Evidence of morphometric variation in an Iron Age dog cranium from Trumpington, Cambridgeshire, U.K.

Abstract

An analysis of a medium-sized Iron Age dog cranium from Trumpington, Cambridgeshire indicates shortening of the muzzle and a tendency towards elevation of the muzzle compared to earlier domestic dogs. This specimen is an example of early variation in the British pre-Roman Iron Age dog population. It is compared with earlier more generalized dog crania, Roman examples and modern breed reference material. The methodology used in this analysis, which differs slightly from those in common usage, is explained in the text.