An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c20.s1.t3.51

v1.c20.s1.t3.51

The bones and teeth of the deer family fall into three size groups assigned to *Cervus duvauceli*, *Axis axis* and *Axis porcinus*. The cheek teeth of *Cervus duvauceli* are larger than those of *Axis axis* and both the upper and lower teeth have a somewhat more complex and folded appearance. Moreover the labial side of the upper molar series and the lingual side of the lower series is very deeply ridged. The accessory column is nearly always enlarged and flattened in *Cervus duvauceli* forming a wide vertical fold. One talus of *Cervus duvauceli* shows tooth marks from gnawing. The teeth of *Axis axis*, as mentioned earlier, are smaller than those of *Cervus duvauceli* and larger than those of *Axis porcinus*. In both species of *Axis* the labial sides of the upper teeth and the lingual sides of the lower cheek teeth are less ridged than they are in *Cervus duvauceli*. Furthermore there is occasionally a small accessory pillar on the labial side of the lower teeth between the trigonid and the talonid. In some cases where the cingulum is not present on the teeth, it is difficult to distinguish the teeth of *Axis axis* from those of *Axis porcinus*. The teeth of *Axis porcinus* are characterized by their small size and lack of cingulum. A large number of antler fragments of the three species were also found, some of them bearing evidence of being cut off from the skull. The antlers of *Axis porcinus* are shorter and smaller in circumference than those of *Axis axis*. Moreover the pedicle is longer in the former species. In *Axis axis* the brow tine joins the beam rather nearer the burr than it does in *Axis porcinus* and at a less acute angle.