Refining the Quadratic Crown Height Method of age estimation: do elk teeth wear quadratically with age?

► Estimating animals' ages to create mortality profiles is typical in faunal analysis. ► The Quadratic Crown Height Method (QCHM) provides formulae for estimating age. ► We used a sample of known-age elk to refine the QCHM equations. ► We model the shape of the relationship between age and dental wear (crown height). ► We estimate for each tooth when the crown height should reach zero.