. Resultatet från studierna ska användas för att utveckla metoderna och på så sätt öka metodernas tillförlitlighet.I undersökningen som ligger till grund för denna kandidatuppsats har 5,3 kg benmaterial från kv. Apoteket 4-5 identifierats och analyserats osteologiskt. Resultatet användes för att återskapa användningen av får och getter och på så sätt erhålla information om slaktteknik, djurhållning och djurens hälsa i ett stadskvarter i Visby under sen vikingatid och tidig medeltid.