Skeletal Remains of the domestic dogs from Tagara Shell-mound, Miyagi Prefecture

Abstract

The twenty-one domestic dogs were recently excavated from a Jomon shell mound at Tagara in Kesen-numa (Miyagi Pref.). None of the previously excavated shell mound in Japan have reported such a large number of buried dogs. Detailed metrical comparisons was made among adult specimens obtained at this site (10 males and 6 females), the skeletons of comparable antiquity, and the present (Shiba dogs).
The size of Tagara dogs is not so different from that of Shiba dogs, but their skeletons are more robust. Though less remarkable than the prestnt Shiba breed, Jomon dogs exhibit a considerable intra-po pulation variation. Despite many typical features observed in other Jomon dogs, Tagara dogs show some differences. The depression between the muzzle and top of the skull, the so-called "stop", is larger than those of other Jomon dogs, especially in males. In addition, the proportions of the extremities differ in these dogs with the lower extremities being relatively shorter than the upper extremities. Accordingly, the intermembral index is larger than those in other dogs.
No common burial pattern was observed at this site.