The York 113: osteological analysis of 10 mass graves from Fishergate,York

Abstract

Routine developer-led excavation of land at the site of the Barbican Leisure Centre in York, UK resulted in the discovery of 10 post-medieval mass graves located in and around the foundations of a partially-ruined medieval church. These graves contained a total of 113 skeletons. The skeletal assemblage was notable for the absence of children and infants, comprising only adult and adolescent individuals, with significant male bias. Individuals were slightly shorter than average for the period. Rates of ante-mortem trauma were low, peri-mortem trauma and specific infectious disease were absent, and generally the assemblage exhibited higher than expected prevalence of pathological conditions that may be indicative of increased physical stress. The combined osteological and historical evidence suggests that these graves may represent Parliamentarian casualties of epidemic disease pertaining to the 1644 Siege of York.     

Trauma and pathology of a buried dog from San Nicolas Island,California, U.S.A.

To date more intact dog remains have been found on San Nicolas than on any of the other seven California Channel Islands. However, little is known about them. During the 2007 summer field season we excavated a medium sized young male dog in a flexed burial position from a pit at CA-SNI-25, a large Native American village site. The dog exhibits hypodontia, noticeable tooth attrition, severe scapular trauma, and vertebral, rib, and phalanx pathologies. Most of the injuries appear to have resulted from a severe blunt force trauma of unknown origin and it is likely the dog would not have survived without human care. The results of our analysis contribute to the, somewhat limited, published data on archaeological dogs in California. In this paper we describe the biological characteristics of the dog especially his anomalies and pathologies and compare them with published reports of other North American archaeological dogs with similar conditions.     

Consequences of Styles of Thinking: On the Relative and the Absolute in Archaeology at the End of the Twentieth Century

The article discusses relativism and absolutism in archaeology on the threshold of a new millennium. The point of departure is Nationalism, Po-­litics, and the Practice of Archaeology and a 'consensus document' from the Lampeter Archaeological Workshop advocating a relativist attitude in archaeology. The author considers that relativism is closely related to indifference and is far from as positive as it is represented. On the basis of Feyerabend's concept of Denkstil (style of thinking) and the fondness of 'post-processual' archaeologists for manifestos, the article considers archaeology under Maoism in China, and whether Ian Hodder's appeal for an archaeology for all sheds light on views of professionalism and the training of archaeologists.     

Lone Grenadier: An Episode from the Battle of Kunersdorf, 12 August 1759

This article presents the outcome of archaeological investigations carried out within the area of the Kunersdorf battlefield dating from the Seven Years War, during which the remains of a Russian Observation Corps grenadier were unearthed. The paper will discuss the identification process, context of the discovery, and will present some new archaeologically derived facts relating to the battle’s history and documentation.     

The Osteological composition of the alleged victims of the Xhosa Cattle-Killing Saga from Edward Street Cemetery,King William’s Town,South Africa

In 1993, the remains of a minimum of 17 individuals from more than 150 commingled human bones were unethically excavated at Edward Street Cemetery in King William’s Town, South Africa. The remains are believed to have been of victims of the mid nineteenth century Xhosa cattle-killing incident, which came as a prophetic instruction through Nongqawuse. The incident led to a severe artificially induced famine among the Xhosa people and some of them died as a result of starvation. The deceased were buried on the unmarked and non-consecrated side of the cemetery. This report presents a detailed summary of the osteological analysis of the remains from the 1993 exhumation. Despite the current historical emphasis on the issue of death due to starvation, the bones do not show any signs of nutritional stress.     

The EB IA tombs and burials of Bâb edh‐Dhrâ, Jordan: a bioarchaeological perspective on the people

The transition from a hunting/gathering economy to an agricultural economy, beginning about 10,000 years ago, was accompanied by the development of specialised innovations including nomadic pastoralism. It was also associated with the emergence of increasingly sedentary human societies in which relatively large numbers of people lived in a crowded urban environment. The dynamic relationship between agriculture and urbanisation undoubtedly had a profound effect on evolutionary dynamics in developing complex human societies. By the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (EB IA, ca. 3300 BCE) an agricultural economy was well established in the region surrounding Bâb edh‐Dhrâ, located in the southeastern plain adjacent to the Dead Sea in Jordan. However, the site apparently did not begin to develop as an urban centre until EB IB. The objective of this paper is to explore what is known about the EB IA people of Bâb edh‐Dhrâ. The presence of infectious and metabolic diseases coupled with high infant mortality and low life‐expectancy at birth suggest a society at risk. Nevertheless the people were robust and give evidence of at least a moderately successful adaptation to the environment in which they lived. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Childhood scurvy in a medieval burial from Mačvanska Mitrovica,Serbia

The type and distribution of abnormalities in the skeleton of a child 2 years of age indicates that the child likely suffered from scurvy at the time of death. The burial is from the archaeological site of Zidine, Mačvanska Mitrovica, Serbia dated to the Medieval Period. Abnormal porosity and reactive woven bone formation are present affecting both the axial and appendicular skeleton. This case of scurvy is important because archaeological evidence of scurvy in this geographical location and at this time period is unknown. It is also important because the relative completeness of the skeleton and the widespread evidence of skeletal abnormalities provide additional insight regarding the skeletal manifestations of scurvy in young children. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Osteological features associated with ankle hyperdorsiflexion

The habitual adoption of certain gestures and postural habits can result in a variety of non‐metric traits, including supernumerary facets that are both articular and non‐articular. The squatting facet is a classical example of the former, and generally presents as a lateral articular facet on the neck of the talus that articulates with a facet on the anterior border of the distal tibia. These facets arise owing to the adoption of the squatting position and the hyperdorsiflexed position of the ankle joint, bringing the talus and tibia into immediate approximation. This study reports on the difference between the classical squatting facet and a non‐articular facet, which can also present on the neck of the talus but occurs, probably, as a result of soft tissue pressure, rather than bony articulation. It is suggested that whilst the function of the two facets may be similar, their aetiology is likely to be very different. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Age of closure of the foramen of Huschke: an osteological study

The foramen of Huschke is a dehiscence in the antero‐inferior surface of the tympanic plate, which forms during the normal post‐natal development of the temporal bone. Closure of the foramen is generally reported to take place by 5 years of age, although a persistent foramen has been observed in 0–67% of adult crania depending on the population. A persistent foramen of Huschke in adult life may be involved in abnormalities of the external auditory canal and related structures, which can lead to otological complications. This paper examines age‐related changes in the development of the tympanic plate from the perinatal to the adult condition using two osteological samples from Britain, and is the first systematic evaluation beyond the age of six years. The results suggest that the widely cited chronology for the closure of the foramen of Huschke is erroneous. Earlier stages of formation may be used for narrowing age estimation in fragmentary remains of juveniles in a skeletal collection of unknown age or in a forensic or clinical context. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.