Anthropological and physicochemical investigation of the burnt remains of Tomb IX in the ‘Sa Figu’ hypogeal necropolis (Sassari,Italy) – Early Bronze Age

Excavations carried out in Tomb IX of the hypogeic necropolis of ‘Sa Figu’, near the village of Ittiri (Sassari, Italy), supplied burnt human bone remains and pottery unambiguously referred to the Early Bronze Age (characterised by the local culture of ‘Bonnannaro’). Besides the anthropological study, we have investigated and evaluated the possibility of a funerary cremation practice in Sardinian pre‐history, a subject that has previously not been considered from a scientific point of view. Making use of a calibration procedure based on X‐ray diffraction (XRD) line‐broadening analysis, related to the microstructural properties, it was possible to estimate the combustion temperature to which the fragmented bones were subjected. It was found that the studied bones reached temperatures varying from 400°C up to a maximum of 850°C. This spread of values suggested inhomogeneous combustion of the bones, which seems compatible with funerary cremation practices. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chronological Reconstruction of Natfieh Tombs,Northern Jordan

Abstract

This research radiocarbon dates human teeth and bones sampled from seven tombs from the archaeological site of Natfieh, Northern Jordan. The small number of artifact fragments uncovered, looting and disruption of the tombs in antiquity and/or recent times, and the continuity between the Greek and Roman burial traditions and similarity in tomb architecture impede determining accurate dates and chronology of the tombs. This research aims to ascertain the archaeological dates and the chronological sequence of the tombs and the artifacts uncovered. Results show that the probable earliest use of these tombs was between 90 BC and AD 20, and their probable latest use was from AD 126–236. Most probably, at Natfieh new tombs spread northward and carving the tombs started in the lower rock layers and later in the upper layers.     

内蒙古乌审旗郭家梁村北魏墓葬发掘简报

1992年9月至10月内蒙古自治区文物考古研究所会同鄂尔多斯博物馆、乌审旗文物管理所,对内蒙古乌审旗郭家梁村周围墓葬进行抢救性发掘。共计发掘5座墓葬,其中4座为北魏墓葬,墓葬均为带有墓道土洞墓。小型墓葬由墓道、甬道、墓室组成,大型墓葬由墓道、过洞、天井、甬道和墓室组成。随葬品数量不多,以陶器为主,还有铜器、铁器、料珠、泥钱等。对比墓葬形制和随葬品,这批发掘的四座墓葬是北魏占领大夏国首都统万城后遗留的墓葬。     

Identification of the first reported Lapita cremation in the Pacific Islands using archaeological,forensic and contemporary burning evidence

Burnt human remains excavated from a scoop feature from a cemetery at Teouma, Vanuatu in the western Pacific (∼2850 BP) were examined to assess the nature of the deposit. Possible scenarios explaining the reason the bone was burnt and interred were assessed using osteological signatures taken from archaeological, experimental, and forensic studies. The methodology of the study included recording color change, types of bone distortion, and element representation in conjunction with archaeological evidence. The burnt and fragmented human bone (n = 430, fragments weighing 620 g) represents a single adult individual. Macroscopic evidence from the bone indicates the body had been fleshed or fresh at the time of burning and element representation follows a similar pattern to other burials excavated from the site. Excluding burning, there was no evidence of human modification to the bone such as cut marks, percussion pits or peri mortem trauma suggestive of cannibalism. The archaeological evidence from the site indicates that the body had not been burnt in the place the remains were subsequently discovered. The combined macroscopic and archaeological evidence strongly suggests that the human bone was burnt as a result of a deliberate cremation of an individual. If a conclusion of deliberate cremation is accepted, this research represents the first case of a Lapita period cremation and demonstrates how a combination of methods can explain the nature of an archaeological deposit of burnt human bone when the cause is not otherwise apparent.     

Skeletal analysis and mortuary practice in an Early Roman chamber tomb at Kenchreai,Greece

Recent exploration of the site of Kenchreai, the eastern port of Corinth in southern Greece, has focussed on a cemetery of subterranean chamber tombs dating chiefly to the Early Roman period (middle‐late 1st to 3rd centuries AD). The copious but fragmentary human bones and teeth found in Tomb 10 have been disturbed since burial by natural processes, including bedrock erosion and the infiltration of moisture, roots and basic sediment, and by destructive looters. Nonetheless, the remains furnish considerable information about the mortuary practices of wealthy residents. Analysis of the remains in their archaeological and taphonomic contexts reveals that Tomb 10 contained at least 23 individuals, 15 inhumed in loculi and 8 cremated and placed in niches, sometimes in urns. The identification of males, females and subadults among the burned and unburned bones and teeth suggests that spouses, parents and children probably from several generations of the same lineage or household were buried here. The nature of the cremated fragments reflects a laborious process during which mourners burned bodies on substantial pyres at extremely high temperatures for a long time. Then they carefully extracted a representative sample of small fragments from throughout the reduced skeleton for burial at the tomb. This study contributes to a better understanding of mortuary practices in the Roman East, particularly the Greek world, where the chamber tomb was a common sepulchral type. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Unique Case of Prone Position in the Primary Cremation Tomb 252 of Monte Sirai Necropolis (Carbonia,Sardinia, Italy)

A series of graves belonging to the Phoenician period were investigated after the campaign excavation of 2007 in the Phoenician‐Punic necropolis of Monte Sirai (Carbonia, Sardinia, Italy). One tomb in particular (labelled 252) is presented here because of its uniqueness. Tomb 252 contained the cremated remains of an individual, probably male, and comparison of the excavation records alongside reconstruction of the bone material itself makes clear that the individual was cremated in a prone position. It represents the first case of prone cremation reported in the literature. To investigate whether the temperature of the cremation was homogenous across the entire body, we have conducted a combined physical–chemical analysis using X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tracking changes in bone fracture morphology over time: environment, taphonomy, and the archaeological record

Zooarchaeologists have often employed studies of bone fracture morphology as a means of understanding past human cultural activity, and various methodological approaches have been developed for analyzing archaeological broken bone assemblages. It is widely understood that bones degrade over time, however, few studies have attempted to define and quantify the rate at which bones degrade and fracture morphologies change. This study examines degradation in frozen bones (−20 °C) and bones exposed to hot (40 °C) dry conditions. These two simulated environmental conditions represent extreme real-world climates, and allow for an actualistic understanding of the rates of degradation that bones experience in nature. When frozen, bones degrade slowly but significantly, and demonstrate measurable differences in samples frozen for 1, 10, 20, 40, and 60 weeks. In hot, dry conditions, bones degrade very quickly, and demonstrate measurable differences after 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. These data allow for a more detailed understanding of the relationship between the cultural and natural processes that result in bone fracture, and the time period during which bones can be expected to maintain fresh fracture characteristics. This research also has implications for understanding human subsistence and survival strategies and for interpreting the archaeological record.     

“Castram AD Divisas.” The Castle at the Boundaries

Abstract

Documentary evidence reveals that, when in 1395 the Purbeck marble tomb with gilt cast copper-alloy effigies commemorating Richard II and his queen, Anne of Bohemia, was installed in St Edward the Confessor's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, another tomb was moved to make room for it. It has commonly been supposed that the displaced tomb was the Cosmatesque tomb chest now in the south ambulatory, which has traditionally been believed to house the bones of Katherine, daughter of Henry III, and up to eight other royal infants and older children of Henry III and Edward I. Examination of the evidence indicates that neither part of this view is correct. Three other tombs may have been moved from the Confessor's chapel; of these, the highstatus monument to William de Valence is the most likely candidate for the tomb displaced in 1395.     

Necropoli of Pill'e Matta Quartucciu (Cagliari,Sardinia): wild bee and solitary wasp activity and bone diagenetic factors

During the excavation at the necropolis and the laboratory studies, a variety of damage was found in the human bone remains. This damage included round holes, irregular bone destruction and irregular etching. This can be found especially in the skulls and in the long bones, and sometimes in the vertebrae and on the hands and feet. The exceptionality of this demanded meticulous study in order to define whether it was a diagenetic phenomenon of biological origin. Further studies revealed that the damage to the bones was produced by three kinds of Hymenoptera that build galleries: one of these belongs to the Sphecidae family, the other two to the Halictidae family. During the excavation of a grave it had been observed that a Halictidae had invaded the burial context and consequently contributed to the taphonomic and diagenetic process. The laboratory activities were directed towards the measurement of the damage to the human bone remains in 45 tombs. A histogram shows that the holes are not the result of accidental lesions, and the more frequent percentage values show similarities with the dimensions of holes built by the insects. The observations and the results of the study at the archaeological site enabled me to establish how significant the role of the insects had been, in particular of the Hymenoptera, in modifying the condition of the bone remains. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

河南平顶山春秋晚期M301发掘简报

应国墓地位于河南省平顶山市溃阳镇北的溃阳岭上,是一处以应国墓葬为主的大型古墓群,墓葬的年代为两周时期与两汉时期。本文介绍的M301是1992年在应国墓地发掘的一座楚国直辖时期的墓葬,年代为春秋晚期。此墓出土的随葬器物主要有铜器、锡器、石器、漆木器、骨器等,其中铜礼器有鼎、簋、敦、盘、■、浴缶等。根据墓葬形制和出土器物判断此墓的墓主人可能是应国王室贵族的后裔。     

A pilot study into the effects of X-ray and computed tomography exposure on the amplification of DNA from bone

This research investigates the intersection of radiography and aDNA, two commonly used methods in bioarchaeology. The goal of this project was to investigate the effects of radiation on the ability to amplify DNA from bone. Bones (n = 124) from domestic pig (Sus scrofa) feet were randomly sorted into a control group and four treatment groups: (1) single exposure X-ray; (2) single exposure CT; (3) multiple exposures X-ray; and (4) multiple exposures CT. Number of PCR cycles required to amplify DNA in 100 bp, 200 bp and 400 bp segments were used as a proxy for the amount of available DNA. In the 200 bp CT sample, distal phalanges required significantly more amplification cycles than did the other bones and were removed from analysis. Results suggest that in general radiation exposure fragments DNA thereby decreasing the amount that is amplifiable. While these results are suggestive, further research is required to elucidate the degree to which radiation fragments DNA in archaeological specimens.     

舞阳贾湖墓葬的统计学初步分析

本工作旨在了解贾湖单人墓随葬品数量与墓主人性别、年龄以及墓葬分期之间的关系。根据墓葬样本的实际情况,本工作使用t-检验、单因素和双因素方差分析的方法进行了初步的统计学分析。结果显示,贾湖墓葬随葬品总量与性别无关,但与墓主人的死亡年龄有关,壮年随葬品较丰富。同时,随葬品数量受到性别和死亡年龄的交互影响比较显著,女性少年儿童的随葬品数量最多,男性壮年的随葬品次之。从随葬品的种类上看,除少年儿童组最多外,女性壮年墓葬占有石制品最多;男性壮年墓葬占有骨、牙制品最多。本工作还发现陶器和骨、牙制品的数量在不同时期存在着较显著变化,第二期时骨、牙制品和陶制品的数量较多。本工作认为,女孩随葬品数量较多的情况可能与母系氏族社会重女习俗有关,不同性别的壮年侧重随葬不同质地的物品则可能暗示着贾湖先民们已经出现了一定程度的社会分工,陶和骨、牙制品在第二期时比较丰富的现象可能与这一时期渔猎采集活动较活跃有关。     

洛阳道北二路明墓发掘简报

2009年11月,洛阳市第二文物工作队配合基础建设,在洛阳市道北二路发掘了一批明代墓葬。其中3座墓葬(HM1125、HM1137、HM1138)均为长方形土洞墓,均由墓道、甬道、墓室三部分组成。这3座墓葬虽经盗扰,但仍出土了许多随葬器物,其中HM1137出土的陶俑造型精美,为研究洛阳地区明墓的葬制、葬俗以及雕刻工艺与服饰文化等提供了新资料。     

南京滨江开发区15号路六朝墓清理简报

2008年发掘的沙石岗孙吴天册元年墓距1979年发掘的城土盖村棱角山天册元年墓仅约百米,亦为平面呈双凸字形的前、后室砖室结构,出土青瓷器、铜器等精美文物20余件。此二墓墓砖上模印的花纹和铭文完全相同,证明墓主可能均与兒(倪)侯有关呈谔觳嵩昴故歉玫?区发现的第4座孙吴晚期大型砖室墓,对研究该地区高等级孙吴贵族墓葬的分布及孙吴时期丧葬礼俗等具有重要的学术价值。     

淮安金湖徐梁村战国西汉墓葬群发掘简报

1999年至2006年,淮安市博物馆在金湖县徐梁村共发掘墓葬18座,均为长方形土坑竖穴墓,出土了一定数量的随葬品。其中部分墓葬具有同为家族墓的可能,据墓葬形制和随葬器物器形分析,这批墓葬的年代初定为战国末期至西汉早期,M18年代属于西汉中期。这批墓葬中M1主人身份地位最高,M18主人也应具有一定的身份地位。     

Variation in human bone bioerosion during the Late Eneolithic/Bronze Age in Moravia (Czech Republic): A novel approach to BSE-SEM image quality and quantity assessment

Human bones from Late Eneolithic graves and Bronze Age settlement pits in Moravia (Czech Republic) were studied to reconstruct their post-mortem histories based on the distribution of their microbial destruction. Backscattered electrons in a scanning electron microscope (BSE-SEM) were used for visual assessment of bioerosion. Visual data from the histological analysis were transformed into quantitative data using the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) toolkit. The results show that the presence of bioerosion is different between the two groups of samples. The bones from settlement pits display extensive bioerosion whereas the bones from graves display no or arrested bioerosion. The absence of bioerosion in graves is most probably linked with tomb burials of Corded Ware Culture. Given the tombs are frequently not preserved archaeologically, the state of bone bioerosion may serve as an indicator of their existence.     

Leprosy in a skeleton from the 7th century necropolis of Vicenne‐Campochiaro (Molise,Italy)

Analysis of the skeleton from tomb 144 of the early medieval necropolis of Vicenne‐Campochiaro in Central Italy revealed several features indicative of leprosy. The skeleton belongs to a male estimated to be between 20 and 25 years of age at death. The distal halves of the 1st and 2nd left metatarsals present acro‐osteolysis and both legs show severe subperiosteal bone reaction. The facial skeleton shows changes compatible with a chronic inflammatory process, possibly due to an infectious disease. The anatomical distribution of the lesions and their association with other skeletal lesions seems to be compatible with a near‐lepromatous form of leprosy. A differential diagnosis is made, and the skeletal traits pathognomonic of leprosy are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新疆沙湾宁家河水库墓地发掘简报

宁家河水库墓地位于新疆塔城地区沙湾县克孜勒乔克村。2011年6~8月,新疆文物考古研究所对墓地进行了抢救性发掘,共清理墓葬115座,出土有陶、金、银、铜、铁、石、骨器等。墓葬类型丰富,可分为竖穴石室墓、竖穴偏室墓、竖穴土坑墓、无墓室墓,各自具有鲜明的文化特征。这些墓葬的年代属于青铜时代中晚期、早期铁器时代、汉代、唐至元四个时期。本次发掘为研究天山北麓考古学文化序列及文化交流提供了新资料。     

河北正定县吴兴墓地战国墓葬发掘简报

吴兴墓地位于河北省石家庄市正定县新安镇吴兴村,距正定县城15公里。京广铁路在墓地东南2.5公里处南北向穿过,滹沱河在墓地南12公里处自西向东流,地势平坦(图一)。2006年,南水北调中线工程河北段考古发掘工作全面展开。受河北省文物局委托,辽宁省文物考古研究所与朝阳市博物馆     

A new calibration of the XRD technique for the study of archaeological burned human remains

A new calibration of human bones as a function of programmed temperature (200–1000 °C) and time (0, 18 and 60 min) is presented and discussed in order to investigate the issues related to the study of cremated bone remains by using the powder X-ray diffraction approach. The experimental results confirm the growth of hydroxylapatite crystallites as a function of the applied temperature, with a sigmoid behaviour that has been parameterized to the experimental data points. Particularly, it was observed that the thermal treatments for 60 min anticipate of about 100 °C the effects that are otherwise observed after the treatments for 0 min. The developed procedure was subsequently applied to cremated remains of various archaeological sites of Spain and supplied precise information not only about the temperature reached during the funerary rites, but also on the presumed duration for the cremation.