Reading the Rings: Experimental Techniques in Shark Vertebral Analysis

As a part of an ongoing archaeological research project, our goals aim to determine a general range of the age and size of sharks from South Inlet Park based on vertebrae recovered from an archaeological excavation. On these vertebrae are distinct ring structures which represent growth periods to identify the estimated age and size of the sharks when they were alive. Beginning this project, we cataloged different shark vertebrae and took measurements for comparison. Current findings have already narrowed down the two major types of vertebrae: lamnoid and scyliorhinoid and present the possibilities of species which have those vertebrae. As this project is ongoing, we are currently testing different methods to thin section shark vertebrae to reveal ring structures. This project can also offer insight into our success with thin sectioning, as the project experimented with multiple methods.