Biocultural Practices during the Transition to History at the Vat Komnou Cemetery, Angkor Borei, Cambodia

Abstract

Mainland Southeast Asia underwent dramatic changes after the mid-first millennium B.C.E., as its populations embraced new metallurgical and agricultural technologies. Southeast Asians transformed their physical and social environments further through their participation in international maritime trade networks. Early state formation characterized much of the mainland by the mid-first millennium C.E. We examined a protohistoric (200 B.C.E.-200 C.E.) skeletal sample from the Vat Komnou cemetery at Angkor Borei in the Mekong Delta (southern Cambodia) to understand the health impacts of this changing environment. Degenerative joint disease patterns indicate a distinct sexual division of labor. Although intentional dental filing was practiced, its impact on oral-dental health could not be determined. Dental pathologies suggest a mixed diet with more fibrous foods and a lower reliance on soft, processed agricultural foods. A broad-spectrum diet and varied use of the local environment are inferred from the faunal evidence. Stable isotope ratios indicate a relatively greater reliance on fish and estuarine dietary resources than on terrestrial protein. Affinities with other groups in the region are suggested by the cultural practices of the relatively tall, healthy inhabitants from Vat Komnou.

Intersectionality and trauma analysis in bioarchaeology

“…While this discussion has focused on the accumulation of micro‐trauma and potential manifestation of fractures via accidental injury, an intersectional approach could be taken to any of the topics that a biocultural approach has been applied to: violence (Grauer & Miller, 2017; Martin & Harrod, 2015; Redfern, 2016; Walker, 2001), isotopic studies investigating diet and or migration (Ikehara‐Quebral et al, 2017; Katzenberg, 2012; Prowse et al, 2007), and metabolic diseases such as vitamin D deficiency (Brickley et al, 2014). As this article has illustrated in its summary and application of the theory, intersectionality's strength lies in its flexibility and the possibility to “[interrogate] one's own blind spots” (Davis, 2008, p. 77).…”

Ancient genomes document multiple waves of migration in Southeast Asian prehistory

“…Here we analyze samples from five ancient sites (Table 1; Fig. 1A): Man Bac (Vietnam, Neolithic; 4100–3600 yBP), Nui Nap (Vietnam, Bronze Age; 2100–1900 yBP), Oakaie 1 (Myanmar, Late Neolithic/Bronze Age; 3200–2700 yBP [15]), Ban Chiang (Thailand, Late Neolithic through Iron Age; 3500–2400 yBP [16]), and Vat Komnou (Cambodia, Iron Age; 1900–1700 yBP [17]). We initially screened a total of 350 next-generation sequencing libraries generated from petrous bone samples (specifically the high-yield cochlear region [18]) from 146 distinct individuals.…”

Revisiting Prei Khmeng: The Excavation of an Iron Age Settlement and Cemetery in Cambodia

“…The placement of pig (Sus scrofa) remains in burials as found in Prei Khmeng has also been documented in sites throughout the region (Pottier, Baty et al 2003;Pottier, Bolle et al 2006;Pottier, Guerin et al 2001b). These include the Bronze Age site of Koh Ta Meas (Frelat and Souday 2015), Iron Age Angkor Borei in Takeo Province (Ikehara-Quebral et al 2017;Stark 2001), and Prohear in southern Cambodia (Reinecke et al 2009). The practice is also known in Northeast Thailand from the Neolithic period at Ban Non Wat (Higham and Thosarat 2006) and Iron Age sites such as Noen U-Loke (Higham 2011) and Non Ban Jak (Higham et al 2014).…”