Morphometric Examination of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) from the Van-Yoncatepe Necropolis in Eastern Anatolia

Abstract

In the burial chamber M4 of the Van-Yoncatepe necropolis in eastern Anatolia, dated to the beginning of the first millennium before our time, fox skeletal remains have been discovered together with human skeletal remains. The fox remains consist of two skulls and a large number of skeletal (postcranial) bones. Examination of the material led us to the conclusion that five foxes had been buried in the chamber. Craniometric and osteometric measurements were carried out on the bones, and estimations of shoulder height and body weight have been calculated. Evaluation of all quantitative and qualitative data and comparison with modern fox species led to identification of the remains as red fox (Vulpes vulpes).