Effects of Burial Environment on Osseous Remains

Pokines, James T.; Baker, Joan E.

doi:10.4324/9781003171492-05

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…In addition, with even mildly acidic soil (as in this study), there can be a reaction between the mineral component of the bone, soil, and water, resulting in the dissolution of the mineral and therefore the structural integrity of the bone. As the dissolution rate of the bone can increase with the water flow rate, this could well be a contributory factor in the increase in the fragmentation rate in the wetter periods [ 22 , 23 ]. A correlation between soil pH and burnt bone fragmentation was not significant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival of sharp force trauma in burnt bones: effects of environmental factors

2022

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This study investigates how environmental variables, such as temperature and rainfall, affect previously induced cut marks on burnt bones. This research used non-serrated and serrated blade knives to inflict trauma on Sus scrofa ribs (n = 240). The bones were later burnt and left for 1 month in a taphonomic experimental facility. Qualitative and quantitative examinations were conducted using macroscopic and microscopic techniques to assess specific characteristics of the cut marks. Any changes to the dimension and morphology of the cut marks as well as their level of fragmentation were recorded.This study has led to three important outcomes: (1) identification of pre-existing cut marks is possible in reconstructed burnt bone fragments; (2) cut marks from different types of knife blades showed dissimilar responses to heat and the environment; and (3) specific environmental variables affect burnt bone fragmentation. These results have implications for trauma analysis on burnt remains in forensic anthropology casework.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival of sharp force trauma in burnt bones: effects of environmental factors

2022

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“…Fracture lines may extend from the primary cut or puncture site. These characteristic features may be superimposed by taphonomic/postmortem processes 43 , 74 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioarchaeological investigations of the princely grave at Helmsdorf attesting to the violent death of an Early Bronze Age leader

Nicklisch

Ramsthaler

Bunnefeld

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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The Helmsdorf “princely” tomb, excavated at the beginning of the twentieth century, is one of the most important archaeological discoveries dating from the Early Bronze Age in central Germany. In addition to the burial inventory, which points to an elevated social position of the deceased, a number of highly fragmented skeletal remains were preserved. Forensic anthropological investigation identified three distinctive bone defects, the surfaces of which were macromorphologically and microscopically examined in greater detail. Micro-CT analyses were also carried out. The results of all examinations suggested that the defects represented three perimortem injuries. The wound morphology was indicative of the use of a bladed weapon. The combination of injuries and their locations supported the assumption of a targeted use of force to kill. A comparison of Early Bronze Age weapons and tools with the bone lesions led to the identification of a type of weapon possibly used in the attack.

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“…La duración de este proceso y la desarticulación de los elementos óseos se ven afectados por las condiciones ambientales de depositación del cadáver (Rodríguez y Bass, 1985;Wescott, 2018). Este ambiente está determinado por el tiempo de exposición del cuerpo a la intemperie, la temperatura circundante, el acceso de fauna e insectos a los tejidos en descomposición, el tipo y forma de estructura donde es depositado el cuerpo -i.e., espacio vacío dentro de un ataúd, o en un espacio relleno de sedimentos-, la posición y profundidad del entierro, el tipo de suelo, la disponibilidad de agua en el sustrato, la presencia y el tipo de objetos que rodean al cuerpo, así como por las condiciones de muerte, presencia de heridas y enfermedades del individuo (Rodríguez y Bass, 1983Duday et al, 1990;Galloway, 1997;Rodríguez, 1997;Duday, 2009;Gaudry, 2010;Pokines y Baker, 2013;McGowan y Pragnell, 2015;Mickleburgh y Wescott, 2018;Wescott, 2018). Por lo tanto, la determinación del tipo de ambiente en que se produjo la descomposición de los cuerpos es importante para…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Identificación de trayectorias mortuorias a partir de marcas de insectos en restos óseos humanos: el caso de Cerro Lutz (Entre Ríos, Argentina)

Guarido¹,

Mazza²

2022

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El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar el ambiente en que se produjo la descomposición y esqueletización de los cuerpos en el sitio arqueológico Cerro Lutz (provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina) a partir de la identificación y descripción de las alteraciones tafonómicas óseas producidas por insectos necrófagos. Se analizaron 1411 elementos óseos de 34 individuos de ambos sexos y diferentes edades provenientes de diversas modalidades de entierro, ubicadas entre densas capas de valvas de origen antrópico. Las marcas óseas producidas por insectos fueron registradas como estrías y perforaciones. Se evaluó la presencia de diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la cantidad de elementos anatómicos con marcas de insectos entre individuos adultos y subadultos, femeninos y masculinos, y tipos de entierro a través de un análisis de chi-cuadrado. Las marcas de insectos están presentes en un 18,9% de los elementos óseos atribuibles a derméstidos. Solo se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los entierros primarios y secundarios, posiblemente relacionada con la reapertura del espacio mortuorio y el procesamiento de los restos óseos. Además, se propone que la colocación de los entierros entre capas de valvas habría facilitado el acceso de dichos insectos y acelerado el proceso de esqueletización.

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Effects of Burial Environment on Osseous Remains

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Survival of sharp force trauma in burnt bones: effects of environmental factors

Survival of sharp force trauma in burnt bones: effects of environmental factors

Bioarchaeological investigations of the princely grave at Helmsdorf attesting to the violent death of an Early Bronze Age leader

Identificación de trayectorias mortuorias a partir de marcas de insectos en restos óseos humanos: el caso de Cerro Lutz (Entre Ríos, Argentina)

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