周口店田园洞梅花鹿年龄结构分析

Age Structure Analysis of Cervus nippon in Tianyuan Cave at Zhoukoudian

从牙齿主尖釉质层、齿质暴露程度、齿窝封闭情况、齿冠的相对高度、咀嚼面的磨蚀程度及牙冠齿缘釉质层的联合程度等方面对田园洞梅花鹿的年龄结构进行了划分。研究结果显示,中年、青年个体占主体,其次为幼年和老年个体。这表明动物死亡的原因不是自然死亡,很可能是史前人类狩猎造成的灾害性死亡。

In order to understand the cause of death of Cervus nippon found in Tianyuan Cave and to recognize the details about prehistoric humans＇ hunting activities,age profiles of these animals were determined on the basis of tooth attrition analysis.This work involved： measuring crown heights,assessing attritional characteristics of Cervus teeth（including exposure of enamel and dentine）,and examining closure of the infundibulum.Results of these analyses show that young adult and middle-aged individuals were the dominant elements in the fossil assemblage.It is inferred that the sika deers were the preys of prehistoric humans.