MORPHOMETRIC DATA FOR CATTLE FROM NORTH-AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN PRIOR TO THE 1850S

An important aspect of early colonies was the adaptive response of dom estic animals to new environments. This is reflected in zooarchaeologi cal studies of cattle (Bos taurus). Cattle bones from Caribbean Hispan ic sites are quite large in comparison to those from North American lo cations, while in North America, cattle bones from early Spanish sites are larger relative to those from later English/American colonies. Fa ctors which may have contributed to this morphometric pattern include the breeds, origins and post-mediaeval size of cattle transported to C aribbean and North American colonies; colonial husbandry strategies; a nd responses to environmental stimuli.