Search results for "bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Anthropology"

An execution in medieval Sicily: Computerised tomography scan analysis and 3D reconstruction of an ancient forensic context

2019

The bioarchaeological and forensic approach is increasingly applied in the study of funerary contexts in archaeology. Here, we present a case of an atypical medieval burial recently discovered in Piazza Armerina (Sicily), in which the integrated use of traditional bioarchaeological and forensic anthropology methods was crucial. The skeleton was lying in a prone position and was characterised by a peculiar injury pattern. We recorded six clear stab wound marks on the posterior surface of the sternum. The use of computerised tomography scan and 3D modelling techniques has made it possible to obtain a reliable reconstruction of the cause and modality of death, pointing to the execution of the …

Materiales del Paleolítico Superior en Cova Negra (Xàtiva) y su interés para establecer los procesos de su secuencia estratigráfica

2017

En este trabajo se analizan los materiales líticos adscritos al Paleolítico Superior obtenidos en Cova Negra a lo largo de las campañas de excavación de los años 30, 50 y 80 del pasado siglo y en las campañas de 2013-2016. La atención se centra en el estudio de los soportes, los núcleos y el material retocado, y se efectúa una primera aproximación con respecto a la cronología y periodos a los que remiten las piezas retocadas. El principal interés de estos materiales reside en confirmar que la ocupación de la cavidad no se limitó al Paleolítico Medio, ni a momentos iniciales de la secuencia del Paleolítico Superior, lo que facilita una evaluación del alcance de los procesos de alteración pos…

Small anthropomorphic figurines in clay at Gipka neolithic settlements:

2005

Miniature Neolithic figurines in clay are a special topic of research. This especially concerns areas where their representation has so far been poor. While carrying out archaeological excavations in Northern Kurzeme, the north west coastal dune yone of Riga Bay, a ritual-like complex was recovered at Gipka A site belonging to the local Culture of Pit Ceramics. It consists of several large and smaller fireplaces and pits, with the finds of fragmentary clay figurines recovered under the palisade that surrounded the settlement. The head and body of the miniature anthropomorphic figurines in clay have original modelling. It is possible to single out two types of figurine: with rather broad che…

Life after death: a physicochemical study of materials used by the ancient Maya in human bone ointments

2021

Ancient Maya believed in life after death. They used to prepare dead bodies during burial ceremonies whose purpose was to celebrate the dead and to help them passing through the way from earthly life to the beyond one. Bodies preparation included coloured scented body ointment application, with a deep symbolic connotation and probably also a conservative purpose. The aim of this research was to characterize pigments and binders used by ancient Maya in the preparation of body oint ments used to paint human bones. Emblematic painted bone samples from Xcambó (Maya archaeological site located in the municipality of Dzemul, in the Mexican state of Yucatán) were investigated through a non-destruc…

Climate fluctuations and trajectories to complexity in the neolithic: towards a theory:

2009

Theories about the emergence and spread of farming in western Eurasia have a long research history. Occasionally, climate fluctuations have served as explanations for short-term culture change. However, the entire Holocene climate fluctuation sequence has so far not been regarded. First steps towards a theory which combines the successive stages in Neolithization and early to Mid-Holocene climate fluctuations are described.

Osteological evidence for the Battles of Zürich, 1799: a glimpse into soldiery of the past

2003

Institute of Anthropology, University of Mainz, GermanyABSTRACT Four human skeletons probably could be attributed to people killed during the Battles ofZu¨rich in 1799. Cranial and postcranial gunshot wounds are consistent with those made byblack powder weapons using lead balls as ammunition. Additional finds include a probablecase of Scheuermann’s Disease and a pipe smoker’s facet. Copyright 2003 John Wiley S Switzerland; gunshot wounds; Scheuermann’s disease; pipesmoking; palaeopathology

A detailed method for creating digital 3D models of human crania: an example of close‑range photogrammetry based on the use of Structure‑from‑Motion …

2022

AbstractPhotogrammetry is a survey technique that allows for the building of three-dimensional (3D) models from digitized output data. In recent years, it has been confirmed as one of the best techniques to build 3D models widely used in several fields such as life and earth sciences, medicine, architecture, topography, archaeology, crime scene investigation, cinematography, and engineering. Close-range photogrammetry, in particular, has several applications in osteological studies allowing to create databases of 3D bone models available for subsequent qualitative and quantitative studies. This work provides a step-by-step guide of the photo acquisition protocol and the photogrammetric work…

Prediction Models for Age-at-Death Estimates for Calves, Using Unfused Epiphyses and Diaphyses

2013

For cattle (Bos taurus), age estimations using dental criteria before the eruption of the first molar (3-8months) have large error margins. This hampers archaeozoological investigation into perinatal mortality or the putative slaughtering of very young calves for milk exploitation. Previous ageing methods for subjuveniles have focused on the length of unfused bones, but it is rarely possible to use them because they are restricted to foetuses and because of the fragmentation of bones. This paper presents new age prediction models based on length, breadth and depth of post cranial bones produced from a dataset of modern calves (n=27). This reference collection was compiled from material of k…

2019

Using the method of third-person elicitation and 171 interviews in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, I examine one form of forced marriage, ‘marriage on the mat’ (ndoa ya mkeka). In it, girls’ parents use t...

Lifestyle, occupation, and whole bone morphology of the pre-Hispanic Maya coastal population from Xcambó, Yucatan, Mexico

2007

The present bioarchaeological study examines the external diaphyseal geometric properties of humeri, radii, femora and tibiae of the Classic period skeletal population of Xcambo, Yucatan, Mexico. The diaphysial proportions are evaluated using a biomechanical approach together with data from the material context and other osteological information. Our intent is to provide new answers to questions concerning lifestyle, domestic labour division and subsistence strategies of this coastal Maya settlement that was inhabited from the Late and Terminal Preclassic (300 BC–350 AD) to the Postclassic Period (900–1500 AD). Our results provide evidence for a marked sexual division of labour when compare…