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Archaeology 2B > Human Skeleton Essay Readings > Flashcards

Human Skeleton Essay Readings Flashcards

1
Q

Waldron, 2007: Cholera

A

It was during the third epidemic in 1854 that John Snow proved the disease was waterborne

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2
Q

Roberts, 2018: Adapting to disease

A
  • People have a great capacity to adapt to their environment and alter how they function to survive
  • E.g. keeping waste out of water supplies
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3
Q

Gooney, 2020: Cholera case study - Excavation of the Richmond Penitentiary cholera cemetary, Grangegorman, Dublin

  • Overview/Layout
A
  • Penitentiary served as a hospital and overflow cemetary during the 1832 epidemic
  • 1697 crania found on site
  • MNI of 1543 based on the left Parietal bone
  • Charnel trenches: Likely the trench began to be filled carefully as there are layers of crania on the bottom. Later it was filled by tipping in wheelbarrows of remains.
  • Burial ground: 30 burials in 2 discrete parallel rows
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4
Q

Gooney, 2020: Cholera case study - Excavation of the Richmond Penitentiary cholera cemetary, Grangegorman, Dublin

  • What can be learnt from the remians
A
  • Individuals had poor dental hygeine
  • Women had more caries, men had more calculus
  • Both sexes were equally susceptible to dietary deficiencies or illness
  • Infections present include syphylis, TB, scurvy
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5
Q

Gooney, 2020: Cholera case study - Excavation of the Richmond Penitentiary cholera cemetary, Grangegorman, Dublin

  • Why are the finds important
A
  • Important snapshot of pre-famine population of Dublin city
  • Cholera often overshadowed with famine in the 1840s
  • The site challenges the conventional wisdom that a short lived short purpose cemetary would have collective pits
  • Individual graves were potentially more common
  • This was a closely planned and rigorously managed cemetary for the duration of its usage
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6
Q

Suzuki et al, 2008: Skeleton found with potential spinal TB on Nukdo Island, South Korea

A
  • Female, 15-20 years old
  • Proliferate lesions on the visceral surface of ribs + thoracic + lumbar bodies observed are consistent with TB
  • Rib involvement was also observed, and is common
  • Vertebral bodies showed considerable erosion due to inflammatory bodies
  • Severe osseous destruction, resorptive changes resulting in exposure of inner spongy texture
  • Nukoda was a centre of trade
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7
Q

Byrnes & Muller, 2022: Osteobiographies and the biocultural approach

A

Osteobiographies underscore the value of humanistic bioarchaeology by considering how skeletal bodies are relational and political, produced through the interactions of society, social identity, and pathology

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8
Q

Khudaverdyan et al 2021: case study

A

Burial of 2 female warriors at Jrapi cemetray, Northwest Armenian Highlands

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8
Q

Roberts, 2005: Age at death

A

For non adults, the development, calcification, and eruption of the deciduous and permanent teeths are key

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9
Q

Roberts, 2005: sex estimation

A
  • Sexual dimorphism is only present in adults post puberty
  • Sub-adults can be determined in some cases using X-Y chromosome analysis
  • Estimation of adults relies of the pelvis and sometimes on the skull
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10
Q

Khudaverdyan et al 2021: Age at death of skeletons

A

Age was determined by:
- Attrition of the masticatory surface of the tooth crown
- Auricular surface changes
- Degree of epiphyseal union
- Closure of cranial sutures

  • Skeleton 1: 45-50 years old
  • Skeleton 2: 16-20 years old
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11
Q

Khudaverdyan et al 2021: cause of death for skeleton 1

A

Killed by a bended arrowhead found stuck in the soft tissue of the intercostal space

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12
Q

Khudaverdyan et al 2021: Health of skeletons

A
  • Both displayed good bone relief on humerus, ulna, radius, thigh bones
  • At the proximal ends of femurs there are some enthesopathies previously noted as common in horseriders
  • The pectoralis major and deltoid muscles had been used in flexing and adducting the hand, and drawing the bow via the chest
  • Horse riders sit on a saddle with the lower back slightly extended, hips flexed and abducted, knees flexed, and ankles dorisflexed. Legs, abs, and back muscles are heavily loaded
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13
Q

Khudaverdyan et al 2021: trauma on skeleton 2

A
  • Blunt force trauma
  • Compression fracture of the parietal border of frontal bone
  • Antemortem lesions
  • Deep wound canal in tibia where arrow fragment was found
  • Acute power trauma made mandibular penetrating canal of the second molar
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14
Q

Khudaverdyan et al 2021: Bronze/Iron age Armenia

A
  • Burial dates to late bronze age / early iron age
  • Armenia was one of the largest centres of metal production
  • Favourable climate, abundant natural resources, fertile soil
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15
Q

Khudaverdyan et al 2021: Armenian weapons/military

A
  • The bow was the dominant weapon of the ancient Armenian military
  • Swords, axes, spears used for close combat
16
Q

Khudaverdyan et al 2021: Skeleton grave contexts + similar sites

A
  • Skeleton 1 held a dagger in her right hand
  • Skeleton 2 wore an ametsyt bead on her neck
  • High status warriors
  • Graves of women holding weapons is rare for ancient Armenia
  • Women from the Bover and Jrapi cemeteries had serious injuries on their limb bones, but recieved timely succor and lived for several years after
17
Q

Zimansky, 1995: Uratu kingdom

A

Uratu kingdom was rapidly growing through military conquests (Xenophon - inscriptions from C9th BC)

18
Q

Kurkjian, 1958

A

Xenophon calls Armenia vast and rich

19
Q

Tykot, 2004: Advantages of stable isotope analysis over other methods

A
  • Other analytiacl methods (skeletal pathology, pottery residue, macrobotanical remains) only describe ‘the menu’ and pertains to groups over generations
  • SIA provides data on individuals
  • Allows for comparisons between individuals of different age, sex, socioeconomic tatus, and of sites over time
  • Also possible to study seasonal varition in increamental growth tissues such as hair and teeth
20
Q

Tykot, 2004 - What is the principle of SIA

A
  • Differential fractionation between certain plant groups of atmosphteric carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and of nitrogen during fixation or absorption
  • Small differences in the ratios of these isotopes can be measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry using samples smaller than 1mg
21
Q

Tykot, 2004: What are the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen

A
  • Carbon: 12C, 13C
  • Nitrogen: 14N, 15N
  • 12C and 14N are the most common in nature
22
Q

Tykot, 2004: SIA of bone tissues

A
  • Different bone tissues reflect different diet components
  • Bone collagen is disproportionately produced from the protein portion of the diet, but bone carbonate and tooth enamel carbonate (apatites) are produced from a mix of protein, carbs, and fats
  • SIA of bone collagen and apatite permits quantitative estimates of several dietary components
  • Both collagen and apatite are constantly resorbed and replenished, so their isotopic composition reflects dietary averages over at least the last several years
23
Q

Tykot 2004, SIA of hair and teeth

A
  • Tooth enamel will reflect diet during the age of crown formation
  • Teeth form at different ages and can reveal dietary changes (weaning, seasonal)
  • Hair also shows short term or seasonal dietary changes
24
Q

Tykot, 2004: disadvantage of collagen

A

Collagen is rarely preserved in bones predating the upper Palaeolithic and is often badly degraded in hot and moist environments

25
Q

Tykot, 2004: Why is SCIA particularly useful in the New World

A

Maize is often the only C4 plant contributing significantly to human diets

26
Q

Tykot, 2004: isotope ratio variations

A
  • Nitrogen isotope ratio vary accordingly to rainfall, altitude, and other factors
  • Both carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios vary among marine organisms
27
Q

Tykot, 2004: Isotopic baseline

A
  • It is critical to establish a site relevant isotopic baseline for interpreting human skeletal data
  • Particularly important in coastal areas where marine and riverine resources may have been avaible for direct or indirect human consumption
28
Q

Tykot, 2004: case study example

A
  • SIA has been used to study changes in the Mediterranean:
  • The beginning of dietary variation between elite and non-elite people in the Bronze age
  • The introduction of African Millet (c4 plant) in the 1st Millenium BC, in Greece and Slovenia
29
Q

Tykot, 2004: Microsampling of teeth

A
  • Incramental growth structures presents both advantaes and disadvantages
  • Archaeologists take very small samples to be minimally destructive but this means the isotopic analysis will be very short term
  • Series of enamel layers may then be used to examine short term or seasonal variations in diet

Archaeology 2B (10 decks)

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