Most recent papers:

• Metastatic Cancer in the Middle Age: The Possible Case of a Female Skeleton from Bormio (Italy).
  V. Caruso, D. Gibelli, E. Castoldi, L. M. Sconfienza, F. Sardanelli, C. Cattaneo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 17, 2017
  Secondary signs of cancer are difficult to assess in the archaeological context, as other lesions may mimic metastases on dry bones. Furthermore, the low life expectancy, lower level of environmental cancer risk factors and pollution than the present times can contribute in limiting the frequency of signs of cancer in archaeological populations. This study focuses on a female adult skeleton from the necropolis of Bormio (North Italy), dating back to Middle Ages, which shows multiple lytic lesions on cranium, upper limbs, ribs and pelvis; lesions are oval in shape, with a diameter ranging from 1–2 to 80 mm. The lesions appearance and distribution at macroscopic and radiographic level, together with sex and age indications, suggest the diagnosis of metastatic cancer. Possible diagnostic hypotheses of the possible sites of original cancer were performed as well, based on modern epidemiological data. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 17, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2626   open full text
• Food Rituals and Their Social Significance in the Mid‐Second Millennium BC in the Southern Levant: A View From Megiddo.
  L. Sapir‐Hen, M. A. S. Martin, I. Finkelstein.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 17, 2017
  Ceremonies involving intentional burial of animals with humans are acknowledged to bear religious, social and political connotations, and we explored both the ritual activity and the social trajectory of these activities. To date, these ceremonies have rarely been examined within the context of nearby daily activities. We studied faunal remains associated with intramural burials in comparison with contemporaneous daily life in the midsecond millennium bc at Tel Megiddo, as well as comparison with concomitant extramural burials and locations of public feasts. Our study highlights the human interaction with animals that are not often treated as bearing social meaning or having interrelationships with human, the livestock animals. We demonstrate that livestock animals in the second millennium bc had a significant social role as well as economic value. The choice of animals consumed and sacrificed in these rituals is strongly related to the animal's symbolic potency and is based on the desired social message that the population aims to convey. Finally, the form of luxury food that is found in the Megiddo funerary rituals supports the hypothesis regarding the intramural burials' role in creating and enhancing social family bonds. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 17, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2629   open full text
• The Use of Hunting and Herding Spaces: Stable Isotope Analysis of Late Archaic and Early Formative Camelids in the Tulan Transect (Puna de Atacama, Chile).
  P. López M., I. Cartajena, R. Loyola, L. Núñez, C. Carrasco.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 13, 2017
  We present the results of analysing stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in camelid remains found at the Late Archaic site TU‐52 (ca. 5000–3800 bp), the Tarajne Phase site TU‐94 and the Early Formative sites TU‐54, TU‐85 and TU‐122 (ca. 3100–2400 bp). All of the sites are located in the Puna de Atacama (Northern Chile) along the 14 km Tulan transect, between the head of Tulan ravine (ca. 3000 m.a.s.l.) and the border of the Salar de Atacama (2317 m.a.s.l.). Our aim is to understand how the space was used by hunter‐gatherers and early herders from the beginning of camelid domestication to the consolidation of herding practices. Isotopic analyses were complemented with osteometric data in order to correlate changes in animal size and isotopic values with the initiation of animal husbandry. Isotopic and osteometric results show less variability of δ13C and δ15N values during the Late Archaic and Tarajne Phase, whereas variability is higher during the Early Formative. We postulate that during the latter period, there was more widespread use of hunting and herding spaces along the Tulan ravine, including areas above 3000 m.a.s.l. as result of more consolidated herding practices, while the highlands were used as a complementary space to hold livestock near ritual sites and residential settlements. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 13, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2631   open full text
• Variation in the Prevalence of Deciduous Caries in Early Modern Human Skeletons from Japan.
  Tomohito Nagaoka, Mikiko Abe.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 04, 2017
  The early modern Edo period in Japan denotes a chronological division between the AD 17th and 19th centuries when social structure was stratified. This study aimed to examine the occurrence of dental caries in the deciduous teeth of commoner children in Sakai City (Osaka, Japan), comparing them with those excavated in other regions, eventually clarifying variations in prevalence of deciduous caries and the causative factors contributing to such variations. Results indicated a biased distribution pattern in caries prevalence. Caries were frequently present in maxillary incisors while few occurrences in the mandibular counterparts were observed. Another important finding was the population‐level differences in caries prevalence – the Sakai sample displayed systematically lower frequencies of caries than warriors and commoners from Kyushu in western Japan; thus, causative factors can be hypothesized to be not only social classes but also regional differences in living conditions. These findings proved the presence of intra‐ and inter‐population variation in deciduous caries based on children's skeletons from socially stratified societies in different geographical regions, and demonstrated that deciduous caries provide bioarchaeologists with information on population diversity apparent in caries prevalence and cariogenic diets.

  October 04, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2632   open full text
• New Dietary Evidence on Medieval Rural Communities of the Basque Country (Spain) and Its Surroundings from Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope Analyses: Social Insights, Diachronic Changes and Geographic Comparison.
  C. Lubritto, M. I. García‐Collado, P. Ricci, S. Altieri, C. Sirignano, J. A. Quirós Castillo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 12, 2017
  This paper presents the results of palaeodietary reconstruction based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis on bone collagen of five medieval rural populations from the Basque Country (northern Spain) spanning from 5th to 15th centuries ad. One hundred forty‐seven human and 47 domestic faunal samples were successfully analysed with the objective of defining agrarian productive strategies and food consumption patterns. The results grouped the five sites in two clusters: on one side Zaballa and Treviño, whose inhabitants followed diets exclusively based on C3 plants with significant intake of animal protein, and on the other, the populations from Aistra and Zornoztegi, who combined C3 and C4 plants and consumed lower amounts of animal protein. The isotopic values from Dulantzi were intermediate to these two groups. No differences were detected when individual status markers, such as grave goods, were available. Conversely, some restrictions on the access to certain food resources based on sex were uncovered. A relevant change in δ13C values was identified around 10th century, a consequence of a shift in the consumption patterns of C3 and C4 plants. Finally, these Basque sites were compared with those of the medieval Iberian case studies available in the literature. This comparison made evident the distinctive nature of the diet of the Basque medieval rural contexts. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 12, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2610   open full text
• Animal Remains from Ritual Sites: a Cautionary Tale from the Eastern Adriatic.
  J. S. Gaastra.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 12, 2017
  This article assesses the potential pitfalls of extant methods and criteria used for identifying of the ritual use and consumption of animals. Previous analysis of the Late Iron Age sanctuary assemblage from Spila Nakovana identified the ritual consumption of domestic animals in the sanctuary through comparison with a common set of criteria for the identification of ritual patterning in faunal assemblages. A recent analysis of a larger sample from Spila Nakovana has overturned this original determination, leading to a re‐evaluation of the ranked importance of the common criteria utilised for ritual patterning identification. The importance of context is addressed in the determination of ritual patterning within archaeological faunal assemblages, with regard to both the direct and wider context of the sample.

  September 12, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2627   open full text
• The varying role of vertebrae in Pacific fishbone analysis; comparing tropical versus temperate midden assemblages.
  T. E. Harris, K. A. Lilley, R. K. Walter.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 12, 2017
  Archaeologists working in the tropical Pacific have demonstrated the feasibility and value of including fish vertebrae in midden analyses, and recent New Zealand studies draw similar conclusions. This work provides an illustrated guide to the identification of vertebrae from key New Zealand fish taxa and shows the effects of including vertebrae on a large fishbone assemblage from southern New Zealand. We note major differences between New Zealand and tropical Pacific assemblages resulting from the inclusion of vertebrae. Unlike the Indo‐Pacific taxa of the tropical Pacific, no New Zealand species have been shown to be sensitive to the inclusion of vertebrae. In both places including vertebrae results in changes in relative abundance and rank order but in New Zealand this is a function of processing practices, not fishing behaviours. This work serves to highlight changes in the Polynesian fishing adaption following the colonisation of New Zealand.

  September 12, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2628   open full text
• Human Remains and Funerary Rites in the Phoenician Necropolis of Motya (Sicily).
  G. Lauria, P. Sconzo, G. Falsone, L. Sineo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 11, 2017
  The aim of this paper is to examine the fresh evidence retrieved in the early cemetery or ‘archaic necropolis’ (eighth to sixth century bc) on the island of Motya, one of the main Phoenician colonies in the Mediterranean. Because of its integrity and the large number of finds, the cemetery has been considered one of the most relevant sites for the study of early burial customs in the West. The absence of anthropological data, completely neglected in the past, was a major shortcoming of previous research. This failing is now being rectified by a new project of fieldwork and excavation undertaken on the island by a team from Palermo University. This report provides a close examination of the human remains from a group of 32 graves discovered during three seasons (2013–2015) in a combined archaeological and taphonomic perspective and contributes to shed light on the funerary practices of the Phoenicians in Sicily. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 11, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2611   open full text
• Skeletal Material from the Cemetery of the 19th Century Copenhagen Hospital for the Poor: Autopsies, Surgical Training and Anatomical Specimens.
  M. J. Flies, S. D. Winther, N. Lynnerup.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 08, 2017
  The skeletal material of 299 individual skeletons was recovered from 78 graves in central Copenhagen in 2006. The graves were part of a temporary cemetery serving the Copenhagen Hospital for the Poor in the period 1842–1858. It is known that the hospital supplied cadavers for teaching and dissection. Fifty‐two skeletons and bones were found to have cut marks and saw marks, indicative of post mortem surgical interventions: dissection, autopsy, anatomical specimens and surgical practice. The material was closely examined for healing at the sawn edges and signs of diseases. It was attempted to differentiate the surgical procedures from one another and give an overview of the material and historical context. We were mostly unable to attach a specific post mortem surgical procedure to the skeletal elements; however, we present some cases that most likely represent a specific surgical intervention. An excavation of similarly processed bone material from London Hospital from the same time period was used as the main reference material. The skeletal material described here offers a view upon the medical development, teaching and training amongst surgeons and anatomists in mid‐19th century. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 08, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2612   open full text
• A Medieval/Early Modern Alpine Population from Zweisimmen, Switzerland: A Comparative Study of Anthropology and Palaeopathology.
  J. Somers, C. Cooper, A. Alterauge, S. Lösch.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 06, 2017
  To date, anthropological comparative studies from Switzerland are rare. Therefore, this research aims to make a comparison between the alpine individuals from Zweisimmen (ca. 14th–19th), and 17 other rural and urban populations from Switzerland all dating to the medieval and early modern period. An osteoarchaeological analysis was carried out on the rural population of Zweisimmen, consisting of 134 skeletons. For each individual, the arm position and orientation were observed in the field, while preservation, representation, sex, age, stature, trauma and pathologies were recorded in the laboratory. These results were compared with data from published and grey literature in order to gain a better understanding of chronological and regional patterns in Switzerland. A chronological development was observed in the orientation, arm position and use of a coffin, which suggests a change in burial practices and beliefs throughout time. The demographic profile represents a natural mortality; however, children and especially neonates are underrepresented in this sample. Some individuals were buried in groups, suggesting simultaneous burial during a period of increased mortality. The palaeopathological findings suggest that the living conditions in rural alpine Zweisimmen were similar to those of other contemporaneous populations, as well as those living in an urban setting. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 06, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2607   open full text
• Marking Identity through Cultural Cranial Modification within the First Sedentary Communities (Ninth to Eighth Millennium BCE) in the Near East: Tepe Abdul Hosein, Iran.
  K. O. Lorentz.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 06, 2017
  This paper explores bioarchaeological evidence for cultural cranial modification (CCM; a.k.a. headshaping) in early Neolithic Near East and at Tepe Abdul Hosein (TAH), Iran, in particular. Skeletal remains from 12 Neolithic individuals (n = 12) recovered from eight mortuary contexts were analysed for evidence of intentional CCM. The TAH remains are among the earliest Neolithic human skeletal remains in the world, dated to around 10 000 years ago. Five adult individuals have sufficient cranial remains to allow assessment of CCM. Of the remaining seven individuals, three are foetuses or perinates, for which no in vivo CCM was expected to be observed, two are subadults with no assessible cranial remains, and two adults have no associated cranial remains. Of the five adult individuals, which could be assessed for CCM, four display circumferential CCM, instigated by the use of two bands. Three are male, while the sex of the fourth cannot be estimated. The fifth individual displays no modification and is female. While all the modified individuals that can be sexed at TAH are male, the sample size is too small to draw extensive inferences as to the potential connection of CCM with any gendered sociocultural practices. Other possible motivations for CCM at TAH include elaboration of status differentiation or group affinity, the former of which can most likely be ruled out based on current understandings of early Neolithic societies in the region. The extent of the two‐band circumferential modification at TAH is significantly more pronounced than at Ganj Dareh, a contemporaneous site located within the same watershed. The discovery of different extents of headshaping within the same watershed, in relatively close proximity to each other, has a bearing on the understanding of the first sedentary Neolithic communities in southwest Asia and the elaboration of bodily difference and identity. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 06, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2609   open full text
• How Short is Short, and Why? A Probable Case of Proportionate Dwarfism from Egypt's 3rd Intermediate Period in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt.
  J. E. Molto, C. L. Kirkpatrick.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 30, 2017
  This study describes a probable proportionate dwarf from a Third Intermediate Period cemetery at Ain Tirghi in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. The skeleton (Burial 22 or B22) is an adult female estimated to be in her mid to late thirties. Most medical literature defines an adult stature of 2 standard deviations below the population mean as an indicator for clinically short stature, with some bioarchaeologists and clinicians identifying severe short stature at 3 standard deviations below the population mean. B22 satisfies either criteria when compared with the Ain Tirghi adult female population mean for measurements of the radii and femora, as well as the summed measurements of the femora and tibiae. Her limb proportions were normal and this, with a lack of morphological abnormalities, eliminated several possible causes of small stature (e.g. achondroplasia). The differential diagnosis for an individual with short stature and normal proportions indicates that she represents a probable case of pituitary dwarfism, or hypopituitarism. B22 was buried in the same fashion as adjacent burials in a family group burial and showed no differential indication of physiological stress or illness. Contextualized with the Egyptological and archaeological evidence of dwarfism in Egypt, this case study considers the social perceptions of dwarfism in ancient Egypt and suggests that pituitary dwarfs, like disproportionate dwarfs, likely led normal, if not privileged lives. Therefore, according to the social theory of disability, B22 was not necessarily disabled despite her impairment.

  August 30, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2625   open full text
• Cervical Spine Anomalies: Children in One of the Oldest Churches in Poland.
  J. Marchewka, B. Borowska‐Strugińska, J. Czuszkiewicz, K. Kliś.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 29, 2017
  This paper presents pathological changes indicative of type II Klippel–Feil syndrome identified in the skeleton of a child uncovered in one of the oldest Christian churches in Poland (first half of the 11th century) with the archaeological layer containing the burial dated to the 13th–15th centuries. The age at death of the child was estimated at 9 to 10 years. The third and fourth cervical vertebrae of this individual were fused asymmetrically, leading to torticollis. The apex of the dens axis (odontoid process) was V‐shaped, which is consistent with clinical descriptions of ossiculum terminale. The laminae of the second sacral vertebra were found to be fused but positioned asymmetrically with respect to one another, while the laminae of the third and fourth vertebrae were hypoplastic, suggesting spina bifida of the sacrum. This configuration of anomalies is symptomatic of type II Klippel–Feil syndrome. In addition, the studied individual revealed heterotopic ossification on the supinator crest of the ulna, which may have arisen as a result of dislocation of the elbow joint. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 29, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2608   open full text
• Reconstruction of Socioeconomic Status in the Medieval (14th–15th Century) Population of Grevenmacher (Luxembourg) Based on Growth, Development and Diet.
  B. Trautmann, C. Wißing, M. Díaz‐Zorita Bonilla, C. Bis‐Worch, H. Bocherens.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 07, 2017
  Numerous historical sources describe many aspects of the estate‐based society in medieval times; the detection of socioeconomic status within populations through skeletal remains is a topic of growing interest in anthropological studies. In medieval times, it was common for members of high social rank to be buried within or next to a church. This was certainly the case in Grevenmacher (Luxembourg), where remains of a church building and an adjacent cemetery from the 13th until the beginning of the 15th century were subjected to archaeological and anthropological analysis. By integrating archaeological and anthropological elements, as well as stable isotope analysis, we documented osteological manifestations as indicators of diet differentials in two subsamples (first group consists out of 56 individuals, second one out of 184 individuals) from the medieval cemetery of Grevenmacher. We could distinguish two subsamples that we assumed as different in their socioeconomic status with regards to the burials' position in the cemetery and burial characteristics. Differences in osteological traits such as bone length, stature and body mass indicated differences in diet between sample groups. To substantiate these outcomes, stable isotopic analysis (δ13C, δ15N) were made; the results displayed a clear separation between the sample groups on the basis of their diet. Therefore, we were able to confirm certain individuals in the medieval population of Grevenmacher in relationship to their socioeconomic status. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 07, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2606   open full text
• The History and Composition of the Identified Human Skeletal Collection of the Certosa Cemetery (Bologna, Italy, 19th–20th Century).
  M. G. Belcastro, B. Bonfiglioli, M. E. Pedrosi, M. Zuppello, V. Tanganelli, V. Mariotti.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 31, 2017
  The purpose of this paper is to present the identified skeletal collection (by age, sex, cause of death, occupation and preservation state) from the Certosa Cemetery of Bologna (Italy), which was reviewed and checked through a consultation of the cemetery archives. The collection consists of 425 skeletons of individuals (from newborn to 91 years old) who died in Bologna between 1898 and 1944. The personal details associated with the skeletons were cross‐checked with the data contained in the cemetery and municipal archives. For each skeleton, the biological profile was assessed using current anthropological methods in order to confirm its correct identification. Four hundred and eighteen skeletons (98.4%), mostly complete and well preserved, are identified at least for sex, and for 95% of these, the age is known. The distribution of sexes in the various age groups is fairly well balanced. The cause of death is known in 93% of the individuals. Approximately 30% of the individuals died from infectious diseases. The occupation is known for more than 92% of the individuals. Most of the women were housewives, while the men were employed in various jobs. The cross‐check between archival data with the anthropological analysis of the remains enabled a reliable identification of the skeletons. The sexes and various age groups are well represented, and the sample is substantially uniform as far as geographical origin and socio‐economic conditions (lower social classes) are concerned. Thanks to the reliability of the information collected, the Certosa collection is an excellent anthropological tool for the development and validation of osteobiographic methods. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 31, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2605   open full text
• Sensitivity of Dental Phenotypic Data for the Identification of Biological Relatives.
  C. M. Stojanowski, A. R. Hubbard.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 27, 2017
  Using modern samples of known kin, this paper evaluates two fundamental aspects of kinship analysis in archaeological contexts: (1) choice of data (dental metrics or morphology) and (2) analytical approach (multivariate, distance‐based approach or a ‘rare trait’ analysis). Stone dental casts were analysed from 155 female individuals from four sampling locations in Kenya. Of these 155 individuals, only three pairs were close kin: mother–daughter, sister–sister, and first‐cousin–first‐cousin dyads. After variable winnowing, inter‐individual distances or similarities were calculated using 11 odontometric variables and 25 dental morphological variables. Resulting distance matrices were ordinated in two dimensions using multidimensional scaling. Odontometric data performed relatively well at identifying known relative pairs, but the results were heavily affected by choice of similarity measure (e.g. Euclidean distances vs. Gower coefficients) and pre‐analysis data treatments (e.g. raw data vs. principal components). Dental morphological data performed comparably with odontometric data but were slightly less effective. Rare traits were identified and compared among relative pairs for concordance, with mixed results. Rare morphological features were randomly distributed throughout the population and were not exclusively found in close kin. In combination, results indicated the sister–sister dyad was most consistently identified; however, in no analysis were relatives more phenotypically similar than all random pairs of unrelated individuals. A multivariate, distance‐based approach was more effective than rare traits at identifying relative pairs, but even under ideal circumstances, there is not enough variation present in the dentition to faithfully identify close relatives in the absence of contextual archaeological data. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 27, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2596   open full text
• Dental Scratches and Handedness in East Asian Early Pleistocene Hominins.
  S. Xing, M. O'Hara, D. Guatelli‐Steinberg, J. Ge, W. Liu.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 10, 2017
  The current study aims to characterise dental scratches found on an East Asian hominin upper left central incisor (I1) and lower left lateral incisor (I2) from the Early Pleistocene (Meipu site, Yunxian County), and infer the preference for handedness of these two individuals by quantifying the orientation of dental scratches. The labial surfaces of these two teeth were observed and imaged using light microscopes and/or scanning electron microscope under different magnifications (5–70×). The angle, width and length of each dental scratch was measured and analysed. The dental scratches described and quantified on the labial enamel surface of Meipu I1 and I2 fit the description of cutmarks caused by ‘stuff and cut’ behaviour. Most scratches are oriented in the right oblique direction, averaging 47.11 degrees in I1 and 44.60 degrees in I2. This result indicates preference for the right hand as the dominant one in holding a tool during ‘stuff and cut’ behaviours. This is the earliest reported ‘stuff and cut’ behaviour and inferred right‐handedness in East Asia. It fills a temporal gap between the earliest known example in the African Early Pleistocene (~1.8 Ma) and the next known instance in the European Middle Pleistocene. This is also the first time the ‘stuff and cut’ behaviour and right‐handedness has been reported in a hominin assigned to Homo erectus sensu lato. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 10, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2601   open full text
• New Method for Sex Prediction Using the Human Non‐Adult Auricular Surface of the Ilium in the Collection of Identified Skeletons of the University of Coimbra.
  L. H. Luna, C. M. Aranda, A. L. Santos.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 04, 2017
  Sex estimation in non‐adult skeletons is crucial in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. It was not extensively considered in the past, mainly because it was stated that the dimorphic osteological features were difficult to identify before adulthood. Over the past few years, this statement was disproved, and the study of numerous dimorphic non‐adult skeletal traits was approached. This paper presents a new methodology that evaluates the auricular surface of the non‐adult ilia. Several morphological and continuous variables were recorded for 34 individuals (21 females and 13 males) aged between 7 and 18 from the Coimbra Identified Skeletons Collection (University of Coimbra, Portugal). The results show low intra and inter‐observer errors for all the variables, which renders the methodology replicable. Two ratios related to the shape of the anterior area of the auricular surface offer the most dimorphic data (proportions of cases correctly assigned: 0.82 and 0.88; sexual allocation probabilities: 0.85 for both variables). A discriminant function and a logistic regression were developed, which correctly classified the 82.35 and the 88.23% of the individuals, respectively. Moreover, two qualitative variables, referred to as the overall morphology and the apex morphology, also show statistically significant differences between males and females (proportions of correct assignation: 0.82 and 0.76; sexual allocation probabilities: 0.79 and 0.76). These variables can be incorporated in a multifactorial approach together with other indicators already available in the specialised literature in order to help improve the accuracy of the results obtained. This methodological procedure has to be applied with other identified samples, including younger individuals, so as to test whether the trends presented in this context are maintained and are useful in populations from a different geographical provenience. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 04, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2604   open full text
• Evidence of Cat (Felis catus) Fur Exploitation in Medieval Iberia.
  L. Lloveras, R. Thomas, A. Garcia, F. Florensa, S. Segura, E. Medina, E. Orri, J. Nadal.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 30, 2017
  Whilst the bones of domestic cats (Felis catus) are recovered from archaeological sites in Iberia routinely, they are rarely subjected to detailed analysis. Consequently, there is limited understanding of the nature of cat–human relations, especially in contrast to northern European regions. In this paper, we present a unique assemblage of 899 cat bones recovered from the medieval site of El Bordellet (Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain) and dated between the end of the 10th century ad and the beginning of the 11th century ad. Zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis provides the first clear evidence of skinning related to cat fur exploitation in Christian medieval Iberia. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 30, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2600   open full text
• Human‐Aided Movement of Viral Disease and the Archaeology of Avian Osteopetrosis.
  B. Tyr Fothergill.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 30, 2017
  The term avian osteopetrosis is used to describe alterations to the skeletal elements of several species of domestic bird, most typically the chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus (L. 1758). Such lesions are routinely identified in animal bones from archaeological sites due to their distinctive appearance, which is characterised by proliferative diaphyseal thickening. These lesions are relatively uncomplicated for specialists to differentially diagnose and are caused by a range of avian leucosis viruses in a series of subgroups. Only some avian leucosis viruses cause the development of such characteristic lesions in osteological tissue. Viraemia is necessary for the formation of skeletal pathology, and avian osteopetrosis lesions affect skeletal elements at different rates. Lesion expression differs by the age and sex of the infected individual, and environmental conditions have an impact on the prevalence of avian leucosis viruses in poultry flocks. These factors have implications for the ways in which diagnosed instances of avian osteopetrosis in archaeological assemblages are interpreted. By integrating veterinary research with archaeological evidence for the presence of avian leucosis viruses across Western Europe, this paper discusses the nature of these pathogens, outlines criteria for differential diagnosis, and offers a fresh perspective on the human‐aided movement of animal disease in the past through investigation of the incidence and geographic distribution of avian osteopetrosis lesions from the first century BC to the post‐medieval period. © 2017 The Authors International Journal of Osteoarchaeology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  June 30, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2599   open full text
• Feeding Management Strategies among the Early Neolithic Pigs in the NE of the Iberian Peninsula.
  V. Navarrete, A. C. Colonese, C. Tornero, F. Antolín, M. Von Tersch, M. Eulàlia Subirà, P. Comes, A. Rosell‐Melé, M. Saña.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 30, 2017
  The socio‐economic relevance of domesticated animals during the Early Neolithic in the Iberian Peninsula is indisputable, yet we essentially know little about the way they were managed. Among domesticated animals, pig (Sus domesticus) was a common food source, and previous studies have shown the potential of stable isotopes for assessing variability in pig diet in relation to husbandry practices. Nevertheless, this approach has never been applied to the earliest pigs in the Iberian Peninsula. We analysed the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition of pig bone collagen from several Early Neolithic sites in the NE Iberian Peninsula. While pig δ13C values were similar across different populations, there were significant differences in δ15N values between sites. These are attributed to different pig husbandry systems, which may reflect distinct social and spatial organisation and interaction with environmental conditions during the Early Neolithic in this region. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 30, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2598   open full text
• An Osteometric Study on the Variation in Orientation of the Lesser Trochanter in an Early Medieval Human Skeletal Assemblage and Comparison with an Individual from the Late Upper Palaeolithic.
  S. Flohr, A. Rieger, J. Orschiedt, H. Kierdorf, U. Kierdorf.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 30, 2017
  Anatomical textbooks describe the lesser trochanter in contemporary humans as being oriented posteromedially. In contrast, orientation of the lesser trochanter towards posterior was observed in some human femora from the Upper Palaeolithic, including the femur of a young adult individual from Germany (Irlich 1), radiocarbon dated to 12 500–11 200 bp (calibrated AMS age). The present study analysed the orientation of the lesser trochanter in femora originating from an early medieval skeletal assemblage (Greding, Germany) and compared the results with those for the Irlich 1 femur. Eleven landmarks, four on the proximal femur, four on the mid‐shaft and three on the distal femur, were recorded with a MicroScribe® digitizer and analysed using AutoCAD® 2010 software. Seven angles and five distances were measured. In the Greding femora, significant differences (p < 0.05) between sexes were found for several linear measurements, while no significant sex‐related differences existed for angular measurements. For some angular variables related to the orientation of the lesser trochanter, the values for the Irlich 1 femur lay outside the range of variation of the Greding specimens, reflecting the more posterior orientation of the lesser trochanter in the Irlich 1 femur. This posterior orientation of the lesser trochanter was not associated with a particularly low degree of femoral anteversion. It is hypothesised that the differences in orientation of the lesser trochanter between the Irlich 1 femur (and other femora of Upper Palaeolithic individuals) and the femora from Greding could basically reflect differences in traction exercised by the iliopsoas muscle during infancy and childhood between the sedentary agricultural population from Greding and Upper Palaeolithic hunter‐gatherers with a mobile lifestyle. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 30, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2603   open full text
• Cranial Variation and Biodistance in Three Imperial Roman Cemeteries.
  S. M. Hens, A. H. Ross.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 30, 2017
  Ancient Roman populations are expected to exhibit considerable biological variation because of extensive trade networks and migration patterns throughout Europe and the circum‐Mediterranean. The purpose of this research is to examine regional biological variation in Italy during imperial Roman times (1st to 3rd centuries ad) using three samples exhibiting distinctive class and economic systems. The individuals buried at Isola Sacra and Velia represent middle‐class tradesmen and merchants from coastal port populations from Central and Southern Italy, respectively, while the individuals from Castel Malnome represent an inland population near Rome of freed slaves and other lower‐class individuals involved in heavy labour associated with salt production. Data were recorded from 25 three‐dimensional cranial coordinate landmarks and analysed using Procrustes superimposition and associated multivariate statistics in MorphoJ. Procrustes analysis of variance statistics were unable to detect any significant group differences for centroid size (p = 0.595), but did detect differences in shape (p = 0.0154), suggesting some variation between the three samples. Canonical variates analyses based on Procrustes distance values suitable for small sample sizes indicated that while Castel Malnome was not significantly different from either of the coastal sites (Isola Sacra, p = 0.2071 and Velia, p = 0.8015), Isola Sacra and Velia were significantly different (p = 0.0119). The similarity of Castel Malnome to the other sites may reflect inherent heterogeneity in the sample, as it represents a group of freed slaves likely originating from various geographic locations. The separation of the two coastal sites is not unexpected, as Velia's location was influenced by an influx of Greek populations in the southern Italian Peninsula. This work supports previous studies using traditional craniometrics and dental metrics showing group similarity across the Italian Peninsula and a separation between more northern and southern groups. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 30, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2602   open full text
• Estimation of Age, Growth and Fishing Season of a Palaeolithic Population of Grayling (Thymallus thymallus) Using Scale Analysis.
  E. Guillaud, R. Elleboode, K. Mahé, P. Béarez.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 29, 2017
  The fish remains sampled from archaeological sites are generally the result of human food refuse; therefore, the study of retrieved fish scales may provide reliable information on the season of capture and on paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental changes. Among Western European freshwater fishes, the grayling, Thymallus thymallus¸ has the most easily recognizable scales and is a commonly recovered species from Palaeolithic contexts. This study, therefore, is based on the growth pattern analysis of modern and archaeological scales from grayling specimens. The modern specimens were collected monthly in France (n = 22), Switzerland (n = 16), Finland (n = 20) and Sweden (n = 10). Scale growth patterns were measured using numerical analysis to a high accuracy. The results showed that the archaeological population of grayling is closer to the present Finnish population. Furthermore, the comparison of seasonal growth patterns between current and archaeological European populations demonstrated that graylings were normally captured during the spring at Le Taillis des Coteaux Magdalenian site. This type of approach can be used to understand environmental conditions at a low spatial scale and also to help identify fishing seasons during archaeological periods. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 29, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2595   open full text
• Trepanation in Italy: A Review.
  V. Giuffra, G. Fornaciari.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 07, 2017
  This paper reviews and discusses cases of skull trepanation in ancient Italy on the basis of information provided by the literature. A total of 54 individuals from 43 different Italian archaeological sites were found to have evidence of trepanation. The analysis of evidences of trepanation in Italy has demonstrated that no differences can generally be perceived between the trepanned individual and the social context of the burial, leading to exclude a special role of the former within the group. Trepanation in Italy covers a time span of approximately 7000 years, the most ancient cases dating back to the fifth millennium bc and the most recent to the 18th–19th centuries ad. The geographic distribution appears quite homogeneous, with a prevalence of cases in Central Italy and abundant evidence from prehistoric Sardinia. The majority of individuals show a single trepanation, whereas others present skulls with multiple holes. Trepanation in Italy was reserved to adult individuals, except for some rare cases, and shows a relevant preponderance for the male sex. The most diffused technique is scraping; cutting and drilling are less attested, especially as unique techniques for trepanation, but they were used more frequently in combination with scraping. Trepanation could in some cases be hypothesised as therapeutic intervention for the treatment of a traumatic wound or of other pathologies, whereas in other cases, a number of evidences are attested of trepanation performed as probable ritual intervention or as experimental surgery; in the remaining cases, the reasons for trepanation are unclear or not determinable. A high percentage of long‐term healing associated with trepanation has been evidenced. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 07, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2591   open full text
• The Effect of Terrain on Entheseal Changes in the Lower Limbs.
  M. A. Acosta, C. Y. Henderson, E. Cunha.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 01, 2017
  One of the main factors involved in entheseal changes (EC) aetiology may be related to the physiological limits of biomechanical loading fixed during bone development, such that higher load during childhood and the adolescent growth spurt leads to a lower frequency of EC during adulthood. In this sense, it is possible that ECs may be related to overloading beyond an individual's normal physiological limits as established during childhood and adolescence. This meta‐analysis tested this aetiological possibility by studying the influence of terrain on the entheses of the lower extremities. The hypothesis is that individuals who inhabited rugged terrain have lower EC than those living in flat terrain. This is because biomechanical loads associated with rugged terrain will lead to a higher normal capacity (defined during skeletal development) mitigating the probability of overloading compared to those living in flat terrain who will therefore have a higher frequency of ECs. To test this, papers reporting EC frequencies in the lower limbs were analysed alongside the local terrain. Terrain was defined into two categories: flat or rugged based on altimetry profile, i.e. the average elevation gains and losses along four specific paths (North‐South, East‐West, Northwest‐Southeast, Southwest‐Northeast). Odds ratios were calculated to compare rugged and flat terrain. The overall results are consistent with the hypothesis that overloading is a factor in EC aetiology. However, when the analysis is conducted by sex and side, this general trend does not always occur. Limitations such as the lack of standardized age ranges could be affecting the outcome, i.e. older individuals have a higher frequency of ECs. The findings of this analysis suggest that the theoretical assumptions associated with the cause of ECs require further testing and evaluation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 01, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2597   open full text
• A Case of Pituitary Gigantism and Acromegaly in Anatolia (Tasmasor, Erzurum, Turkey).
  K. Özdemir, Ö. D. Erdal, Y. S. Erdal.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 17, 2017
  In 2003, a tall skeleton belonging to a young adult individual was recovered from a post‐medieval cemetery situated north‐east of the modern city of Erzurum, Turkey. The sex of the individual was not possible to determine. The predicted stature values range from 182 to 200 cm with the average 188.94 cm. The growth was proportional on almost all bones, except for the cranial and facial bones. The selected metric data were compared with the mean values of the male individuals from the same cemetery for differential diagnosis. The individual exhibits characteristics of both pituitary gigantism and acromegaly due to the tumour formation developed in the intrasellar area. Pathological features such as severe osteoarthritis, enthesis and new bone formation around and on the joint surface of the post‐cranial bones, kyphoscoliosis and ankylosis are in agreement with these diagnoses as well. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 17, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2590   open full text
• Hunted or Scavenged Neanderthals? Taphonomic Approach to Hominin Fossils with Carnivore Damage.
  E. Camarós, M. Cueto, J. Rosell, J. C. Díez, R. Blasco, C. Duhig, A. Darlas, K. Harvati, J. Jordá, L. Montes, V. Villaverde, F. Rivals.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 17, 2017
  Carnivore damage on Neanderthal fossils is a much more common taphonomic modification than previously thought. Its presence could have different explanations, including predatory attacks or scavenging scenarios, which are both situations with important implications concerning Neanderthal behaviour. In the present paper, we analyse several Neanderthal hominin fossils from a taphonomic and forensic perspective in order to infer the nature of the modifications observed on the bone surfaces. Fossils displaying carnivore modifications from Spain, Germany, Belgium and Greece are evaluated from a taphonomic perspective for the first time in a significant sample of hominin specimens. Our results show that the materials analysed have been modified by small to large carnivores and that both attacks and strictly carnivore scavenging events can be inferred. This study also points out the importance of developing taphonomic approaches to the analysis of hominin bone surfaces, which can contribute significantly to knowledge of several aspects of Neanderthal behaviour. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 17, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2584   open full text
• Toddlers in Transition: Linear Enamel Hypoplasias in the Hadza of Tanzania.
  P. S. Ungar, A. N. Crittenden, J. C. Rose.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 03, 2017
  Bioarchaeologists often use linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH) as a proxy for systemic physiological stress in prehistoric populations. Increased incidences of LEH have been observed in many cases associated with rapid social or environmental changes, such as with the Neolithic transition and agricultural intensification. Still, there have yet to be studies published of LEH incidence among living peoples in the process of transitioning from foraging to a farming economy. It is important to document LEH occurrence in living groups with known subsistence strategies to better contextualise interpretations of bioarchaeological populations. Here, we present LEH data for a sample of the Hadza of Tanzania. We compare LEH incidence and frequency on the permanent anterior teeth of individuals who spent their infancy and early childhood (i) in the bush consuming wild foods; (ii) in the village with a weaning diet dominated by domestic cereals; and (iii) transitory, dividing their time between the bush and village. Our results demonstrate that Hadza living in the bush during the period of tooth formation less frequently have LEH on these teeth, and have fewer of them on average, than do villagers. This is particularly so for the comparison of men. The transient group is intermediate in LEH incidence, although not significantly different from the bush and village samples. A lower LEH frequency in the bush Hadza is consistent with a diet that meets nutrient requirements of tooth formation, but higher incidence in the village sample suggests interruption of enamel secretion, most likely due to malnutrition. Such studies provide valuable context with which to interpret and understand bioarchaeological evidence, and to track effects of sedentisation on the biology of modern foragers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 03, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2586   open full text
• Taphonomy and Paleoichnology of Olduvai Hominid 1 (OH1), Tanzania.
  M. Matu, I. Crevecoeur, J.‐B. Huchet.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 03, 2017
  This paper presents a case study of the Late Pleistocene skeletal remains of Olduvai Hominid 1, which were unearthed in Tanzania. Excavated in 1913, this fossil shows severe damage due to subterranean termites (Insecta: Isoptera). By combining methods to quantify and locate traces on the skeleton with the study of the different taphonomic processes that altered the deposit, we demonstrate a non‐arbitrary pattern of termite alteration of the skeletal remains. These results shed new light on the possibility to reconstruct the original position of a skeleton in a deposit and the potential to infer the space of decomposition and past funerary practices. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 03, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2593   open full text
• Skeletal Lead Burden of the British Royal Navy in Colonial Antigua.
  K. L. Giffin, T. Swanston, I. Coulthard, A. R. Murphy, D. M. L. Cooper, T. L. Varney.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 03, 2017
  Lead (Pb) has been known to be a cause of human poisoning since ancient times, but despite this, it was a widely used metal in the European colonial period. In this study, the relationship between Pb exposure and the demographic variables ancestry and age was explored by comparing the bone Pb levels of individuals that were of either African or European ancestry, excavated from a British Royal Navy hospital cemetery (1793–1822 CE) at English Harbour in Antigua, West Indies. More direct comparisons of Pb levels between the two ancestral groups were possible in this study because of the unsegregated nature of this cemetery. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine bulk Pb levels in cortical bone samples from the fibular diaphyses of 23 male individuals. No significant difference was found between the distributions of the Pb levels of the ancestral groups (p = 0.94). Further, no positive correlations or significant differences were found in relation to the individuals' ages and their Pb levels (p = 0.24). Levels of Ba, Ca and rare earth elements support a largely biogenic origin of lead. This is bolstered by Pb deposition patterns, generated by synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence imaging for another study. The data suggest that naval personnel, regardless of ancestry at English Harbour, had very similar experiences with regard to Pb exposure. Their exposure to the toxic metal was likely not consistent over time as steady exposure would have resulted in accumulation of Pb with age. This study contributes to addressing historical questions regarding the prevalence of Pb poisoning within the British Royal Navy during the colonial period. © 2017 The Authors International Journal of Osteoarchaeology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  May 03, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2589   open full text
• Endogenous Fluorescence Analysis: Preliminary Study Revealing the Potential of this Non‐invasive Method to Study Mummified Samples.
  M. Zanello, J. Pallud, S. Jacqueline, A. Augias, P. Varlet, B. Devaux, O. Nielsen, D. Abi Haidar, P. Charlier.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 03, 2017
  Autofluorescence analysis allows new insights on human tissue without any dye in a non‐invasive way and therefore seems well suited to study historical samples. An optical set‐up recorded emitted autofluorescence in 1/spectral and 2/lifetime domains from different samples' regions of interest. The studied samples were a mummified right hand, bog body (Tollund Man) feet and a male Caucasian hand (control sample). Spectral analysis revealed that mummified hand exhibited broad autofluorescence spectra, whereas Tollund Man's feet exhibited a weak single peak with 405‐nm excitation wavelength. Control sample spectra are weaker than that of the mummified hand but higher than the Tollund Man's feet. Lifetime measurements indicated the presence of classical endogenous fluorophores on the mummified right hand. The Tollund Man's feet exhibited two patterns of lifetime measurements: healthy zone exhibited lifetime values at four emission wavelengths but skin lesions at only two wavelengths. This first report of mummified samples' autofluorescence analysis suggests the potential of optical analysis for archeologic research. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 03, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2583   open full text
• Morphometric Analysis of Camelid Remains from the Alero Deodoro Roca (ADR) Site (Córdoba, Argentina). An Attempt to Characterise Body‐Size Variability in Sierras Pampeanas Australes Region.
  T. Costa, A. Izeta.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 20, 2017
  This paper focuses in the morphometric analyses of Lama guanicoe remains recovered from the hunter–gatherer archaeological site Alero Deodoro Roca, located at Sierras Pampeanas Australes region (Córdoba Argentina), an area that has little information on the body‐size variability of these artiodactyls. Because of the sparse osteometric data in the region, we focused on determining inter‐intraspecific differentiation of wild camelids through corroborated osteometric techniques and multivariate statistical analyses of proximal phalanges. Our results showed a clear interspecific differentiation between modern vicuñas and archaeological specimens. We could also distinguish at least three guanaco size groups (small, medium and large) with the archaeological remains from the late Holocene (3000–3600 bp) of the site, presenting medium‐size characteristics. Finally this paper aims at establishing a first approach in the characterisation of guanaco body size in the mountainous region of Córdoba. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 20, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2570   open full text
• Towards a Best Practice for the Use of Active Non‐contact Surface Scanning to Record Human Skeletal Remains from Archaeological Contexts.
  D. Errickson, I. Grueso, S. J. Griffith, J. M. Setchell, T. J. U. Thompson, C. E. L. Thompson, R. L. Gowland.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 20, 2017
  Active surface scanners emit light or a laser stripe to record the exterior surface of an object or landscape, providing results in three dimensions. The use of active surface scanners to record anthropological and archaeological contexts has increased within the last few years, creating a number of sub‐contexts within these disciplines and allowing a further development of certain applications, such as quantitative analysis, the use of replicas in education and museums and the creation of digital databases archived in institutions. However, with guidance, this paper aims to assess the advantages and disadvantages of active surface scanning and the potential for research with regard to the recording and analysis of human skeletal remains. The key advantages and uses identified include quantitative digitisation, geometric morphometric studies, conservation, preservation, documentation and reconstruction. However, surface scanning also has some limitations, including cost, technological expertise, the need for a power source, computing requirements and data size. Overall, the application of active surface scanning technology to archaeological skeletal remains will provide a vital digital archive that will serve to preserve the integrity of this fragile and finite resource for future generations. This is particularly important within the current developer‐funded environment in which many skeletal collections, including those yielding unique or unusual pathological or morphological features, are re‐buried, with only very limited time for analysis. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 20, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2587   open full text
• Subadult Age at Death and Health Status at Niah Cave, Borneo (1500–200 bc).
  A. Schrenk.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 20, 2017
  Southeast Asia's transition to rice agriculture is often used as an exception to the general pattern of health decline at the agricultural transition. Niah Cave is the largest known Southeast Asian Neolithic cemetery, providing valuable information about subadult health during the agricultural transition in this region. This study examines the health status and mortuary treatment of subadult skeletal remains (Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) = 49) from the Neolithic cemetery of Niah Cave, Sarawak, Malaysia (1500–200 bc). This study found that few cases of cribra orbitalia (4.6%) and porotic hyperostosis (14%). However, nonspecific infections may have been a risk factor for subadults as over half (65%) died with active cases of periosteal reactions on their long bones. Differential diagnosis determined that possible factors for this include parasite load, rickets and scurvy. Mortuary practices indicate that subadults may have been treated differently in phases 1 and 2 but were grated similar mortuary treatment in phases 3 and 4. This study suggests that changes in mobility patterns may have placed subadults at risk for increased parasite load and vitamin deficiency, while the role of subadults within the community may have changed over time. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 20, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2594   open full text
• Biometric Differentiation of Wild Philippine Pigs from Introduced Sus scrofa in Modern and Archaeological Assemblages.
  T. Ingicco, P. J. Piper, N. Amano, V. J. Paz, A. F. Pawlik.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 20, 2017
  In many parts of Eurasia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia where native wild suids occur, it is notoriously difficult to differentiate these from introduced domestic pigs in the prehistoric archaeological record. Yet, correct identification of the initial appearance or introduction of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) is essential for determining the timing for the transition from purely hunting to the adoption of managed animal populations within different regions across the globe. In a recent review of techniques used by zooarchaeologists to distinguish between domestic and wild pig populations, the analysts concluded that the most reliable method was metrical analyses, when the data produce a clear two‐population pattern, one domestic, the other wild. In this study, we demonstrate how linear metrics are an effective tool, albeit at different levels of confidence, for differentiating the native and endemic species of Philippine pig from S. scrofa, both within modern contemporary assemblages, and the archaeological record. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 20, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2592   open full text
• A New Application of the Bioarchaeology of Care Approach: A Case Study from the Metal Period, the Philippines.
  M. Vlok, V. Paz, R. Crozier, M. Oxenham.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 12, 2017
  A case of disability in the Metal Period of the Philippines, likely requiring healthcare from others, is presented to explore aspects of group dynamics in this period of antiquity. B243, a middle‐aged man excavated from the Napa site in the central Philippines, suffered severe trauma to the right leg resulting in considerable restrictions to mobility and self‐maintenance of survival‐related behaviours such as food provision and hygiene. It is likely that B243 required assistance from others to survive for some period of time prior to eventual death. The bioarchaeology of care method was applied to assess the types of healthcare that B243 likely required and to consider potential social and biological impacts to both B243 and his community. Provision of healthcare practice in this case suggests that B243's community had access to health‐related resources, knowledge on the treatment of his injuries and underlying values in the group for sustaining human life in the case of injury and disability. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 12, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2588   open full text
• Dietary Diversity on the Swahili Coast: The Fauna from Two Zanzibar Trading Locales.
  M. E. Prendergast, E. M. Quintana Morales, A. Crowther, M. C. Horton, N. L. Boivin.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 09, 2017
  Occupants of coastal and island eastern Africa—now known as the ‘Swahili coast’—were involved in long‐distance trade with the Indian Ocean world during the later first millennium CE. Such exchanges may be traced via the appearance of non‐native animals in the archaeofaunal record; additionally, this record reveals daily culinary practises of the members of trading communities and can thus shed light on subsistence technologies and social organisation. Yet despite the potential contributions of faunal data to Swahili coast archaeology, few detailed zooarchaeological studies have been conducted. Here, we present an analysis of faunal remains from new excavations at two coastal Zanzibar trading locales: the small settlement of Fukuchani in the north‐west and the larger town of Unguja Ukuu in the south‐west. The occurrences of non‐native fauna at these sites—Asian black rat (Rattus rattus) and domestic chicken (Gallus gallus), as well as domestic cat (Felis catus)—are among the earliest in eastern Africa. The sites contrast with one another in their emphases on wild and domestic fauna: Fukuchani's inhabitants were economically and socially engaged with the wild terrestrial realm, evidenced not only through diet but also through the burial of a cache of wild bovid metatarsals. In contrast, the town of Unguja Ukuu had a domestic economy reliant on caprine herding, alongside more limited chicken keeping, although hunting or trapping of wild fauna also played an important role. Occupants of both sites were focused on a diversity of near‐shore marine resources, with little or no evidence for the kind of venturing into deeper waters that would have required investment in new technologies. Comparisons with contemporaneous sites suggest that some of the patterns at Fukuchani and Unguja Ukuu are not replicated elsewhere. This diversity in early Swahili coast foodways is essential to discussions of the agents engaged in long‐distance maritime trade. © 2017 The Authors International Journal of Osteoarchaeology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  April 09, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2585   open full text
• Fatal Injuries in a pre‐Hispanic Canary Mummy: Violence, Accident or Ritual Suicide?
  J. Velasco‐Vázquez, V. Alberto‐Barroso, T. Delgado‐Darias, J. Santana‐Cabrera.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 09, 2017
  Perimortem traumas have been identified in a pre‐Hispanic Canary mummy (fifth–sixth centuries cal AD). The location and nature of the fractures in the cranium, cervical vertebrae, ribs and both legs indicate a fall from a considerable height, which would have been the cause of death. Supported by forensic anthropology criteria and historical information about the population of origin, the circumstances in which the fatal injuries might have occurred are discussed. Given the pattern of the injuries, it is debated whether they were the result of an accident or a ritual suicide, as aggression is thought to be a less likely scenario. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 09, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2567   open full text
• Biological Kinship, Postmarital Residence and the Emergence of Cemetery Formalisation at Prehistoric Marathon.
  E. Prevedorou, C. M. Stojanowski.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 04, 2017
  This paper examines the role of kinship and postmarital residence in the emergence of organised cemeteries during the transition from the Final Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age at Marathon, Attica. Focusing on the cemetery of Tsepi, we performed intra‐cemetery biodistance analysis to test whether biological relatedness structured spatial organisation of tombs, and whether postmarital residence was matrilocal or patrilocal. Dental metric, dental morphological and cranial non‐metric data were collected from 293 individuals and subjected to multivariate analysis (principal component analysis, Euclidean distance ordination via multidimensional scaling), binomial probability calculations, Ripley's K analysis and determinant ratio analysis. Results indicated phenotypic similarity among some tomb co‐interments; however, outliers suggested that within‐tomb burial depended on a variety of factors that could include affinal, fictive or practical kinship. There was strong evidence for phenotypic patterning by tomb row, indicating that cemetery structure at Tsepi was organised according to biological lineages. This was especially evident for females. Male phenotypic variation was higher than that of females, though not significantly so. The results of intra‐cemetery biodistance analysis at Tsepi reveal a complex mortuary programme that emphasised biological kinship within an exogamous and likely matrilocal system of mate exchange. When considered in light of ethnographic evidence, the practice of male exogamy may correlate with the coastal location of the community and the maritime activities that structured the economy during the emergence of social complexity in the region. This paper illustrates the potential of biodistance analyses for elucidating aspects of social life in the Aegean. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 04, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2582   open full text
• Pulp Stones Prevalence in a Historical Sample from Radom, Poland (ad 1791–1811).
  J. Tomczyk, A. Turska‐Szybka, M. Zalewska, D. Olczak‐Kowalczyk.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 03, 2017
  This paper provides an investigation of pulp stones in a sample drawn from the historical population of Radom, Poland, dating to between ad 1791 and 1811. This study seeks to determine the frequency of pulp stones, and assess the association between pulp stones and sex, age, dental caries, and dental wear. A total of 780 teeth from 121 adult individuals of both sexes (45 females, 76 males) were examined. Analysis was limited to molars. The average age‐at‐death of each individual was estimated. Total wear scores across the molars were calculated for each individual. Pulp stones were identified by a portable dental X‐ray machine. Pulp stones were found in 94 of 121 individuals and in 273 of 780 molars. No statistically significant correlation was found between pulp stones and age‐at‐death (p = 0.7625) and sex (p = 0.0915), but a significant relationship was found between pulp stones and dental wear (p < 0.0001) and dental caries (p = 0.0016). Our study found that molars affected by highly advanced dental wear were significantly more often accompanied by pulp stones than molars that had experienced limited wear. Similarly, significant correlations were observed for dental caries. It means that pulp stone formation appears to have been contingent upon the irritation of the tooth crown by factors such as forces acting on the tooth crown leading to dental wear or dental caries. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 03, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2579   open full text
• A Review of the Evidence for Melanoma in Nine Inca Mummies.
  S. Mark.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 03, 2017
  An often cited statement in the medical literature is that nine Inca mummies (c.400 bc) had skin and osseous lesions from melanoma. However, a review of the pattern and type of osseous lesions exhibited by these individuals and the age of at least one of them indicate the data are inconsistent with a diagnosis of melanoma. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 03, 2017   doi: 10.1002/oa.2580   open full text
• Separating Sheep (Ovis aries L.) and Goats (Capra hircus L.) Using Geometric Morphometric Methods: An Investigation of Astragalus Morphology from Late and Final Bronze Age Central Asian Contexts.
  A. F. Haruda.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 26, 2016
  Many qualitative and quantitative methods for the separation of sheep and goat bones are based upon Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and European specimens. However, these methods may not be as applicable in other geographical contexts due to regional morphological variation. In order to address this, both traditional and geometric morphometric methods were applied to sheep, (Ovis aries L.) and goat (Capra hircus L.) astragali from archaeological sites from Kazakhstan dating to the Late and Final Bronze Age (1900–900 bce). This exploratory research confirmed that qualitative features remained useful for distinguishing between species, while traditional morphometric methods were unable to conclusively support the field identification of species. Geometric morphometric methods found significant morphological differences between species and confirmed group membership while exploring specific qualitative features that were effective in distinguishing between sheep and goat in Central Asian contexts. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 26, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2576   open full text
• Evidence for Migration Influx into the Ancient Greek Colony of Metaponto: A Population Genetics Approach Using Dental Nonmetric Traits.
  H. Rathmann, G. Saltini Semerari, K. Harvati.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 16, 2016
  Ancient Greek colonies were founded by Greek seafarers all along the Mediterranean coast as early as the eighth century bc. Despite extensive archaeological and historical research, the population structure of the inhabitants of Greek colonies and their relationship to indigenous populations are still debated. Here, we perform a biodistance analysis to reconstruct migration and gene flow between the ancient Greek colony of Metaponto (southern Italy) and indigenous groups in the surrounding hinterland (900–250 bc). We collected dental nonmetric trait data of 355 human skeletons from the indigenous Italic sites of Santa Maria d'Anglona, Incoronata and Passo di Giacobbe. This data set is compared with an urban and rural sample of the Greek colony of Metaponto comprising 351 individual dentitions. The R‐matrix approach is used to estimate inter‐population relationships and FST. The resulting kinship coefficients indicate that the three indigenous groups exhibit greater similarity to each other and possess lesser similarity to the two Metapontian samples. Interestingly, the two samples of Metaponto are least similar to each other, although they are geographically very close. The FST estimates confirm this pattern and reveal greater biological variation between the two nearby Metaponto samples (FST = 0.0603) than between the three geographically fairly distant indigenous groups (FST = 0.0389). We conclude that the Greek colony of Metaponto included large numbers of people with diverse geographical origins, whereas the indigenous Italic communities of the surrounding hinterland exhibited high levels of homogeneity and cohesion. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 16, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2569   open full text
• The Use of Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) in Taphonomy: The Case of Middle Helladic Asine, Greece.
  S. Macheridis.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 16, 2016
  The goal of this paper is to investigate whether multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), a multivariate statistical technique, is a useful dimensionality‐reduction tool in zooarchaeological and taphonomic studies. For this purpose, the focus is to detect and discuss traces of waste management. Animal bones from waste‐related contexts at the Bronze Age site Asine, Greece, are investigated. The data consist of bone fragments dating to the Middle Helladic from this site. Unidentified fragments were categorised in size classes, where possible. Information on taxa, skeletal parts and the presence or absence of several taphonomic markers is included in the data set. The MCA reveals several correlations of zooarchaeological interest. For example, the association between indeterminate fragments and calcined bone points to issues concerning identification and preservation. Floors are characterised by weathered long‐bone fragments from medium‐sized mammals. Additionally, the results of MCA indicate that the material might have suffered from density‐mediated attrition, based on the abundance of axial fragments, which did not differ between different contexts and taxa. The results show that MCA can be used to detect zooarchaeological and taphonomic patterns. This multivariate technique is useful when investigating large data sets, as is often the case with large zooarchaeological assemblages. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 16, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2571   open full text
• Maximising Skeletal Data Collection in Commercial Archaeology.
  E. Průchová, L. Chroustovský, P. Kacl.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 16, 2016
  This paper explores the application of quick, simple and low‐cost procedures for data collection in commercial‐driven ‘salvage’ archaeology. In large‐scale cemetery contexts, the collection of a meaningful data set is often under extreme time and cost constraints. This requires the application of tailored field techniques and interdisciplinary collaboration between archaeologists, anthropologists and developers in order to maximise results. The authors examine procedures recently utilised to document and preserve skeletal data in three post‐mediaeval cemeteries in Prague, and evaluate their efficacy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 16, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2573   open full text
• The Cost of a Commute: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Osteoarthritis in New Kingdom Egypt.
  A. E. Austin.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 16, 2016
  This article evaluates rates of osteoarthritis of the lower limb in human remains from Deir el‐Medina in order to compare the health of the residents of Deir el‐Medina with previous studies on other ancient Egyptian and Nubian populations. This study focuses on osteological observations from the commingled New Kingdom human remains documented during the 2012–2014 field seasons of the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale. This is the first publication of osteoarthritis for the human remains at Deir el‐Medina, a dataset which complements comparable populations at sites such as Amarna, Giza, and Tombos. It demonstrates that men in the village of Deir el‐Medina experienced significantly higher rates of osteoarthritis in the ankle and knee in comparison to women at Deir el‐Medina. Rates of osteoarthritis in the lower limb at Deir el‐Medina generally fall between workers' cemeteries and middle‐class or elite cemeteries. This study also includes data from Deir el‐Medina's detailed textual record and intact landscape in order to determine how occupation influenced these higher rates of osteoarthritis. The duration, intensity, and frequency of the workmen's hikes are reconstructed based on the surrounding landscape and 42 texts recording work days. This study compares rates of osteoarthritis with these datasets in order to document how the strain, duration, and frequency of the workmen's hikes may have impacted overall rates of osteoarthritis. Consequently, data from the texts and landscape surrounding Deir el‐Medina not only corroborate osteoarthritis patterns, but offer detailed daily life activity which can be used as a comparison for broader studies on osteoarthritis in ancient and modern populations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 16, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2575   open full text
• Late Preceramic Forager–Herders from the Copacabana Peninsula in the Titicaca Basin of Bolivia: A Bioarchaeological Analysis.
  S. L. Juengst, S. J. Chávez, D. L. Hutchinson, S. R. Chávez.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 06, 2016
  The Titicaca Basin of Peru and Bolivia has been occupied by humans for millennia and was home to one of the first major state societies in the Andes. Many foundations of state power, however, developed much earlier, during the Late Preceramic/Terminal Archaic Period (3000 – 1500 BC), when people initially began herding, marking territories, and creating new metallurgy technology. We present a skeletal analysis of 14 individuals dating between 3000 and 1500 BC from Muruqullu, an archaeological site on the Copacabana Peninsula of Bolivia. These are the first Preceramic burials documented for the peninsula and contribute to the relatively small sample of Preceramic bodies from the Andean highlands more broadly. From this sample, we suggest that highland foragers and early herders suffered little nutritional stress and had limited violent interactions, perhaps related to a relatively mobile lifestyle and utilisation of lake resources. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 06, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2566   open full text
• Multiple Injury and Health in Past Societies: An Analysis of Concepts and Approaches, and Insights from a Multi‐Period Study.
  R. C. Redfern, M. A. Judd, S. N. DeWitte.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 30, 2016
  Earlier clinical and bioarchaeological studies found that injury recidivists were most likely to be young adult males. Since then, the clinical meaning of the injury recidivist has expanded to include all individuals with multiple injuries, and other aspects of health have been considered. Our study sought to apply these advances to paleopathology and place multiple injuries in a wider context by investigating: the age and sex distribution of those with single and multiple fractures, and if people with multiple injuries had poorer general health. The sample of 213 males and 190 females (≥18 years old) from six populations in England, Siberia, and Sudan ranged in date from the 3rd century BC to the mid‐19th century AD. Health variables included cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, periostitis, Schmorl's nodes, enamel hypoplasias, dental caries, and periodontitis. Ante‐mortem injuries were: fractures (0/1/≥2), myositis ossificans, dental trauma, and sharp‐force injuries. The data were analysed using chi‐square and hierarchical loglinear analyses (P = 0.05). No significant three‐way association between age, sex, and injury was found. There was no difference between the sexes when individuals with single versus multiple injuries were compared. There were significant differences in the age‐distribution of people with 0 and 1/≥2 fractures. Males and those 26–35 years old were most likely to have fractures and multiple injuries. Porotic hyperostosis was significantly associated with fractures. There was no significant relationship between general poor health and multiple injuries. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 30, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2565   open full text
• A Test of the Effectiveness of the Coimbra Method in Capturing Activity‐induced Entheseal Changes.
  E. Michopoulou, E. Nikita, C. Y. Henderson.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 30, 2016
  The current paper tests the effectiveness of entheseal changes in expressing activity patterns when the former have been recorded using the new Coimbra method. Changes on the subscapularis and biceps brachii were recorded using the Coimbra method on 78 men from the documented Athens Collection. Generalised linear models were adopted with entheseal changes as dependent variable and cross‐sectional geometric properties, age and body mass as predictors. The results suggest that age is the factor most frequently affecting entheseal changes; however, its impact is not as systematic as found in previous studies. Body mass is rarely statistically significant, again contradicting earlier studies. Finally, activity proxied by cross‐sectional geometric properties is occasionally significant, but no clear pattern emerges that can associate specific entheseal morphological changes with specific directions of mechanical loading. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 30, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2564   open full text
• The Identification and Modification of Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) Bones in the Holocene Archaeological Record of Northern Vietnam.
  R. K. Jones, H. J. M. Meijer, P. J. Piper, T. H. Hiep, N. A. Tuan, M. F. Oxenham.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 09, 2016
  We report on the first prehistoric identifications of the Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) in the prehistoric archaeological record of Vietnam, the earliest known example of this species in Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA). The two bone fragments, a proximal tarsometatarsus and a distal tibiotarsus, were found in the hunter–gatherer midden/cemetery site of Con Co Ngua in Thanh Hoa Province, and date to c. 6000 – 5500 BP. The tarsometatarsus has been modified into an edge ground implement similar to artefacts recorded at other archaeological sites in the region. Modifications to the functional end suggest that the implement is consistent with the manipulation and/or manufacture of plant‐based fibres. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 09, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2547   open full text
• Child Health in Five Early Medieval Irish Sites: A Multidisciplinary Approach.
  M. Novak, R. Howcroft, R. Pinhasi.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 04, 2016
  With the aim to reconstruct child health in five early medieval (5th–12th c. CE) Irish sites, an osteoarchaeological study of three biological stress indicators – cribra orbitalia, linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) and periostitis – has been conducted on 229 skeletons. In addition, Irish early medieval written sources testifying on child health during this period were consulted. These data were furthermore combined with the results of stable isotope analyses (nitrogen and carbon) conducted on subadult bone specimens. Cribra orbitalia was found in 27.5% of the studied individuals (48.6% of subadults were affected), with only two cases active at the time of death. The prevalence of LEH per individual is 63.5% (78.9% in subadults and 59.7% in adults). The age ranges of LEH formation vary between 1.9 and 4.8 years for the maxillary teeth and between 1.8 and 6.2 years for the mandibular teeth. Periosteal inflammations were recorded in over one third of the studied subadults (36.2%) with six cases active at the time of death. The stable isotope results suggest a diet based on terrestrial food sources, with little or no marine input. The presented data strongly suggest that most of the individuals were exposed to a high level of physiological stress during their childhood, and as such does not support the so called ‘osteological paradox’ hypothesis. The observed disturbances were probably caused by a synergistic effect of various biological and socio‐cultural factors. Although the historical records indicate certain differences in diet and lifestyle between social classes and the sexes, this study showed that the children of all ages had poor health in all social classes across a wide geographical location for the full time period of the early medieval. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 04, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2549   open full text
• Pick the Right Pocket. Sub‐sampling of Bone Sections to Investigate Diagenesis and DNA Preservation.
  H. I. Hollund, M. D. Teasdale, V. Mattiangeli, O. Ó. Sverrisdóttir, D. G. Bradley, T. O'Connor.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 05, 2016
  Many archaeological bones display a heterogeneous degradation pattern. Highly degraded bones could contain pockets of well‐preserved bone, harbouring good quality DNA. This dichotomy may explain why the relationships between global bone preservation parameters such as histological integrity, bone mineral crystallinity or collagen yield, and bulk DNA preservation/amplification success rate have been found to be at best, weak to moderate. In this pilot study, we explore whether or not a more localised approach will highlight a stronger relationship between diagenetic parameters and DNA preservation. This study includes a detailed histological characterisation of bone diagenesis in sub‐areas of three bone samples. Regions of the same bone, which displayed differential degrees of preservation or type of diagenesis were sampled for further analysis and both genetic (small scale Illumina MiSeq sequencing) and chemical (Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometric analysis) analyses were performed. The aim was to investigate how bone diagenetic processes relate to DNA preservation at a higher resolution than in previous studies. This is key in order to improve DNA analytical success rates. The expected relationship between bone and DNA preservation (retrieved endogenous DNA) was observed and the results corroborate previous work that DNA preservation is linked to the integrity of bone collagen and mineral. The results further suggest that non‐biological diagenetic alterations such as etching and the presence of mineral infiltrations and inclusions have a negative effect on DNA preservation/extraction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 05, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2544   open full text
• Skeletal Evidence for Otitis Media in Mediaeval and Post‐Mediaeval Children from Poland, Central Europe.
  M. Krenz‐Niedbała, S. Łukasik.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 01, 2016
  In palaeopathological research, otitis media (OM) is a rarely reported disease, although it is one of the most common diseases of childhood, with potentially severe consequences resulting in physical and social impairment, or even death. The episodes of OM are often preceded by upper respiratory tract infections, though the aetiology of OM is multifactorial, with significant role of environmental factors. In archaeological skeletons, middle ear inflammation is identified as erosive lesions and new bone formation of auditory ossicles. The aim of this study was to examine the skeletal signs of OM in children from a mediaeval early urban site (Cedynia) and a post‐mediaeval rural site (Słaboszewo) located on the territory of Poland. Among the entire sample (N = 435), ear bones were present in 99 skeletons. The total of 168 ossicles were examined. The general frequency of individuals with eroded ossicles was 47.5% (53.4% in Cedynia and 39.0% in Słaboszewo). In the total sample, 33.9% of ear bones showed pathological changes, with the incudes being most frequently affected. The frequency of altered ossicles was significantly higher in the early urban site than in the rural settlement (42.2% vs 25.9%, respectively; Fisher exact test, p = 0.0339). The children aged 0–3 years old tend to have a higher frequency of altered ear bones than the children aged 4–11 years old. The majority of the mastoid processes of the subadults with ear bone erosion show abnormal pneumatisation pattern. The results indicate that the environmental and socio‐cultural conditions in the stronghold likely made their inhabitants more prone to upper respiratory tract infections than the inhabitants of the village. A variety of factors may be responsible for this pattern, such as exposure to dust, environmental pollution, indoor pollution, wood smoke, occupation, population density, sanitation and quality of housing. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2545   open full text
• Ante Mortem Cranial Trepanation in the Late Bronze Age in Western Siberia.
  S. M. Slepchenko, A. V. Vybornov, V. S. Slavinsky, A. A. Tsybankov, V. E. Matveev.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 01, 2016
  We report a case study of cranial trepanation in a male subject 30 to 40 years of age from the Nefteprovod II burial ground in the Anzhevsk archeological site. This burial dates back to the Late Bronze Age, in particular the Karasuk culture located in the Minusinsk Basin on the Yenisei River and on the upper reaches of the Ob River. The left parietal bone had an opening with evident signs of bone healing, as well as signs of inflammatory reaction from both bone plates of the calvarium. The strongest signs of inflammation were located around the trepanation opening at the exocranium, suggesting that it occurred after, rather than before, the operation. Although trepanation was the main cause for the development of the changes noted in the preceding texts, there are no reasons to believe that the subject died from complications arising from infection after trepanation. The patient survived and later died for reasons that may never be determined. Medical necessity was the most likely justification for trepanation. Immersion in altered states of consciousness may also have been a necessary part of the trepanation process as a mode of sedation, along with other shamanic practices, such as consumption of psychotropic substances or ecstatic dance. These data, together with reports of other ante mortem burials, raised questions about the application of anaesthesia and possible techniques of cranial trepanation. These issues and possible postoperative complications are discussed in the following text. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2543   open full text
• Early Evidence for Domestic Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in the Horn of Africa.
  H. S. Woldekiros, A. C. D'Andrea.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 01, 2016
  Domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus L. 1758) are one of the most valued farm animals in the world today. Chickens are widespread and economically and socially significant in Africa. Despite their importance, little is known about the nature of their introduction and subsequent integration into African economies. One reason for this is the morphological similarity of domestic chickens to wild galliform birds in Africa such as guineafowl and francolin. Here, we present direct dates and morphological evidence for domestic chickens recovered from Mezber, a pre‐Aksumite (>800–450 BCE) rural farming settlement in northern Ethiopia. Key morphological markers differentiated these domestic chickens from francolins. The Mezber direct chicken element accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates of cal 820–595 BCE and indirect/charcoal AMS dates of cal 921–801 BCE constitute the earliest osteological evidence for chickens in Africa. Chicken bones in the domestic food waste of an early rural settlement at Mezber and their presence in later Aksumite urban contexts show that chickens were integrated into diverse Ethiopian highland settings. The Mezber specimens predate the earliest known Egyptian chickens by at least 550 years and draw attention to early exotic faunal exchanges in the Horn of Africa during the early first millennium BCE. These findings support previous archaeological, genetics and linguistic data that suggest maritime exchange networks with South Arabia through ports along the African Red Sea coast constitute one possible early route of introduction of chickens to Africa. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2540   open full text
• Cleft Lip Case in a Middle Bronze Age Young Man from Altai, Russia.
  S. S. Tur, S. V. Svyatko, A. I. Nechvaloda.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 17, 2016
  Oral cleft (OC) is a common congenital anomaly in humans, which occurs in approximately one per 700 live births. However, cleft skulls are found relatively seldom in archaeological specimens, especially for the bc period. Mortality of infants with OC was apparently high because of breastfeeding difficulties and culturally sanctioned rejection of them in the past. This paper presents one of the most ancient cases of OC in Eurasia. The finding comes from the Middle Bronze Age pastoralists' cemetery in Altai, Russia. The skeletal remains have been radiocarbon dated to 1883–1665 cal bc. Cranial and dental measurements, computed tomography and radiography have been used to examine this malformation. The facial sculpting reconstruction has been performed to visualise the ante mortem appearance of the cleft face. Besides, δ13C and δ15N isotope analysis was used for a comparative study of the diet of the cleft individual. It has been established that a young man from Altai was affected by complete bilateral cleft lip and alveolus, which is a very rare form of typical OC. This defect is associated with dental anomalies such as hypodontia, microdontia, and ectopia as well as with dysmorphology of the facial complex outside the cleft area, including mild hypertelorism, hypoplasia of nasal bones and antheroposterior maxillary deficiency. Furthermore, aplasia of the frontal sinuses and the sacral spina bifida occulta have been observed. These findings are consistent with clinical data indicating strong correlation between development of a major defect and multiple minor anomalies. The results of the study also suggest that there was tolerant attitude towards the facial deformities among the ancient Altai pastoralists. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 17, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2538   open full text
• Rabbits as Food at the end of the Upper Palaeolithic at Molí del Salt (Catalonia, Spain).
  M. F. Martínez‐Polanco, R. Blasco, J. Rosell, N. Ibañez, M. Vaquero.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 17, 2016
  Many factors have been causally linked to the diversification of hunting during the European Palaeolithic: declining supplies of high‐ranked prey, considerable human demographic growth, reduced residential mobility, larger populations of ubiquitous small mammals and significant technological developments. However, small prey exploitation was not uniform: the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is the most frequent species in the Upper Palaeolithic archaeological record of the Iberian Peninsula – south and Mediterranean area – and Southern France. This is demonstrated at Molí del Salt, an Upper Palaeolithic site located at Vimbodí (Catalonia, Spain), whose mammal fauna stands out for the predominance of rabbits [91% of minimum number of individuals (n = 136)]. We analysed the faunal remains from one level [Asup (c. 12 700–13 000 cal BP)] in order to identify the agent responsible for the faunal accumulation, and to reconstruct aspects of procurement and consumption that shed light on Palaeolithic subsistence strategies in the Northeast Iberian Peninsula. Our results indicate that human agency rather than carnivore activity was responsible for the bone accumulation at Molí del Salt. We identified all the stages in the consumption sequence from skinning to ingestion. We argue that the rabbits were mostly harvested during summer or winter or both seasons. Clearly, the European rabbit was a target species for the human groups which lived at Molí del Salt providing meat, and skin. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 17, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2541   open full text
• A Large‐Scale Palaeopathological Study of Hip Fractures from Post‐Medieval Urban England.
  R. Ives, M. Mant, C. Cova, M. Brickley.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 07, 2016
  Hip fractures have high incidence rates in many current groups and are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and considerable expenditure. Although hip fractures associated with significant traumatic events can occur at any age, many hip fractures occur in older adults. To date, few hip fractures have been reported from archaeological skeletal material, and a number of hypotheses have been suggested for this. This research presents a comprehensive assessment of hip fractures in archaeological bone; 1597 adult (18+ years) skeletons from eight urban post‐medieval sites from England dating from the 18th and 19th centuries were recorded, and contemporary medical texts reviewed. This adult sample included 834 males and 652 females as well as 11 persons of undetermined sex. Ways of classifying and describing fractures in the clinical literature were reviewed and a methodology applicable to paleopathology determined. Of this sample, 15 (0.94%) had fractures in the femoral neck or intertrochanteric area: nine males, four females, and two individuals of undetermined sex. The numbers of fractures in males were interesting and most likely represent examples of accidental trauma as well as osteoporosis‐related fractures, the latter receiving growing awareness in recent clinical literature. Overall there was an age‐related trend with more individuals aged 50+ years with fractures than in other age categories. Underlying osteoporosis was potentially a complicating factor in five individuals and was likely associated with a vitamin D deficiency osteomalacia and a metastatic neoplastic condition in a further two cases. Fractures occurring close to the time of death and healed fractures were observed, indicating that the risk of mortality following this trauma was not consistent across this 18th and 19th century sample. Skeletal and historical evidence presented in this study indicate that the impact of hip fracture injuries varied, with survival likely linked to the fracture type. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 07, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2536   open full text
• Women's Participation in Prehistoric Warfare: A Central Illinois River Valley Case Study.
  J. Bengtson, J. O'Gorman.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 06, 2016
  Considerations of Native American warriorhood are likely to conjure images of male‐bodied, masculine individuals. While the majority of formally recognized warriors may have indeed fit this mould, it is also true that female‐bodied/feminine warriors have been historically documented in many places, including North America. Further, even in cases where women were not formally recognized as such, it seems likely that they played offensive and defensive roles on an ‘as needed’ basis, such as on subsistence outings or when their homes and families were under attack. In this paper, we seek to explore the intersection of womanhood and warfare‐related violence at Morton Village (11 F2) and the associated Norris Farms #36 cemetery. This late prehistoric community in the Central Illinois River Valley has been the subject of extensive bioarchaeological interest regarding high levels of skeletally indicated violent trauma. We review this osteological evidence in addition to incorporating mortuary and subsistence perspectives on the ideology and practice of warfare at this time and place. A tripartite approach considering osteological trauma patterns, mortuary commemoration, and new interpretations of community life leads us to suggest an alternate interpretation—one in which Morton Village women are, in at least some instances, considered as active defenders of their community and lifeways rather than passive victims of violence. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 06, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2532   open full text
• Periapical Lesions in Intentionally Modified Teeth in a Skeletal Sample of Enslaved Africans (Lagos, Portugal).
  A. I. Rufino, M. T. Ferreira, S. N. Wasterlain.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 06, 2016
  Intentional dental modifications are alterations of teeth usually performed as a ritual for aesthetic or identity purposes. However, the execution of the technique is not exempt from risk and can be related to a higher prevalence of dental pathology, more specifically through the exposure of the dental pulp and consequent periapical inflammation. With the aim of analysing the relationship between intentional dental modifications and periapical inflammation, the current study evaluated 81 skeletons (49 women, 19 men, and 13 individuals of unknown sex) of enslaved Africans from Lagos, Portugal (15th–17th centuries), of which 50 (61.7%) had intentionally modified teeth. In all, 2285 sockets and 2063 teeth were observed. Two hundred and three intentionally modified anterior teeth (27.2%) were identified. Twenty five individuals (30.9%) and 54 teeth (25 anterior and 29 posterior) showed macroscopic evidences of periapical lesions. In the anterior dentition, intentional modification was identified as the probable aetiology of 17 (68.0%) periapical lesions, mostly granulomata or cysts, but also abscesses. The association between intentional modifications of the dentition and the presence of periapical lesions was found in both the maxilla and mandible. These results suggest that this cultural practice can predispose teeth to periapical inflammation, which may cause pain and sensitivity to cold, heat, and pressure, and probably had a negative impact on the quality of life of these individuals. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 06, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2539   open full text
• Body Mass Estimates in Dogs and North American Gray Wolves Using Limb Element Dimensions.
  R. J. Losey, K. McLachlin, T. Nomokonova, K. Latham, L. Harrington.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 02, 2016
  Body mass is a key biometric that is useful in interpreting many aspects of an animal's life history. For many species, including dogs and wolves, methods for estimating body mass are not well developed. This paper assesses the utility of using limb dimensions to predict body mass in dogs and North American wolves. Regression analyses are utilized here to explore the correlations between limb dimensions and body masses of modern dogs and wolves, all of known body mass at death. These analyses reveal that a number of limb end dimensions are correlated with body mass in both dogs and wolves. Regression formulae generated through the analyses appear to allow body masses to be predicted with relatively small margins of error, often less than 10%. Formulae are calculated for groups with and without juveniles. In some cases, the dimensions of the juvenile specimens plot distinctly from those of adults, indicating that regression formulae specifically for juvenile canids may be needed. The strength of the limb dimension correlations is then compared with that of regression formulae for dog and wolf cranio‐mandibular dimensions. For the dogs, the cranio‐mandibular dimensions appear to slightly out‐perform the limb element dimensions in predicting body mass. The wolf limb dimensions, however, always appear to provide better predictions of body mass than do the skull dimensions. The newly developed regression formulae are applied to several Middle Holocene dog skeletons from Siberia for which previous body mass estimates are available, the latter based on cranial dimensions. These two sets of estimates are then compared. The overall results of our study indicate the need for further research, particularly with larger sample sizes, including more juvenile specimens. We also argue that work on body size estimation in single dog breeds may be warranted in some cases. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 02, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2528   open full text
• Dedicated Followers of Fashion? Bioarchaeological Perspectives on Socio‐Economic Status, Inequality, and Health in Urban Children from the Industrial Revolution (18th–19th C), England.
  S. L. Newman, R. L. Gowland.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 31, 2016
  The 18th and 19th centuries in England were characterised by a period of increasing industrialisation of its urban centres. It was also one of widening social and health inequalities between the rich and the poor. Childhood is well‐documented as being a stage in the life course during which the body is particularly sensitive to adverse socio‐economic environments. This study therefore aims to examine the relationship between health and wealth through a comprehensive skeletal analysis of a sample of 403 children (0–17 years), of varying socio‐economic status, from four cemetery sites in London (c.1712–1854). Measurements of long bone diaphyseal length, cortical thickness, vertebral neural canal size, and the prevalence of a range of pathological indicators of health stress were recorded from the Chelsea Old Church (high status), St Benet Sherehog (middle status), Bow Baptist (middle status), and Cross Bones (low status) skeletal collections. Children from the low status Cross Bones site demonstrated deficient growth values, as expected. However, those from the high status site of Chelsea Old Church also demonstrated poor growth values during infancy. Fashionable child‐care practices (e.g. the use of artificial infant feeds and keeping children indoors) may have contributed to poor infant health amongst high status groups. However, differing health risks in the lower status group revealed the existence of substantial health inequality in London at this time. © 2016 The Authors International Journal of Osteoarchaeology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  May 31, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2531   open full text
• Skeletal Kinship Analysis Using Developmental Anomalies of the Foot.
  D. T. Case, L. B. Jones, A. M. Offenbecker.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 27, 2016
  Developmental anomalies of the skeleton are often treated as mere curiosities, but in some contexts, they may prove useful to bioarchaeologists for answering questions about the past. One such use can be found in skeletal kinship analysis, where discrete traits can help to identify close genetic relatives in archaeological cemeteries. Previous research suggests that discrete traits used for skeletal kinship analysis should have several characteristics—they must obviously be heritable, but in addition, they should be easy to score as present or absent, their frequencies should not vary by age or sex, and they should be low frequency traits. Low frequency traits are less likely than higher frequency traits to be found in two individuals merely by chance. In this study, we consider 17 developmental anomalies of the human foot as candidates for use in skeletal kinship analysis. The traits are evaluated in terms of the characteristics described above, after which kinship analyses are attempted on two different populations. Ten of the anomalies are found to be good candidates for skeletal kinship analysis, including accessory navicular, four different forms of brachydactyly, three types of tarsal coalition, and two forms of the os intermetatarseum. When frequencies of these traits were examined and compared to a reference sample in three cemeteries, however, only a single group of six possible genetic relatives were identified. The results suggest that skeletal kinship analysis using individual heritable traits is perhaps best applied to small cemeteries or burial clusters rather than larger cemeteries containing many different lineages. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 27, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2529   open full text
• Mitochondrial DNA Analysis of Ancient Domestic Goats in the Southern Caucasus: A Preliminary Result from Neolithic Settlements at Göytepe and Hacı Elamxanlı Tepe.
  S. Kadowaki, K. Ohnishi, S. Arai, F. Guliyev, Y. Nishiaki.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 27, 2016
  This study presents preliminary results of mitochondrial DNA analyses of modern and ancient domestic goats in the southern Caucasus in order to examine their phylogenetic relationship with modern and ancient goats. For this purpose, seven ancient samples were obtained from two early agricultural villages in west Azerbaijan (Göytepe and Hacı Elamxanlı tepe, dated to ca. 6000–5500 cal bc, the Pottery Neolithic period), in addition to five modern goat samples in the same region. In the study, mitochondrial DNA segments of the control region (216 bp for the Neolithic samples and 481 bp for the modern samples) were amplified, and phylogenetic analyses were performed using previously published reference DNA sequences. As a result, all the haplotypes found in this study were grouped in the haplogroup A of goats. The finding of the haplogroup A among domestic goats in the southern Caucasus in the early sixth millennium bc can be interpreted as part of the geographic expansion of this lineage from the areas of initial domestication to surrounding areas that include also South and Southeast Europe. In the southern Caucasus, the haplogroup A probably continued to be a major lineage among domestic goats since their emergence in this area to the present. In contrast, this lineage has not been detected among local wild goats including Capra aegagrus, indicating the external origin of domestic goats. This possibility is consistent with archaeological records that indicate sudden appearance of agricultural lifeways in the southern Caucasus and cultural connections with northern Mesopotamia. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 27, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2534   open full text
• Livestock Trade during the Early Roman Period: First Clues from the Trading Post of Empúries (Catalonia).
  L. Colominas, C. J. Edwards.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 27, 2016
  Written sources show that livestock were traded during the Roman period. However, there is scarce information available to characterise this trade because of its invisibility in the archaeological record. In our paper, we shed light on this issue by applying both osteometric and genetic analyses on cattle remains from the Roman trading post of Empúries (Catalonia) to determine how livestock contributed to Roman trade and, thus, to the economy of the Empire. Analysis of 26 cattle metacarpals from Empúries has allowed us to document the presence of different cattle morphotypes in this city during its Early Roman occupation. The morphological and genetic differences seen in Empúries cattle can be explained through trade of different cattle varieties, more appropriate for milk production and/or traction than the local stock. Once arrived at the port of Empúries, these imported cattle would have then been distributed to surrounding villas. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 27, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2527   open full text
• Reliability of the Assessment of Periodontal Disease in Historical Populations.
  J. Tomczyk, A. Turska‐Szybka, M. Zalewska, D. Olczak‐Kowalczyk.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 26, 2016
  Periodontal disease is the destruction of all portions of periodontium. However, only periodontitis, based on whether attachment loss has occurred, can be detected in archaeological material. Therefore, several methods have been used to assess the frequency of periodontitis in past populations. The main scope of this study is to determine whether diagnoses of periodontitis through various methods are consistent with diagnoses obtained using the radiographic method. The samples (35 individuals, 576 teeth) were selected from Radom Cemetery's collection (in use between 1790 and 1811). For each individual, a periodontal status assessment was made using the following parameters: (i) measuring the distance between the cement–enamel junction (CEJ) and the crest of the alveolar bone (AC); (ii) the degree of root exposure; (iii) presence of the inter‐dental septum; (iv) dental calculus; (v) scoring system on the texture of the alveolar bone (Kerr's method) and (vi) radiography. In the studies, a correlation was found between the radiographic images and Kerr's method (r = 0.92) and root furcation (r = 0.96). Increasing degree of change on the alveolar bone is connected with increases in the CEJ–AC distance. A relationship between the frequency of the prevalence of dental calculus and changes on the alveolar bone was found. It means that the radiographic method, which is not always possible to use in archaeological collections, can be replaced by the presented macroscopic methods. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 26, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2530   open full text
• Taphonomy of Burnt Burials: Spatial Analysis of Bone Fragments in Their Secondary Deposition.
  A. Pankowská, P. Spěváčková, H. Kašparová, J. Šneberger.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 25, 2016
  Examining recently excavated burnt burials, we explore the potential of spatial analysis to contribute to the understanding of changes that human body goes through during burning and relocation to the place of secondary deposition. Artificial heat decomposition of a body is a complex process that consists of several stages of intentional manipulation with the body. Each stage can be biased by several accidental factors which then significantly change the final archaeological record. We focussed on the post‐burning stage, especially the pathways of bone fragments to secondary deposition. We investigated spatial distribution and weight of bones in urns and pits and asked whether it is possible to observe their intentional arrangement. The trend of bone arrangement could be distinguished in most cases. Bones of peripheral parts of body were typically situated at the bottom; skull bones were usually concentrated in the upper part. However, the weight underrepresentation of all investigated burials was apparent. Deposition of selected burnt bones suggests their careful collection from the pyre and complex post‐mortem manipulation. Our detailed analysis aims to reconstruct particular steps executed during funeral rites of past populations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 25, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2525   open full text
• Dama Dentition: A New Tooth Eruption and Wear Method for Assessing the Age of Fallow Deer (Dama dama).
  F. Bowen, R. F. Carden, J. Daujat, S. Grouard, H. Miller, S. Perdikaris, N. Sykes.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 22, 2016
  Reliable ageing techniques for wild animals are notoriously challenging to develop because of the scarcity of sizeable collections of known‐age specimens. Without such techniques it is difficult to reconstruct hunting patterns, which is a significant problem for the examination of assemblages from pre‐farming cultures. This paper presents a new method, based on mandibular tooth eruption and wear, for assessing the age of fallow deer. The method was developed from a large collection (n = 156) of known‐age Dama dama specimens, has been blind tested by members of the zooarchaeological community and represents a user‐friendly system with the potential to generate large compatible datasets through which the dynamics of human–Dama relationships can be examined. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 22, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2523   open full text
• Maxillary Sinus Infection in a 19th‐Century Almshouse Skeletal Sample.
  E. A. DiGangi, J. E. Sirianni.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 22, 2016
  In 1984, the Monroe County Parks Department in the Highland Park section of Rochester, New York, accidentally unearthed part of an unmarked cemetery while landscaping. The cemetery was in use from approximately 1826 to 1863 and was associated with the Monroe County Almshouse. Anthropological examination of dental and skeletal pathology revealed a high incidence of dental infection, known to occasionally be a causal agent of maxillary sinus infection. Therefore, maxillary sinus infections in this sample were studied to ascertain their relationship with dental infections, sex, and age at death. The maxillary sinuses of 99 skeletons were examined for evidence of infection. The presence, location, type and extent of dental infections in the posterior teeth were also recorded. Half the sample exhibited bone remodelling in the maxillary sinus (54 individuals). Dental infections were observed in 82 individuals. Forty‐eight demonstrated signs of dental infection and maxillary sinusitis. Statistical analysis revealed that dental infection and maxillary sinus infection were not statistically related. Rather, a rhinogenic method of infection seems likely, which would appear related to the squalid air quality the 19th‐century poor were exposed to in the almshouse and city tenements. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 22, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2526   open full text
• Reassessing the Age, Sex and Metric Variation of Commingled Human Remains from a 1911 Excavation of a Neolithic Passage Tomb Complex in North‐West Ireland.
  J. Geber, R. Hensey, P. Meehan, S. Moore, T. Kador.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 01, 2016
  The Neolithic passage tomb complex at Carrowkeel, County Sligo, Ireland, is one of the best preserved and most significant megalithic funerary and ritual landscapes in Europe. The most substantial archaeological excavations at the complex were undertaken in 1911, from which a relatively large sample of commingled unburnt and cremated human remains from seven chambered passage tombs was recovered. Although the archaeological value of this material is reduced as its spatial and stratigraphic context is uncertain, the skeletal remains have the potential to provide insights into how these monuments were used. This study is a quantitative reassessment of that osteological material from the passage tombs excavated in 1911, with a focus on a contextual analysis of the remains. Overall, the age‐at‐death and sex ratios do not indicate any demographic differentiation between monuments in selecting locations for the deposition of bodies, and there is no clear evidence to suggest any selectiveness of certain skeletal elements took place. There may however have been a differentiating age and gender aspect in terms of the unburnt versus cremated bone surface depositions within the passage tombs, as a higher proportion of 5+ years non‐adults and adult females were present in the cremated material. By using the log‐ratio metric scaling technique on the cremated adult material, a statistically significant difference in skeletal dimensions is observed between individual passage tombs; however, it is unclear how significant this disparity is from a biocultural point of view. Despite apparent methodological difficulties in assessing an archaeological bone assemblage collected by early 20th‐century antiquarians, the material can still yield new knowledge about the rituals conducted at Carrowkeel. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 01, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2521   open full text
• Mother City and Colony: Bioarchaeological Evidence of Stress and Impacts of Corinthian Colonisation at Apollonia, Albania.
  B. Kyle, L. A. Schepartz, C. S. Larsen.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 02, 2016
  There is no abstract available for this paper.

  March 02, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2519   open full text
• Physical Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology in Europe: History, Current Trends and Challenges.
  N. Márquez‐Grant, H. Webster, J. Truesdell, L. Fibiger.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 02, 2016
  This paper provides an overview of the development and current practice of physical anthropology as relating to the treatment of archaeological skeletal remains in Europe. The evolution of physical anthropology as a discipline is covered in detail from the 18th century onwards, and current trends in education and research are also discussed. Additional topics include a synthesis of the legislative framework for studying human skeletal remains in over 40 European countries while also addressing challenges, future trends and emerging ethical questions. This overview is the product of an extensive review of the literature partnered with information received via questionnaires completed by colleagues working in nearly 50 European countries. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 02, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2520   open full text
• Stafne's Defects in a Sample of Adult Thai Mandibles in the Khon Kaen University Osteology Collection, Thailand.
  R. W. Mann, P. Tuamsuk.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 24, 2016
  Examination of 311 adult dry‐bone mandibles from Thailand revealed 8 examples of Stafne's defects in the region of the submandibular salivary gland. This study revealed that some radiographic studies may under report the actual frequency of shallow or early‐stage Stafne's defects that lack sclerotic rims.

  February 24, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2508   open full text
• The Relationship Between Linear Enamel Hypoplasia and Social Status in 18th to 19th Century Edo, Japan.
  N. Nakayama.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 11, 2016
  Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) has been utilised in human bioarchaeology as an indicator of growth disturbance during childhood. However, only a few studies have compared populations of different socio‐economic status in the same time period. This study examines the association between the LEH occurrence pattern and social status in the 18th to 19th century populations in Japan. Detailed archaeological studies on burials from the Edo period (1603–1867) excavated in Tokyo have facilitated estimating an individual's social status by its burial type. In this study, 112 individuals from the Sugenji‐Shokenji site were divided into three burial structure groups (ceramic jar coffins for middle‐class warriors, wooden square coffins for low‐class warriors and townspeople and wooden circular coffins for townspeople) and examined for the general prevalence of LEH, number of LEH and the chronological distribution of LEH. A high general prevalence of LEH was observed in every group, especially in lower canine (79.3–100.0%). However, individuals in the jar coffin group showed a lower prevalence and smaller number of LEH per tooth, suggesting that individuals of higher social status experienced better living environments in their childhood. There was no significant difference in the chronological distribution of LEH formation between coffin groups. Such data are essential for understanding the association between socio‐economic status and living conditions in specific societies in the past. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 11, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2515   open full text
• A Case of Foot Amputation from the Wari Imperial Tomb at Castillo de Huarmey, Peru.
  W. Więckowski.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 10, 2016
  Evidence of surgical interventions leaving traces on bones is quite abundant in archaeological material all over the world and is found frequently in the Andes. Among them, trepanations are most common, while amputations represent a relatively small part of the material. These have been reported from a few sites on the Peruvian north coast and archaeologically associated with the Moche culture. In 2013, two new cases from this area were found in situ within the Wari imperial mausoleum excavated at Castillo de Huarmey. Two individuals, one man and one woman, were found in the antechamber, serving as guards for the occupants of the main burial chamber. Their left feet were amputated, disarticulated at the ankle joints, a long time before they died. The article presents this find and discusses the form of amputation and the possible reasons why it was performed. As the context of both individuals possessed the same specifics, suggesting that they performed similar tasks related to religion and ritual, this article also presents a cultural interpretation of these finds, using other artefacts—ceremonial beakers in the form of the left human foot—known from Wari and Tiwanaku cultures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 10, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2517   open full text
• Life and Death in Neolithic Southeastern Italy: The Strontium Isotopic Evidence.
  M. A. Tafuri, P. D. Fullagar, T. C. O'Connell, M. G. Belcastro, P. Iacumin, C. Conati Barbaro, R. Sanseverino, J. Robb.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 10, 2016
  There is a strong relation between people's structured identities and their chemical biographies: these can reflect the way individuals choose to reside and/or move. The strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) of skeletal remains is considered a useful proxy to assess residential mobility and social practices in past populations; however, so far, it has only occasionally been applied to prehistoric contexts in the Mediterranean. In this paper, we present 87Sr/86Sr data of human and animal samples from several Neolithic sites in the Apulian Tavoliere (southeastern Italy), namely, Grotta Scaloria, Passo di Corvo, Masseria Candelaro and La Torretta/Poggio Imperiale. Data obtained from dental enamel reflect the local origin of the individuals and allowed us to differentiate function and meaning of the sites examined. In particular, within a generally homogeneous background of Sr signatures, the range of 87Sr/86Sr at Scaloria Cave is greater than at the other sites, with variation likely to be related to funerary practices. We interpret this as the evidence of the ritual use of the cave, which implied the gathering of people of different origin. The relative variation of the Sr signature among individuals, either intersite or intrasite can be tentatively associated with mobility during life as well as with social practices, such as access to foods from geologically different environments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 10, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2516   open full text
• External Auditory Exostoses and its Relationship to Prehistoric Abalone Harvesting on Santa Rosa Island, California.
  S. C. Kuzminsky, J. M. Erlandson, T. Xifara.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 19, 2016
  Bioarchaeological research among prehistoric Pacific Coast populations has shown that external auditory exostoses (EAE) are found in high frequencies. On California's northern Channel Islands archaeological research has demonstrated that there was an intense exploitation of red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), particularly between ~8000 and 3500 years ago. If the Island Chumash were free‐diving for red abalone in subtidal waters, EAE should be prevalent in prehistoric populations from Santa Rosa Island. We recorded the presence or absence, number, side and severity of EAE growths for 207 adult individuals from three time periods on Santa Rosa Island. Our results show that ~11% of the total population was affected, including 22.5% of males and ~3.4% of females. The incidence among females increases from 0% in the Early period, to 2.6% in the Middle period, and 6.8% in the Late period. Overall these are lower rates than those reported for other Channel Island and Pacific Coast sites. Given the relatively low percentage of Santa Rosa Islanders affected with EAE, red abalones may have been harvested primarily in shallow waters rather than the deeper subtidal zone. Our data suggest that gender differences in food procurement activities existed on Santa Rosa Island throughout prehistory, congruent with the argument that EAE is an activity‐induced pathology that occurs with prolonged exposure to cold water and wind conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 19, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2512   open full text
• No Country for Old People: A Paleodemographic Analysis of Migration Dynamics in Early Andean States.
  S. I. Baitzel, P. S. Goldstein.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 19, 2016
  In this paper, we present a paleodemographic interpretation of a complete mortuary population from the site of Rio Muerto (southern Peru) affiliated with the early Andean Tiwanaku state (A.D.500–1000). Although advances in biogeochemical paleomobility studies have revolutionized bioarchaeological approaches to certain aspects of migration, paleodemography continues to offer a valuable complementary perspective on migration and population dynamics. Notably, paleodemography, through reference to Uniformitarian age‐at‐death profiles, is uniquely equipped to identify age‐specific subgroups that are missing from the mortuary population. We argue that the marked absence of adult individuals in the M70B cemetery population is the result of the socially regulated movement of older adults or their remains from the state provinces back to the homeland. We suggest that the particular demographic composition of the Rio Muerto M70 cemetery population, when considered within its cultural context and compared to other available paleodemographic data, reveals potential patterns of adult return migration, and carries important implications for the political and social dynamics of early Andean state society. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 19, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2511   open full text
• An Arrowhead Injury in a Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic Human Cuneiform from the Rockshelter of La Peña de Marañón (Navarre, Spain).
  T. Fernández‐Crespo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 19, 2016
  The current paper describes a projectile injury found among human remains recovered from La Peña de Marañón, a small natural rockshelter located in a limestone cliff hanging over the Ega River (Navarre, northern Spain), very close to other well‐known sites with similar evidence (San Juan ante Portam Latinam, Longar, Las Yurdinas II). The site was used as burial place during the Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic, and comprises a burnt bone assemblage of at least 28 individuals in a commingled state. In the process of re‐examining the anthropological collection a small fragment of flint was found embedded in a right lateral cuneiform. Both macroscopic and microscopic analysis and computer tomography confirm the presence of signs of healing. No other indications of trauma were observed in the human bone sample. The finding represents the first Spanish example of a prehistoric arrowhead wound on a foot and adds to the very few other archaeological case descriptions available in Europe. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 19, 2016   doi: 10.1002/oa.2513   open full text
• Frequencies of Rare Incisor Variations Reflect Factors Influencing Precontact Population Relationships in Mexico and the American Southwest.
  H. J. H. Edgar, C. Willermet, C. S. Ragsdale, A. O'Donnell, S. Daneshvari.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 29, 2015
  Mexican prehistory is characterized by migration and population isolation in its earliest phase, followed by later inter‐population cultural interactions, such as politics and trade. While shared, common morphological variants are often informative about recent population events, rare trait variants have not been widely investigated to see whether they might be informative about earlier events. Here, we consider populations that show several rare variants at frequencies high enough to warrant such an investigation. Examining past population structure can help us understand population interactions across different periods of time, levels of migration, and population isolation/drift. Multiple‐origin populations may have more variation, including more and higher rates of rare traits. We examined maxillary lateral incisors in 1117 dentitions from 76 samples of Preclassic/Classic and Postclassic pre‐European contact Mexico and the American Southwest for the prevalence of rare lateral incisor variants. Variants observed included barrel, congenital absence, interruption groove, mesial marginal bending, peg, reduced, supernumerary, and talon teeth. The most common variant overall is interruption groove. Central Mexico, Huasteca, and the Lowland Yucatan region samples present the highest overall number of incisor variants. Higher frequencies of single unusual traits are commonly found in samples from smaller populations, while samples from larger population centres show a greater range of these rare variants. We investigated to see whether the pattern of rare incisor variant frequencies reflected early or later population history by comparing similarity/distance matrices and factor model matrices using Mantel tests and Generalized Procrustes analysis. Results show a weak relationship with the Postclassic period and shared migration/language and trade interaction models. We suggest that later cultural interactions have acted to mask earlier population history. Research on serial founder effects should be approached multiregionally and across time, to avoid missing inter‐region biological relationships. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 29, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2510   open full text
• The Role of Bubo virginianus magellanicus as Rodent Bone Accumulator in Archaeological Sites: A Case Study for the Atuel River (Mendoza, Argentina).
  C. I. Montalvo, F. J. Fernández, P. O. Tallade.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 29, 2015
  Micromammalian bone assemblages from modern pellets of the strigiform Bubo virginianus magellanicus, from the upper Atuel River (southern Mendoza, Argentina), were taphonomically analysed. The results allow us to place B. v. magellanicus in the category of intermediate modification (Category 2). This sample has also been compared with results from other members of this genus, in order to classify B. v. magellanicus as a taphonomic agent. The participation of the Bubo species in archaeological accumulations has been documented, but in Argentina, the role of B. v. magellanicus has been reported up to the present. It is partly because of the sequence of one archaeological site in the south of Mendoza Province called Laguna El Sosneado‐3 (LS‐3). However, considering the absence of a current taphonomic model of this owl, this participation was mentioned as a hypothesis. In the current investigation, archaeological and modern samples have been compared. The results indicate that the skeletal element assemblages recovered from LS‐3 were accumulated by strigiform birds. Taphonomical evidence of light modifications on units I and IV indicates that Tyto alba (Category 1) was probably the main species involved in these units, whereas the taphonomical evidence on skeletal element assemblages recovered from units II and III suggests the action of a strigiform with a major category of modification such as B. v. magellanicus. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 29, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2509   open full text
• Morphometric Variability of Roman Dogs in Hispania Tarraconensis: The Case Study of the Vila de Madrid Necropolis.
  L. Colominas.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 25, 2015
  The size, body conformation and skull shape of Roman dogs from the ‘Vila de Madrid necropolis’ site, where 1480 dog remains were recovered, are described in this paper to provide evidence of the morphometric variability of Roman dogs in Hispania Tarraconensis. The individualized and detailed morphometric analysis of 10 individuals shows that the proliferation and explosion of the morphological variability already documented in different regions of the Roman Empire (Italia, Gallia, Britannia, Pannonia) are also noted here. The presence of very different individuals in terms of their shape and size, similar to the differences that can at present be noted between Pekingese and Doberman dogs, has been documented at the site. The reasons for the appearance of this morphological variability within those territories that were part of the Roman Empire are also discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 25, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2507   open full text
• Reconstructing Diet of the Early Qin (ca. 700–400 BC) at Xishan, Gansu Province, China.
  Y. Ma, B. T. Fuller, L. Chen, C. Zhao, Y. Hu, M. P. Richards.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 13, 2015
  Here we report the bone collagen carbon and nitrogen isotopic results of humans (n = 33) and animals (n = 58) to reconstruct the dietary practices of an early Qin population dating to the Zhou Dynasty (Late Western–Early Eastern period ca. 700–400 BC) at the Xishan site in Gansu Province, China. The humans have a very large range of δ13C (−23.3‰ to −7.1‰) and δ15N (4.3‰ to 10.9‰) values which reflects extraordinarily diverse diets and included individuals with predominately C3 as well as those with exclusive C4 diets. This wide span of isotopic results produced a subtle linear trend (R2 = 0.62) in the human data, which paralleled the animals across the C3 and C4 environmental gradient. However, the majority of the individuals had a predominately C4 diet based on millet with δ15N results only slightly elevated above the animals, except for the pigs and cattle. This is evidence that many of the animals were likely used for their secondary products, labour or as sacrificial offerings and that pork and beef were the main sources of animal protein for the population. High status individuals had elevated δ15N values (10.2 ± 0.6‰) compared to medium (8.9 ± 0.3‰) and lower status (8.8 ± 0.8‰) individuals, possibly related to increased animal protein in the diet. Differences related to gender were also found with females having elevated δ13C (−11.2 ± 1.9‰) and δ15N (9.4 ± 0.8‰) values compared to the males (δ13C = −14.1 ± 4.2‰; δ15N = 7.9 ± 1.9‰), but these results necessitate caution given the large number of individuals that could not be sexed. The results of this study support the view that the early Qin people were a more sedentary society focused on millet agriculture and animal husbandry, and that they were influenced by the pre‐existing populations of the central Gansu region. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 13, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2506   open full text
• Biocultural Consequences of Spanish Contact in the Lambayeque Valley Region of Northern Peru: Internal Enamel Micro‐Defects as Indicators of Early Life Stress.
  C. J. Garland, B. L. Turner, H. D. Klaus.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 13, 2015
  The present study utilises dental histological methods to analyse enamel micro‐defects as indicators of early life stress in indigenous Muchik individuals interred at two sites: La Capilla Santa María Magdalena de Eten (CSMME) (n = 15) and La Capilla del Niño Serranito (CNS) (n = 15), both located in the Lambayeque Valley region of northern Peru. Individuals interred at CNS date to the Early Colonial Period (AD 1533–1610), and individuals interred at CSMME date to the Middle/Late Colonial Period (AD 1625–1760), thus permitting comparison of childhood stress events between the Early and Middle/Late Colonial Periods. Results reveal a high prevalence of Wilson bands at both sites, although a lower prevalence at the CSMME was observed in comparison with the CNS. This indicates that, over time, Muchik individuals in this town may have been able to acclimate to life under Spanish oppression. Stress chronologies suggest that early life stress possibly resulted from inadequate and less than desirable food and/or water available for supplemental feeding during early infancy, especially around the ages of 4 and 5 months. Furthermore, results show that individuals with enamel defects in the form of Wilson bands at both the CNS and CSMME had an earlier mean age‐at‐death (9.6 and 4.05 years, respectively) in comparison with those without observed Wilson bands (19.75 and 8.8 years, respectively). These results underscore the importance of not only regional and temporal studies of the biological consequences of Spanish contact in the Americas but also of investigating the relationship between early life stress and adult health and longevity in archaeological populations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 13, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2505   open full text
• Micro‐CT Imaging and Analysis of Enamel Defects on the Early Late Pleistocene Xujiayao Juvenile.
  S. Xing, D. Guatelli‐Steinberg, M. O'Hara, J. Li, P. Wei, W. Liu, X. Wu.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 10, 2015
  Dental pathologies and enamel defects in East Asian hominins have rarely been reported. Here, we systematically document and describe a suite of enamel defects in the Xujiayao juvenile maxilla, an East Asian hominin from the early Late Pleistocene that may represent an unknown hominin lineage. In addition, we determine the chronology of growth disruptions represented by matched linear enamel hypoplasias, evaluate the long‐held hypothesis that the large brownish pit on the I1 is evidence of dental fluorosis and assess the utility of micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) techniques in analyzing enamel defects. With the use of binocular microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro‐CT imaging techniques, the Xujiayao teeth were found to exhibit a high number of pit‐form defects seldom seen in the fossil record. By matching the timing of linear enamel hyperplasia across multiple teeth, a minimum of five developmental disruptions were identified, indicating that the Xujiayao juvenile experienced several growth disturbances during its short lifespan. Our SEM and micro‐CT analyses suggest that the large pit on the I1 is an enamel hypoplasia due to its morphology and pre‐eruptive enamel thinning. It is not a post‐eruptive fluorotic pit, and there is no evidence of chalkiness or opacity associated with dental fluorosis. The micro‐CT technique made it possible to verify the presence of enamel hypoplasia and to more precisely quantify defect dimensions, especially in unerupted teeth and shallow hypoplasias that are difficult to detect by binocular microscopy or SEM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 10, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2504   open full text
• An Isotopic Perspective on Animal Husbandry at the Xinzhai Site During the Initial Stage of the Legendary Xia Dynasty (2070–1600 BC).
  L. L. Dai, Z. P. Li, C. Q. Zhao, J. Yuan, L. L. Hou, C. S. Wang, B. T. Fuller, Y. W. Hu.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 02, 2015
  Located in the Central Plains of China, the early Xia Dynasty site of Xinzhai (2050 BC–1750 BC) with large archaeological features and exquisite artifacts of jade and copper is pivotal for probing the origin and formation of Chinese civilisation. Here, stable isotope ratios analysis, supplemented by zooarchaeological results, was used to investigate the exploitation and management of animals utilised by humans. It was demonstrated that a diverse pattern of animal raising and exploitation was present at the Xinzhai site. The domestic pigs were fed with substantial amounts of millets or their byproducts to guarantee a food source for the dietary demands of the humans. Dogs were also found to have consumed large amounts of C4 protein sources, likely in the form of human food scraps or leftovers. The domestic herbivores, sheep and cattle, showed different dietary characteristics in that the former mainly grazed in the natural environment, while the latter species were fed with large amounts of C4 products. This intra‐species variation was somewhat related to their physiological characteristics but seems to have been more determined by their different status in social and ritual activities. Thus, this research at Xinzhai provides a glimpse of the organisation of animal resources during the initial formation of Chinese civilisation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 02, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2503   open full text
• The Use of Animal Bone as Fuel in the Third Millennium BC Walled Enclosure of Castanheiro do Vento (Northern Portugal).
  C. Costa.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 13, 2015
  Experiments on fire manipulation of bones as fuel demonstrated that animal bones are effective in the act of maintaining lasting combustion. These experiments are almost always applied to the studies in hunter–gather societies in prehistory, even though the use of bones as fuel is also known in historical times. Based on data and models resulting from these recent experiments, both in laboratory and in real hearths, I tested the hypothesis of the use of animal bone as fuel in the third/second millennium BC walled enclosure of Castanheiro do Vento, in northern Portugal. The faunal assemblage shows some specific characteristics such as a very low percentage of identifiable material and close to 90% of charred bones with a very high index of fragmentation I link the faunal analysis with the results of some experiments recently published. These experiments show the particularities of bone fuel combustion, specifically used in certain activities. Nevertheless, the interpretation of these activities in Castanheiro do Vento is difficult to achieve because of the preliminary state of the investigations. As an additional problem, the available interpretations in the literature concern mostly hunter–gather, and models do not take into account the complex societies of the third/second millennium BC. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 13, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2502   open full text
• First Introduction and Early Exploitation of the Persian Fallow Deer on Cyprus (8000–6000 cal. bc).
  J.‐D. Vigne, J. Daujat, H. Monchot.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 02, 2015
  The Persian fallow deer (Dama dama mesopotamica) is currently a threatened species. However, it played an important role in many Late Glacial and Early Holocene human societies in the Near and Middle East. This is especially true of the island of Cyprus, where it was introduced at the beginning of the Neolithic and held a predominant place in human subsistence throughout Cypriot prehistory until the Bronze Age. The earliest levels of the extensive Cypriot Pre‐Pottery Neolithic B site of Shillourokambos, occupied between 8400 and 7000 cal. bc, provided 3036 identified remains of this deer. It was possible to measure or determine the age‐at‐death for 1361 and 1444 remains, respectively. Analyses allow for discussions on when the fallow deer was introduced to the island of Cyprus, its origin and how populations were managed. These studies also lead to the reconstruction of acquisition and butchery techniques, as well as culinary practices, and the morphological evolution of males and females throughout time. The Persian fallow deer was introduced to Cyprus later than suids, dogs, cats, goats and cattle, and at nearly the same time as sheep, towards ca 8000 cal. bc. Despite the absence of any skeletal changes, this introduction may reflect an attempt to domesticate the fallow deer on the nearby continental mainland. However, after being introduced to the island, deer appear to have been released into the wild and hunted. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 02, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2488   open full text
• Fish and Birds in the Trypillya Economy and Culture (5.4–2.7 kya BC): Evidence from Ukraine.
  O. Kovalchuk, L. Gorobets.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 27, 2015
  The paper deals with the role of fish and birds in the Trypillya culture, which was one of the greatest Eneolithic cultures within Europe. Analysis of the osteological material (authors' own determination and literature data), as well as auxiliary material – fish and bird images in the Trypillya art – were used for this purpose. As in the case of mammals, the role of different fish and bird species varied greatly among the regions and cultures. Bones of sturgeon, roach, carp, catfish, pike, perch and other freshwater fish species were observed with different frequencies. Analysis of the skeletal remains and data on fishing gear from the archaeological literature indicates that the Trypillya fishing focused on large‐sized fish. The main birds hunted by the Trypillya people were waterfowl (ducks, geese and coot), large Galliformes (capercaillie and black grouse), grey crane and bustard. A characteristic feature of the Trypillya settlements was a large proportion of birds of prey and owls. Remains of domestic chicken from the Gorods'k settlement (late Trypillya or Gorods'k‐Usatove culture), dated as 3212 ± 100 CalBC, were the most ancient remains of domestic chicken found in Ukraine, and probably in Europe. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 27, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2489   open full text
• New Finds from the Cremains in Tomb II at Aegae Point to Philip II and a Scythian Princess.
  T. G. Antikas, L. K. Wynn‐Antikas.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 25, 2015
  Earlier osteoarchaeological studies on cremains of the two individuals from Tomb II at Aegae led to endless debates on the identity of the dead. After re‐examining the bones with Computerized Tomography (or CAT scan) (CT) and X‐Ray Fluorescent scanning (XRF) support, our research team has found new evidence identifying the dead man in the main chamber as Philip II and the woman in the antechamber as the daughter of King Atheas killed in a battle against Philip II in 339BC. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 25, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2459   open full text
• Trauma in the Titicaca Basin, Bolivia (AD 1000–1450).
  S. L. Juengst, S. J. Chávez, D. L. Hutchinson, K. L. Mohr Chávez.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 25, 2015
  The Late Intermediate Period (LIP) (AD 1000–1450) in the Andes was a time of turbulent political and social change as two major states, Wari and Tiwanaku, lost power. Increased rates of skeletal trauma in parts of Peru and Chile for this time period have been interpreted as increased interpersonal violence, perhaps as a result of the political vacuum left in the wake of state collapse. In the Titicaca Basin, people increasingly built defensive architecture on the northern lake shore; however, in the southern lake basin, people did not. Few skeletal remains have been excavated in the lake basin overall to corroborate an increase in violent activity or measure if violent activity was increasing for all populations. This paper reports the skeletal trauma for nine LIP individuals excavated from a common tomb on the Copacabana Peninsula in the southern Titicaca basin. This small sample is important for several reasons: (i) they are the only skeletal remains from the Copacabana Peninsula during the LIP; (ii) 100% of the sample population experienced traumatic injury, possibly because of interpersonal violence; and (iii) trauma was often survived. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 25, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2469   open full text
• Size Estimation of Kingsoldier Bream (Argyrops spinifer) and Evidence of Fishing Strategies.
  L. Yeomans.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 19, 2015
  This paper provides regression formulae for size estimation of kingsoldier bream (Argyrops spinifer) from measurements taken on bones enabling the reconstruction of the size of fish present in archaeological samples. Bones of Sparidae are commonly recovered from archaeological sites bordering the Arabian Gulf, and, of the species within this family, kingsoldier bream are relatively abundant with the bones also easily identifiable. The marine environment where this fish occurs varies throughout its life cycle, and therefore the reconstructed size of the fish can be used to infer the types of location where past fishing activities took place. Comparison of the estimated size of fish caught from two Late Islamic sites on the northwest coast of Qatar, in combination with other evidence, has been used to indicate differing frequencies of fishing methods at the two sites. This variation in fishing is caused by the topography of the coast in the immediate vicinity of the sites with shallow waters providing a wide tidal zone at the northern of the two with an environment suitable for fishing with stone‐built intertidal fish traps (known in Arabic as al maskar). The topography of the coast at the southern of the two sites is steeper, and the settlement was an important trading port so the coast was utilised primarily as a harbour rather than a fishing ground. The supply of fish at this settlement was provided by fishermen more commonly using basket traps (gargoor) and handlines with fishing taking place from boats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 19, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2481   open full text
• Eneolithic Cattle Burials from Aljmaš‐Podunavlje and Osijek‐Retfala, Croatia.
  M. Pasarić, T. Trbojević Vukičević.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 19, 2015
  Two single bovine burials and one mixed animal burial (containing bovine and canid skeletal remains) have been unearthed at two Baden culture sites, Aljmaš‐Podunavlje and Osijek‐Retfala located in Eastern Croatia. Zooarchaeological analysis attributed the faunal remains to domesticated cattle (Bos taurus) and in one case a dog (Canis familiaris). Almost complete and articulated skeletons of subadult or adult cows were found in all three examined features, while pit 59/60 from Aljmaš also contained a skull belonging to an adult‐domesticated cattle and a skeleton of a very young dog, 2–3 months old. All of the skeletons are well preserved and display no evidence of carcass processing indicating that the animals were buried intentionally. Consideration of the positions in which these animals were interred and their relationship with nearby deposits enables discussion of potential animal burial strategies and possible connections with certain ritual practices in which cows and in one case a dog played important roles. The described burials represent the southernmost known distribution of the rite discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 19, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2485   open full text
• Isotopic Reconstruction of the Late Longshan Period (ca. 4200–3900 BP) Dietary Complexity before the Onset of State‐Level Societies at the Wadian Site in the Ying River Valley, Central Plains, China.
  X‐L. Chen, Y‐M. Fang, Y‐W. Hu, Y‐F. Hou, P. Lü, J. Yuan, G‐D. Song, B. T. Fuller, M. P. Richards.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 17, 2015
  During the late Longshan period (ca. 4200–3900 BP) settlements on the Central Plains of China underwent a diversification in food production technologies, which set the stage for rapid economic and social development. The introduction of novel domesticates such as rice, wheat, cattle, and sheep not only provided more food choices, but also changed ideas concerning land use, farming techniques, and the use and mobilization of large scale labor forces. To better understand the contribution that these new dietary items and practices made to shaping the late Longshan period societies, a stable isotope ratio study of humans (n = 12) and animals (n = 42) was conducted at the late Longshan period site of Wadian. The human δ13C and δ15N values are clustered into two distinct groups. One group of nine individuals (δ13C = −9.9 ± 0.7‰; δ15N = 7.5 ± 0.5‰) had a predominately C4 diet based on millet grains with little protein input from the domestic animals. The other group of three individuals (δ13C = −14.3 ± 0.8‰; δ15N = 10.2 ± 0.3‰) had a mixed C3/C4 diet of millets and rice and were consuming sheep and cattle. The animals also displayed dietary diversity with the pigs (δ13C = −11.3 ± 2.5‰; δ15N = 6.9 ± 1.0‰, n = 10) and dogs (δ13C = −10.1 ± 1.0‰; δ15N = 7.2 ± 1.1‰, n = 7) having mostly a C4 plant based diet (millets). In contrast, the cattle (δ13C = −12.8 ± 2.1‰; δ15N = 7.6 ± 0.7‰, n = 9), sheep (δ13C = −16.7 ± 0.9‰; δ15N = 7.6 ± 0.1‰, n = 2), and cervids (δ13C = −20.8 ± 0.9‰; δ15N = 5.0 ± 1.2‰, n = 10) had diets with a greater contribution from C3 sources such as rice and wild plants. The discovery that humans and animals had different subsistence patterns indicates dietary complexity at Wadian and that rice agriculture, and cattle and sheep husbandry practices were already an important part of the local economy by the late Longshan period in the southern region of the Central Plains of China. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2482   open full text
• Presence and Absence: An Exploration of Scurvy in the Commingled Subadults in the Spring Street Presbyterian Church Collection, Lower Manhattan.
  M. A. B. Ellis.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 17, 2015
  This paper presents the results of an examination of scurvy in the commingled subadult remains (minimum number of individuals = 70) of the Spring Street Presbyterian Church. This historic congregation in New York City had active burial vaults from 1820 to 1846. Scurvy is a vitamin C deficiency that results in haemorrhaging at the sites of muscle origin and insertion, particularly around the skull. These resulting lesions can occur in subadults undergoing growth, weaning and dietary stress. Applying diagnoses suggested by recent research, this article examines specific sites on the skull for lesions consistent with and suggestive of scurvy. Findings include 30 elements that display associated pathology. This population data are drawn from maxillae, sphenoids and orbits. Two osteobiographies are also presented. By connecting the biological data to the socio‐cultural environment of the church, this article raises questions of how to interpret the presence and absence of scurvy in a commingled collection. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2473   open full text
• An Osteobiography of a 19th‐Century Dog from Toronto, Canada.
  E. Tourigny, R. Thomas, E. Guiry, R. Earp, A. Allen, J. L. Rothenburger, D. Lawler, M. Nussbaumer.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 17, 2015
  A 19th‐century dog burial uncovered from a historical homelot in Toronto, Canada, provided a unique opportunity to reconstruct the individual's osteobiography. Of particular interest are the dog's very large size and a suite of skeletal pathologies. Recovery of a nearly complete skeleton combined with the use of X‐rays and micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) allowed for a discriminating differential diagnoses. Stable isotope analyses were applied to investigate questions of diet. Results reveal an individual who suffered greatly from disease towards the end of his life and hint at its owners attitudes towards dogs. The interdisciplinary approach applied to this case study highlights the potential information obtainable from pet burials. We argue that better analyses and reporting of pet burials will help address research questions targeting broader themes related to human–animal relationships. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2483   open full text
• Sclerosing Bone Dysplasia from 16th Century Sardinia (Italy): A Possible Case of Camurati–Engelmann Disease.
  V. Giuffra, A. Montella, R. Bianucci, M. Milanese, E. Tognotti, D. Caramella, G. Fornaciari, P. Bandiera.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 17, 2015
  The skeletal remains of a male aged 45–55 years displaying several bone anomalies were unearthed from the Alghero (Sardinia) plague cemetery ‘lo Quarter’, a burial site dating back to the 1582–1583 AD outbreak. The skeleton, whose stature is about 165 cm, presents a bilateral hyperostosis with increased diameter of the diaphyses of all the long bones of the upper and lower limbs; the metaphyses appear to be involved, while the epiphyses are spared. Marked thickening of the cranial vault is also evident. Radiological study showed irregular cortical thickening and massive endoperiosteal bone apposition; sclerotic changes are observed in the diaphysis of some metacarpals. Computed tomography (CT) cross sections of the long bones displayed a thickening of the cortical portion and endoperiosteal bone apposition. The individual was affected by a sclerosing bone dysplasia, a genetic disease characterized by increased bone density. In differential diagnosis, several sclerosing bone dysplasia, such as hyperostosis corticalis generalisata, craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, craniometadiaphyseal dysplasia, pachydermoperiostosis and Camurati–Engelmann disease, as well as other disorders characterized by sclerosing manifestations, such as Erdheim–Chester disease, mehloreostosis and skeletal fluorosis, need to be considered. The anomalies observed in skeleton 2179 fit with the features of Camurati–Engelmann disease, which is the most likely candidate for final diagnosis. It is highly challenging to evaluate how such a condition may have influenced the individual's lifestyle in terms of development, mobility and quality of life. This individual was probably symptomatic and must have experienced common clinical symptoms, such as pain in the limbs and fatigability. However, the strong development of the muscular insertions and the degenerative changes in the upper limbs suggest that the mobility problems should not have prevented him from reaching a mature age and from performing essential daily activities. The presented case is the unique paleopathological evidence of Camurati–Engelmann disease so far diagnosed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2484   open full text
• Spiro Mounds, Oklahoma: Dental Evidence for Subsistence Strategies.
  A. T. Mayes.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 14, 2015
  Spiro Mounds was a ceremonial complex located on the Arkansas River, situated in a natural corridor between the Southeast, the Plains, and the Southwestern United States. Considered a quintessential Mississippian site (ad 1000–ad 1450), Spiro was strategically placed as a cultural gateway. Here, dental evidence is presented to aid in the determination of dietary regime and overall population health. The hypothesis regarding the delayed transition to maize agriculture in the Arkansas River Valley will be tested through population comparisons of dental remains. This study will expand the bioarchaeological investigation of a region that has had limited systematic examination. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between Alluvial, Upland, and Plains environmental zones, and the pattern of dental pathology. Assaults on the dentition at Spiro are moderate. Caries and hypoplasia rates fall just under but approaching those expected for agricultural populations (57% and 49%, respectively). The high number of occlusal caries indicates slower cariogenic destruction and a slower attrition rate. Ante mortem tooth loss was low (18%), with moderate dental attrition (61%). The dental analysis of Spiro Mounds reveals a population with little generalised stress resulting from environmental or sociocultural influences. Comparisons of Spiro to other larger sites in the Mississippian sphere is revealing regarding widespread cultural traditions and their affect on population health; Spiro's unique circumstances give evidence of a population in transition to maize agriculture, but not fully committed to it. Higher status individuals were slower to change from the subsistence strategies that had made them biologically successful. Recent isotope data support this conclusion. The delayed role of maize agriculture at Spiro Mounds, as well as its ideal location within the Mississippian sphere, indicates a different social evolution than other influential Mississippian centres. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 14, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2472   open full text
• The Paths of the European Conquest of the Atlantic: Osteological Evidence of Warfare and Violence in Gran Canaria (XV Century).
  J. Santana‐Cabrera, J. Velasco‐Vázquez, A. Rodríguez‐Rodríguez, M. C. González‐Marrero, T. Delgado‐Darias.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 14, 2015
  European expansion in the Atlantic in the Late Middle Ages often implied the use of violence, involving tactics and weaponry unknown to some of the affected populations. Among the first places to suffer this violence were the Canary Islands, whose conquest lasted the whole of the 15th century. Documentary information about this historical episode is abundant, whereas archaeological evidence testifying to it is very rare. However, an individual from an indigenous funerary context of Gran Canaria (placed in a collective burial cave and wrapped in a shroud made of vegetable fibres) displays a large number of wounds, both on his skull and on the rest of the skeleton, probably caused by swords, suggesting a mortal attack conducted by one or more aggressors. Based on the study of injuries, it is considered a potential explanation of their origin, concluding that most likely this case may be associated with the process of the conquest of the Island. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 14, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2476   open full text
• Antemortem Cranial Trauma in Ancient Mesopotamia.
  A. Sołtysiak.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 14, 2015
  As a result of a review of the available literature and some unpublished sources, data on ante mortem cranial trauma have been gathered for 25 archaeological sites from Mesopotamia, dated from the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic to the modern period. In total, 31 healed cranial lesions have been noted in 28 out of 1278 individuals, and the general frequency of this condition was 2.2%. Both men and women were affected, with no clear preference noted, and sharp‐force trauma was rare; therefore, intra‐group violence and accidents were more likely causes of most lesions than military activities. The frequency of ante mortem trauma was higher in earlier periods (before the end of the third millennium BCE); the size of lesions increased with time, and healed lesions were more common in the northern periphery of Mesopotamia than in the core area. All this may be the consequence of early state formation and the establishment of professional armies, which made most farmers and city dwellers less involved in violent conflicts than in other parts of the Near East where the observed frequency of violence‐related injuries was much higher than in Mesopotamia. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 14, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2478   open full text
• Remains of the Dead: Exploring a Human Anatomical Collection from Brazilian Amazon.
  F. Alves Cardoso, V. Lira.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 14, 2015
  Osteological lesions can be important to positively identify human remains in forensic contexts, as well as contribute to past population studies. However, their analysis requires training and appropriate research conditions, which may be lacking in certain geographic areas as, for example, the northern region of Brazil. Emphasising existing resources, such as anatomical collections, may help to address this issue. This study explores the anatomical collection of Professor Dr. Manuel da Silva Braga of the Federal University of Pará (Brazil), introducing the traumatic lesions identified in seven crania (13.7%; 7/51) of male (four) and female (three) individuals. The sample profile and the cases identified are in accordance with the pattern of violent victims in the region. This study is the first of its kind in the Pará State, contributing with case studies and examples, to the disciplines of biological anthropology, paleopathology, and bioarchaeology and forensic discipline. It also highlights the significance that anatomical collections may have in the development of those disciplines, suggesting a need for reappraisal and reevaluation of existing resources, as these may be of use for training and research. Lastly, this study builds a bridge towards the social and cultural context of the collection, reinforcing the value of an interdisciplinary approach to human remains. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 14, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2480   open full text
• Violence and Trophy Taking: A Case Study of Head and Neck Trauma in Two Individuals from the Gant Site (3MS11).
  J‐L. Thomas, M. Buchanan, C. Wilson, A. Crane.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 04, 2015
  In collaboration with Carrie V. Wilson, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) Director for the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, researchers at Indiana University undertook a comprehensive study of NAGPRA collections from the Gant site (3MS11), a pre‐Columbian village site in Mississippi County, Arkansas. Following non‐destructive, macroscopic analysis of skeletal material, evidence of violent trauma was identified in two young adult men from the site. In one individual, the trauma was likely perimortem, and the morphology and distribution of lesions were found to be consistent with trophy taking documented in the ethnohistory and archaeology of the region. In the second individual, the trauma was survived, indicated by lesions attributed to healing on the occipital squama and hyoid. The relationship between the violence identified in this study and other violence in the archaeological and ethnohistoric record of the region is discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 04, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2474   open full text
• Evidence for End‐stage Cannibalism on Sir John Franklin's Last Expedition to the Arctic, 1845.
  S. Mays, O. Beattie.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 04, 2015
  The 1845 British naval expedition commanded by Sir John Franklin to map the Northwest Passage ended in disaster, with none returning alive from the Canadian Arctic. The 19th century Inuit testimony described cannibalism among Franklin's men in the final throes of the expedition. Such claims were controversial at the time, but were supported in the 1980s and 1990s when knife marks were identified on human remains recovered from expedition sites on King William Island. Survival cannibalism generally follows a sequence in which meat is initially cut from an intact corpse, but if further calories are required, successively greater effort is put into corpse processing. End‐stage cannibalism is characterised by breakage and boiling of bones to extract marrow fat from medullary cavities and cancellous bone. The current work involves re‐examination, using macroscopic and microscopic study, of human remains (representing a minimum of 35 bones) from the Franklin expedition. It describes evidence for breakage and polishing of broken edges of parts of some long bones. These alterations are tentatively interpreted as breakage and heating of bones in water, to facilitate marrow extraction. If this is correct, then it constitutes the first osteological evidence of end‐stage cannibalism among members of the expedition. Comparison of these osteological findings with 19th century Inuit reports provides further evidence supporting the veracity of Inuit descriptions of cannibalistic practices by expedition members. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 04, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2479   open full text
• Isotopic Evidence for Diet Among Historic Bedouin of Khirbat al‐Mudayna, Jordan.
  L. A. Gregoricka, M. A. Judd.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 14, 2015
  Interpreting the behaviours of nomadic groups from the archaeological record is particularly challenging owing to the ephemeral remains produced by their lifestyle. As such, human burials – even from isolated contexts – provide a wealth of information about these transient groups. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of a series of human skeletal remains (n = 22) from isolated burials were utilized to reconstruct the diet of historic (ca. 13th–19th century CE) Bedouin from the Khirbat al‐Mudayna vicinity in modern‐day Jordan. Carbon isotope values ranging from −17.7 to −12.5‰ point to variable dietary contributions from both C3‐ and C4‐based foods, while corresponding faunal δ13C ratios ( x¯ = −19.0 ± 1.7‰, 1σ) exhibit depletion in 13C characteristic of a predominantly C3 diet. While mean human δ15N values ( x¯ = 12.7 ± 1.9‰, 1σ) may suggest that the majority of protein consumed by these nomads came from animal and not plant sources, elevated δ15N ratios in some fauna may be indicative of 15N‐enriched soils as reported in some arid desert environments. Considerable variability in both δ13C and δ15N values also points to differences in individual life histories and subsistence economies over time. Despite a lack of temporal cohesion, these data illustrate the information that can be gleaned from the isolated interments of nomadic or semi‐nomadic individuals. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 14, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2468   open full text
• Investigating Dietary Patterns with Stable Isotope Ratios of Collagen and Starch Grain Analysis of Dental Calculus at the Iron Age Cemetery Site of Heigouliang, Xinjiang, China.
  T. T. Wang, B. T. Fuller, D. Wei, X. E. Chang, Y. W. Hu.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 02, 2015
  Here, we present δ13C and δ15N results for the dietary reconstruction of nomadic pastoralists from the Iron Age (ca. 1000 bc–8 ad) site of Heigouliang. The human (n = 27) δ13C values range from −19.6‰ to −17.0‰ with a mean value of −18.5 ± 0.5‰, and the δ15N results range from 11.5‰ to 13.8‰ with a mean value of 12.4 ± 0.6‰. The results indicated that animals, like sheep, were part of the predominately C3 terrestrial diet, but two individuals have values greater than −18‰ that is indicative of some input of C4 foods in their diets. Because of a lack of faunal samples and to supply complementary information concerning plant consumption, teeth from four individuals were analysed for dental calculus microfossils. Starch grains were found to correspond to Triticeae and Poaceae, possibly including wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), highland barley (H. vulgare L var. nudum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and/or common millet (Panicum miliaceum). At the population level, no dietary differences were detected between burial owners and sacrificial victims, but variations were found when specific tombs were analysed. In particular, individuals with bone trauma associated with armed conflict also had distinct isotopic signatures possibly suggesting that some of the sacrificial victims could have been captured warriors that were sacrificed for the burial owners. While limited, the results are some of the first from an Iron Age population from Xinjiang and contribute to our understanding of the dietary patterns of this region. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 02, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2467   open full text
• Identifying and Interpreting Domestic Violence in Archaeological Human Remains: A Critical Review of the Evidence.
  R. C. Redfern.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 12, 2015
  This research reviews and discusses the clinical and social science datasets used to identify victims of domestic violence (DV) in the archaeological record. Clinical sources are skewed by law enforcement and cost issues, dominated by Western female data and suggest that DV is a well‐documented form of abuse. Social science sources and perspectives, having arisen from activist movements, are more spatiotemporally diverse in breadth and perspective, and challenge the notion that DV is universal and well‐documented, but are biased because they rely upon self‐survey reports. Palaeopathology and bioarchaeology have adopted a clinical approach to DV, relying on a pattern of injuries (focussed on the head, face and neck), without critically evaluating whether such datasets are appropriate to the spatiotemporal and socio‐cultural diversity present in the archaeological record. A case study evaluating the injury patterns in 964 post‐medieval adult females from London (England) demonstrates that the majority of injuries that conform to the clinical model have robust alternative explanations, and only a small minority of females have injuries that may have been produced by interpersonal violence, not necessarily DV. In conclusion, the review highlights that the perspectives of the elderly and male victims are currently neglected in research, and evidence for injury, especially that which may reflect abuse, necessitates interpretation within a ‘web of violence’ approach, as DV does not occur in isolation from other violence in a community. It challenges the ‘check‐list’ approach to interpretation and suggests that a closer examination of fracture mechanism combined with injury patterning may be a more informative approach with which to identify DV victims of both sexes and identifies the need to integrate other health data into the interpretation of violence and abuse. Overall, it concurs with the minority of clinical and forensic literature that it might not be possible to differentiate DV and assault victims. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 12, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2461   open full text
• Violence‐Related Trauma from the Cistercian Abbey of St Mary Graces and a Late Black Death Cemetery.
  K. Krakowka.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 12, 2015
  The skeletal assemblage excavated from the precinct of St Mary Graces in London (part of the MIN86 collection curated at the Museum of London) is composed of two separate burial populations: the abbey burials, both intra‐ and extramural, and the western cemetery, which was a burial ground for victims of the later waves of the Black Death. Representing both ends of the social status spectrum, these two cemeteries offer a unique look at the patterns and prevalence of violence in a small cross section of the medieval London population. The lower status males from the western cemetery presented with a large number of skull fractures, indicating a high level of violence. The high‐status individuals buried within the abbey were not immune from violence‐related trauma. They presented with a large number of rib fractures, possibly a result of combat or combat practice as many of these individuals were knights and lords. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 12, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2462   open full text
• Avoiding War in Tarapacá (Northern Chile) During the Andean Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000–1450).
  Aryel Pacheco, Rodrigo Retamal.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 12, 2015
  The Late Intermediate period (LIP, AD 1000–1450) in the South Central Andes is commonly characterized by an increase in violence. Here, we analyse evidence to test whether the population that inhabited the oasis of Pica (Region of Tarapacá, Northern Chile) during LIP was engaged in violent warfare. The analysis of 96 individuals showed a low prevalence of violence‐related injuries (N = 6/96). Facial traumas observed on females could be a result of domestic violence, whereas nasal traumas found in males could be interpreted as a result of ritualized combats. One male exhibits a point embedded in his first right rib which is the only injury that can be attributed to open intergroup combat. These findings, combined with the mortuary characteristics of the Pica 8 cemetery, the lack of defensive constructions at the site, the settlement pattern and the iconography, do not support the existence of war at Pica during the LIP. The weapons found at Pica 8 cemetery are elaborately decorated, and many are clearly useless in combat so they were likely not made to be used in open conflicts. In addition, clothes considered to belong to warriors may be alternately interpreted as garments used for ceremonial purpose. Taking into account the belligerent climate in contemporaneous San Pedro de Atacama, we suggest that the Pica population employed ritualized violence as a means of avoiding larger conflicts or war. We propose that male violence in controlled scenarios permitted the sublimation of social inequalities or internal conflicts, and could have been used in order to create and maintain social stability. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 12, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2460   open full text
• Indirect Evidence of Falconry in Medieval Poland as Inferred from Published Zooarchaeological Studies.
  Z. M. Bochenski, T. Tomek, K. Wertz, M. Wojenka.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 02, 2015
  Although written sources indicate that falconry or hawking was very popular already in early medieval Poland, there is no hard zooarchaeological evidence that would support it. So far, only two studies based on animal remains suggested hawking in medieval Poland. The purpose of this study was to examine all published zooarchaeological reports from all archaeological sites in Poland and check for possible clues of hawking. Altogether, 281 remains of 12 species of diurnal birds of prey were recorded from 38 sites (49 time‐site units) in Poland beginning from the Middle Ages onward. The most frequently found was the goshawk Accipiter gentilis followed by the white‐tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and the sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. Clues of possible hawking include high status of sites, occurrence of species used in falconry outside their natural ranges, preponderance of females, the presence of sub‐adult specimens and others. It is suggested that surface damage observed on prey bones done by the hawks' beaks and claws may be an extra evidence of hawking. The present study strongly supports the notion that hawking was a very popular activity in medieval Poland. In the future, medieval bone assemblages should always be checked for clues of hawking. The present study may also be used as a source of raw data for other analyses because it includes detailed information on birds of prey from all zooarchaeological reports published so far in Poland. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 02, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2457   open full text
• The Diet of Three Medieval Individuals from Caravate (Varese, Italy). Combined Results of ICP‐MS Analysis of Trace Elements and Phytolith Analysis Conducted on Their Dental Calculus.
  A. M. B. Lazzati, L. Levrini, L. Rampazzi, C. Dossi, L. Castelletti, M. Licata, C. Corti.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 21, 2015
  Teeth are in close contact with foodstuffs: phenomena such as caries and wear of the crowns are precious keys to gather information on diet and cooking techniques. Phytoliths are granules of hydrated amorphous silica, which are deposited in the oral cavity while chewing fruit and vegetables and incorporated into dental calculus during its formation. In diet investigation, different plants may therefore be related to specific phytolith shapes. Analysis of chemical trace elements, incorporated in dental calculus from ingested food and replacing small percentages of calcium in normal processes of resorption and redeposition, can further enrich the research on ancient diet. The aim of our work was to set up an analytical protocol, focalised on phytoliths and the inorganic elemental composition of dental calculus, on samples coming from medieval skeletons excavated in Caravate (Varese, Italy). The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analytical technique proved to be particularly suitable for such studies. The results suggested a diet based both on the consumption of carbohydrates (dicotyledons and monocotyledons such as the Poaceae, also known as Gramineae; and Coniferae) and on proteins, mostly derived from fish. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 21, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2458   open full text
• Did Children in Medieval and Post‐medieval Poland Suffer from Scurvy? Examination of the Skeletal Evidence.
  M. Krenz‐Niedbała.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 06, 2015
  Late‐medieval and post‐medieval writings report that scurvy was a widespread condition in medieval and early historical Poland. Archaeological and historical data indicate that the diet of children was based on foods poor in vitamin C and contained small amounts of raw plant products. Also, historians emphasise that in medieval and post‐medieval Poland, there were seasonal fluctuations in food availability, frequently accompanied by poor harvests. Both resulted in long periods of poor nutrition, which affected children most severely. The aim of this study was to investigate skeletal manifestations of scurvy in subadult remains from medieval and post‐medieval Poland. Following standards described by Ortner and colleagues, anatomical sites pathognomonic of scurvy in subadults (<17 years) were assessed for abnormal porosity and hypertrophic bone among skeletons excavated from three sites: Ostrów Lednicki (dated to the 11th–14th centuries AD), Cedynia (10th–14th centuries AD) and Słaboszewo (14th–17th centuries AD). In total, 3.6% of all examined children were found to bear traces of vitamin C deficiency. The prevalence of scorbutic lesions was 4.5% for Cedynia, 2.6% for Ostrów Lednicki and 3.6% for Słaboszewo. The majority of affected children were less than 7 years of age. Scurvy was likely more widespread in the living populations than it appears from the calculation of skeletal markers, because some individuals might have recovered or died before obvious traces became apparent. Also, in some children, scurvy might not have reached an advanced stage, identifiable in the skeletal material. The prevalence of scurvy reflects not only dietary patterns but also food storage and preparation techniques adopted in the Polish territories during the Middle Ages, which contributed to low intakes of vitamin C. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 06, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2454   open full text
• Sacrifice of the Social Outcasts: Two Cases of Klippel–Feil Syndrome at Midnight Terror Cave, Belize.
  C. L. Kieffer.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 06, 2015
  The archaeological record indicates that the ancient lowland Maya sacrificed a wide variety of people in caves for various reasons. Ritual theorists have proposed that individuals chosen for sacrifice cross‐culturally are typically outsiders either geographically or socially with slaves, prisoners of war, children (typically orphaned), sorcerers and the physically handicapped. Prior to this study, all but the physically handicapped were documented as sacrificial victims at cave sites. The site of Midnight Terror Cave in the Cayo District of Belize contains at least 118 individuals and is now one of the largest sacrificial assemblages ever discovered in the Maya Lowlands. This assemblage supports previous notions of who the ancient Maya chose for human sacrifice and documents the first cases of physically handicapped sacrifices. Two individuals with probable Klippel–Feil syndrome, a physically debilitating pathological condition with many associated abnormalities that would have made certain aspects of social life difficult, were documented in the assemblage. Ultimately, these results suggest that ritual theory predicts all the types of social outcasts chosen for sacrifice Maya caves. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 06, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2456   open full text
• Dental Modifications in a Skeletal Sample of Enslaved Africans Found at Lagos (Portugal).
  S. N. Wasterlain, M. J. Neves, M. T. Ferreira.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 03, 2015
  An archaeological intervention in Valle da Gafaria (Lagos, Portugal) allowed the excavation of a deposit of waste dating from the 15th to 17th centuries. Among discarded objects, an important amount of human skeletal remains was exhumed (N = 158 individuals). The archaeological and historical context, as well as the morphometric analysis of the skulls, led us to attribute them an African origin. While historical sources document the trade of slaves by the Portuguese since the 15th century, so far no slave cemetery was excavated in Portugal. The study of their lives and deaths has been accomplished by historical documents. Therefore, this sample provides a unique opportunity to learn more about captive individuals who were brought to Portugal in the modern period. The present work focuses in the intentional dental modifications presented by several of these individuals. A total of 113 subjects have teeth that can be evaluated for the presence of intentional modifications. Of these, 55.8% individuals present dental modifications on their anterior dentition, 42.9% exhibiting modifications on both upper and lower teeth. The incisors were the most frequently modified teeth, followed by the canines. Both men and women as adults and sub‐adults have dental intentional modifications. In most individuals, dental modifications involved the removal of the mesial and distal angles, which is comparable with sub‐Saharan African practices. However, we cannot infer a more specific origin for these slaves only based on dental modification's type and pattern because several ethnic groups modify teeth in the same way. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 03, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2453   open full text
• Chinese Indentured Mine Labour and the Dangers Associated with Early 20th Century Deep‐level Mining on the Witwatersrand Gold Mines, South Africa.
  A. Meyer, M. Steyn.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 30, 2015
  Trauma analysis in archaeological human remains can aid our understanding of cultural practices, socio‐economic status, environmental and social conditions, and even aspects of a person's occupation. For this reason, fracture patterns and frequencies can be useful in making inferences about the environment people lived and worked in. This is especially true for the 20th century mining industry where unskilled migrant labourers were often subjected to harsh working and living conditions. In this study, the skeletal remains of 36 Chinese indentured mine labourers, who worked and died on the Witwatersrand mines, South Africa, during the period ad 1904–1910, were assessed for evidence of trauma. Historical information suggests that these indentured Chinese labourers were unfamiliar with the workings of deep‐level mines and as a result sustained many work‐related injuries. Analyses suggest low frequencies of ante‐mortem trauma. In the few instances where they occurred, these healed fractures most probably reflect injuries already sustained in China, some time before Chinese indentured employment on the Witwatersrand mines. A high frequency of traumatic lesions, specifically peri‐mortem fractures, however, suggests a drastic shift in their working environment attesting to the hazardous working conditions associated with deep‐level mining in the early 20th century. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 30, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2455   open full text
• The Retromolar Space: A Morphological Curiosity Observed Amongst the Protohistoric Arikara and Mandan.
  C. De la Cova.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 30, 2015
  The retromolar space (RMS), defined in palaeoanthropology as a space posterior to the third molar, between the distal edge of the tooth and the anterior margin of the ascending ramus when the mandible is held in lateral view, has been described as an autapomorphic trait unique to Neanderthals despite its presence in anatomically modern humans. This study examined RMS prevalence in a sample of protohistoric Arikara and Mandan Amerindians to determine what craniofacial morphology is correlated with the RMS. It was hypothesised that the feature would be present in the Amerindians studied and associated with a long cranial length, a large nasal height, midfacial prognathism, a broad mandible, and dental wear. The results indicated that RMSs were present in the Arikara and Mandan and significantly correlated with cranial length, cranial breadth, nasal height, bizygomatic breadth, basion‐nasion length, basion‐nasiospinale, mandible length, gonial angle, bigonial breadth, and dental wear. Thus, RMSs are associated with a dolichocephalic skull, wide cranial and facial breadth, a prognathic face, large nose and a corresponding wide and long mandible with a reduced gonial angle. This suggests that the RMS is the result of these features merging together in the craniofacial complex and should not be considered a Neanderthal autapomorphy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 30, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2451   open full text
• Fighting to the Death: Weapon Injuries in a Mass Grave (16th–17th Century) from Bucharest, Romania.
  M. Constantinescu, E. Gavrilă, S. Greer, A. Soficaru, D. Ungureanu.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 30, 2015
  Archaeological excavations carried out in 1972 and 2010–2011 in the University Square, Bucharest, Romania, brought to light 688 graves belonging to the Saint Sava Church Cemetery, dating between the middle of the 16th century and middle of the 19th century. At 35 metres from the western boundary of the cemetery, a mass grave containing three adult male skeletons was unearthed. The unusual position of the skeletons and the high incidence of traumatic injuries on the bones posed several questions concerning the historical and archaeological context of this grave. Osteological analysis of the skeletons revealed that all three individuals exhibited a series of occupational stress markers, indicating similar activities and associated with moderate physical activity during life. A total number of 24 perimortem lesions (caused mainly by sabres but also by blunt objects and projectiles) were recorded on the skeletal remains. The high percentage of cranial injuries may indicate that the head was the main target, demonstrating the intention to incapacitate the victims quickly and being different from those connected to executions in the period. Eight of these lesions were produced by sharp objects similar to sabres used by professional soldiers during the 16th–17th century in southeastern Europe. The osteological profile of the individuals and the injuries they sustained suggest that the victims had a military background and were probably killed at the end of the 16th century during a violent dispute. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 30, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2450   open full text
• Cut Mark Cluster Geometry and Equifinality in Replicated Early Stone Age Butchery.
  S. R. Merritt.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 17, 2015
  Early Stone Age cut marks created during tool‐assisted carnivory potentially offer inferences into hominin butchery behaviour and access to complete or defleshed carcasses. Actualistic butchery trials of 16 goat and cow half‐carcasses were completed by an experienced butcher with replicated Oldowan tools to investigate how the geometric organisation of cut mark clusters reflects flake versus core tool use and bulk muscle versus scrap defleshing. A cluster of cut marks is defined as a series of adjacent cut mark striations that occur at an anatomical location and are bounded by unmarked cortical surface. Tool type and butchery action were predicted to differentially mark certain long bone portions and influence cluster attributes. Moulds of 613 cut mark clusters were photographed and measured using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) for cluster area, cut mark count, median cut mark length and standard deviation of cut mark length and angle. Analysis suggests the following results: (i) cluster attributes are correlated;(ii) changes in cluster geometry are related to increasing cut mark count and length but not tool type or defleshed muscle amount; (iii) large clusters occur on large animals; and (iv) long bone midshaft portions are cut‐marked during both bulk and scrap muscle defleshing. Analysis of 179 cut mark clusters on long bone shafts of sizes 1–4 mammals from three Okote member assemblages at Koobi Fora, Kenya, shows that archaeological clusters have a similar number of marks when compared with experimental clusters but are significantly smaller, have shorter median marks and include less deviation in mark length and angle. Archaeological clusters corroborate that increasing area is positively correlated with cut mark count, median mark length and standard deviation of mark length and angle. A quantitative inferential model that links cut mark cluster geometry to tool type or the amount of muscle defleshed is not supported by these data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2448   open full text
• Life on the Edge of the Arctic: The Bioarchaeology of the Keldudalur Cemetery in Skagafjörður, Iceland.
  G. Zoëga, K. A. Murphy.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 17, 2015
  Burials were examined from the late Viking Age early medieval Christian cemetery at the farm of Keldudalur in the Skagafjörður region, Northern Iceland. The cemetery likely served a single household for about 100–120 years, from the beginning of the 11th century AD to the turn of the 12th century. Cemetery inhabitants represent a population that lived through the transitional period when Christianity was established in Iceland. The changes are visible in the mortuary record with the changeover from outlying pagan graves to enclosed Christian cemeteries situated on the farmsteads. Keldudalur is one of the numerous early Christian family cemeteries that littered the 11th century Skagafjörður landscape. The burials included 53 well‐preserved skeletons of 27 adults and 26 subadults. Various factors such as fluctuating climate and environmental conditions, and seasonal or periodical availability of resources have the potential for impacting human diet and health over time. To assess the health status of the burials, data were collected for a number of health status indicators such as stature estimation, developmental enamel defects, porotic hyperostosis, infectious disease, trauma, degenerative joint diseases, dental caries, calculus and tooth loss. Results suggest that inhabitants of Keldudalur experienced periodic stress and rigorous living conditions. Infant mortality was great, although if individuals survived childhood, the age expectancy was fairly high. There was no obvious evidence for interpersonal violence or endemic infectious disease. However, the common occurrence of growth disturbances, generalised periostitis, trauma and degenerative joint disease all point to a number of stressors in the lives of the people at Keldudalur, which is suggestive of a resilient people living and adapting to a harsh and periodically resource scarce subarctic environment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2446   open full text
• Stable Isotope Record of Human and Sheep Enamel Carbonate from the Ancient Middle Euphrates Valley (Syria).
  J. Tomczyk, H. Wierzbowski, M. Zalewska.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 16, 2015
  Stable isotope analyses of human tooth enamel have allowed us to reconstruct the isotope composition of dietary carbon, changes in the oxygen isotope composition of drinking water and the possible migration of humans in ancient Terqa and Tell Masaikh (SE Syria). δ18Ocarbonate values of human tooth enamel from the interval comprising the Neo‐Assyrian to the modern Islamic periods (from 900 BC to AD 1949) generally mirror the isotope composition of Euphrates water, which is believed to have been a major drinking water source. Lower δ18Ocarbonate values of human Bronze Age apatite are linked to a different hydrologic system that was present in the Middle Euphrates valley at that time (2650–1700 BC). Higher δ18Ocarbonate values of some individuals in the Neo‐Assyrian (900–700 BC) and Islamic periods (AD 600–1200) may indicate human migration from the interior of the Near East. Low δ13Ccarbonate values (−11.3 to −12.4‰) of human tooth enamel from the interval comprising the Early Bronze to the Islamic periods (from 2650 BC to AD 1200) indicate C3 plants as a predominant source of dietary carbon. Changes in human dietary customs in SE Syria (with inferred usage of C4 plants) occurred in the modern Islamic period only (AD 1850–1949). Oxygen and carbon isotope data of sheep enamel show the usage of water bodies characterised by an enhanced evaporation rate during the Neo‐Assyrian time (900–700 BC) and grazing sheep herds on drier areas during the Islamic and the modern Islamic periods (after AD 600). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 16, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2449   open full text
• Elder Abuse: Evaluating the Potentials and Problems of Diagnosis in the Archaeological Record.
  R. L. Gowland.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 01, 2015
  The elderly are the most neglected demographic in archaeology. In today's youth‐obsessed society, the elderly are consistently denigrated, particularly those perceived to be physically or mentally frail. A related and growing concern in contemporary populations is the physical abuse of the elderly, believed to be an escalating phenomenon. This study is the first to examine the risk factors, social context and patterns of trauma associated with elder abuse in the present, with the aim of providing diagnostic criteria to apply to past societies. The utility of skeletal evidence in the identification of violent trauma has been detailed in cases of child and intimate partner abuse, both modern and archaeological. Investigating the skeletal evidence for elder abuse is potentially more complex because of the confounding physiological effects of the ageing process, lack of clinical research and contemporary ageist attitudes towards older people. Within the clinical and bioarchaeological literature, there has been a tendency to dismiss injuries in older individuals as the product of accident or opportunistic violence. A proportion of elder members of past societies is likely to have been victims of abuse and family violence. While there are no pathognomonic skeletal features of elder abuse, multiple injuries to the bones of the following are indicative: cranium, maxilla‐facial region, dentition, cervical vertebrae, clavicles, ribs and spiral fractures to the humeri. Attention is also drawn to decubiti as indirect skeletal indicators of immobility and possibly neglect. Archaeological context is important to consider, including non‐normative burials or those indicating social marginalisation. Bioarchaeological evidence has the potential to provide a long‐term perspective on the care and treatment of past elders. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 01, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2442   open full text
• Applying Zooarchaeological Methods to Interpret Mortuary Behaviour and Taphonomy in Commingled Burials: The Case Study of the Late Neolithic Site of Bolores, Portugal.
  J. E. Mack, A. J. Waterman, A‐M. Racila, J. A. Artz, K. T. Lillios.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 31, 2015
  The rock‐cut tomb of Bolores in the Portuguese Estremadura dates primarily to the Late Neolithic/Copper Age (2800–2600 BC) and, in a series of recent excavations, has yielded thousands of fragmented, commingled human bone specimens. The primary goals of the present study were to determine the minimum number of individuals interred in the tomb and to analyse spatial patterns in fragmentation intensity to identify natural and anthropogenic taphonomic processes. To investigate these research questions, the authors employed a simplified version of an established method in zooarchaeology to the study of human remains. Human bone specimens were recorded by the presence of osteological landmarks rather than the zones used in similar studies. This recording system allowed for calculation of the minimum number of individuals (further refined through dental analysis) and generated the NISPs (Numbers of Identified Specimens), minimum number of elements, fragment counts and landmarks sums essential to the conjoining and fragmentation studies. Fragmentation analysis led to the identification of four possible use areas in the tomb: two for primary inhumations and two for secondary deposits created by cleaning out the burial chambers at Bolores. We found that the application of multiple zooarchaeological methods to the study of commingled human remains has the potential to provide a more fine‐grained understanding of site biography and taphonomy than human osteological methods alone. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 31, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2443   open full text
• Multiple Cases with Probable Treponemal Infection from 16th to 19th Centuries Romania.
  C. Radu, L. Andreica, M. Constantinescu, A. Soficaru.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 24, 2015
  In this paper, we describe pathological lesions identified in seven skeletons discovered in the Saint Sava necropolis in Bucharest, Romania, dating to the Late Medieval/Early Modern period. The pathological changes observed in the skeletons were analysed using macroscopic examination. Additionally, computed tomography scanning was performed on two individuals displaying advanced lesions on the cranial surface. For the differential diagnosis, we took into consideration treponemal infection, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, leprosy, fluorosis, melorheostosis, hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, Paget's disease and mycotic infection, along with the possibility of multiple afflictions occurring simultaneously. The morphology and distribution of the lesions are suggestive of treponematosis, which, to our knowledge, makes this the first case of this disease on the Romanian territory in archaeological populations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 24, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2444   open full text
• New Evidence of Early Chalcolithic Interpersonal Violence in the Middle Ebro Valley (Spain): Two Arrowhead Injuries from the Swallet of Las Yurdinas II.
  T. Fernández‐Crespo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 24, 2015
  Two new cases of Early Chalcolithic arrowhead injuries are described. They come from the funerary site of Las Yurdinas II (Basque Country, Spain), a rock shelter with a little swallet where at least 90 subjects were interred. The lesions are located in a right humerus and a left ulna belonging to adult individuals, one of whom is a male, and both show signs of healing. Other possible signs of violence have been found in the collection, including one cranial trauma and two parry fractures. Both arrowhead injuries are set in the context of similar findings in the Middle Ebro Valley, assessing the number and distribution of cases, signs of healing, possible impact trajectory and the age and sex estimation of the individuals affected. Increasing social complexity and demographic pressure in the region may be causally linked to such an evidence. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 24, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2445   open full text
• Traumatism in the Wild Animals Kept and Offered at Predynastic Hierakonpolis, Upper Egypt.
  W. Van Neer, M. Udrescu, V. Linseele, B. De Cupere, R. Friedman.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 24, 2015
  A description is given of the violence‐related pathologies that are observed in a number of wild mammals that were buried in the predynastic cemetery HK6 at Hierakonpolis, Upper Egypt. Unlike other predynastic graveyards, where only domestic cattle, sheep, goat and dogs are interred, the elite cemetery HK6 yielded also a wide variety of wild species that were buried as part of extensive mortuary complexes surrounding the graves of the highest local elite. The animals were interred, singly or in groups, often in graves of their own, but some also accompany human burials. Pathologies were found on the skeletons of 20 of the 38 wild animals discovered thus far, namely 15 anubis baboons (Papio anubis), one leopard (Panthera pardus), one jungle cat (Felis chaus), one hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), one aurochs (Bos primigenius) and one hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius). Most of the pathologies are healed fractures resulting from violent blows, and a smaller proportion seems to be related to tethering. These conditions indicate that the animals were held in captivity for a prolonged period of time after their capture. The type and frequency of the encountered deformations differ from those seen in wild animals from other, more recent Egyptian cemeteries (Abydos, Tuna el‐Gebel, Gabanet el‐Girou and Saqqara) where mainly metabolic disorders are observed that have been attributed to chronic malnutrition and vitamin D deficiency as a result of inadequate housing in a dark environment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 24, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2440   open full text
• Sheep, Cattle, and Specialization: New Zooarchaeological Perspectives on the Taosi Longshan.
  K. Brunson, N. He, X. Dai.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 19, 2015
  In this paper, we present a zooarchaeological analysis of the Longshan period sites of Taosi and Zhoujiazhuang (ca. 2300–1900 cal. BC) in southern Shanxi Province, China. We compare the faunal record at both sites in terms of the proportions of wild and domestic taxa; the slaughter patterns for the main domesticates; the types of bones used to produce utilitarian and decorative bone artifacts; and the types of bones used for ritual oracle bone divination. Differences in the faunal records at Taosi and Zhoujiazhuang provide insights into the connections between specialization and early urbanism. Our research also provides clues about how sheep and cattle pastoralism was initially adopted in the Yellow River Valley during the late 3rd millennium BC. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 19, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2436   open full text
• Isotopic Evidence for Marine Consumption and Mobility in the Atacama Desert (Quillagua, Northern Chile).
  F. Santana‐Sagredo, M. Hubbe, M. Uribe.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 12, 2015
  Archaeological research in the Atacama Desert has recovered evidence of considerable cultural variability. This variability seems to have increased during the Late Intermediate Period (AD 950–1400). The oasis of Quillagua, located at the margins of the Loa River in northern Chile, between the Andes and the coast (70 km from the Pacific Ocean), has shown important evidence regarding this cultural diversity. The variety in the archaeological evidence found at Quillagua has been interpreted as the result of two different cultural influences at the oasis: the Pica‐Tarapacá who occupied the coastal and inland regions to the north of Quillagua and the Atacama who occupied the oasis and fertile areas southeast of Quillagua. Here, we present the results of stable carbon, nitrogen and oxygen isotope analyses of 23 individuals recovered from the Cementerio Oriente in Quillagua, in order to test whether the observed cultural variability is also reflected in diet and mobility patterns. Results from carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements indicate the importance of marine protein, as well as a contribution of maize in the diet of some individuals. Four individuals show low δ18O values, suggesting a possible highland or non‐local origin, whereas values for the remaining individuals are consistent with lowland populations. Together, the results support the idea that the Quillagua oasis represented an important site of interaction between the Tarapacá and Atacama cultures, with close contacts with the coast but also with the presence of individuals from the highlands. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 12, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2437   open full text
• Prehistoric Whale Bone Technology in Southern New Zealand.
  E. A. Cunliffe, E. Brooks.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 10, 2015
  Whale bone was used by Māori throughout New Zealand prehistory as an industrial resource for the manufacture of a range of artefacts. However, the selection of bone and the methods used to process it are poorly understood. This paper details the analysis of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) bone working floor that was excavated from a fifteenth‐century coastal fishing camp at Kahukura, on the southeast coast of New Zealand. The whale bone working floor assemblage, comprising a large quantity of debitage fragments, was used to reconstruct reduction methods and to determine the products being made at the site. Rib bones were the main element being worked, and were reduced longitudinally using a chipping technique. The intensive bone working assemblage at Kahukura represents the by‐products from primary processing. This stage focused on reducing the bones into workable portions so that they could be easily transported to another location, where they were likely further reduced into artefacts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 10, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2427   open full text
• A Palaeodietary Study of Stable Isotope Analysis from a High‐status Burial in the Copper Age: The Montelirio Megalithic Structure at Valencina de la Concepción–Castilleja de Guzmán, Spain.
  M. Fontanals‐Coll, M. Díaz‐Zorita Bonilla, M. E. Subirà.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 06, 2015
  This palaeodietary study presents carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data from human and faunal skeletal remains from the Copper Age settlement of Valencina de la Concepción–Castilleja de Guzmán, located in Seville, Spain. Montelirio, the only Valencina–Castilleja human group from which we have obtained reliable palaeodietary results, had a diet based on C3 terrestrial resources, including both plants and animals. The protein component of the diet consisted mainly of meat, milk and dairy products from livestock as well as C3 plant protein from cereals and pulses. This study compares data from Montelirio, the Copper Age group from Valencina–Castilleja, with the published data from other Iberian Late Neolithic–Copper Age (LN‐CA) societies. This comparison reveals a homogeneous diet with some exceptions. Overall, the LN‐CA diet in the Iberian Peninsula consisted mainly of animal proteins from meat, milk and dairy products from livestock as well as C3 plant sources from the characteristic agriculture of the societies of these periods. This study also demonstrates the minor use of aquatic resources from the Neolithic to the Copper Age period in the Iberian Peninsula. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 06, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2435   open full text
• Adapt or Die: Three Case Studies in Which the Failure to Adopt Advances from Other Fields has Compromised Paleopathology.
  M. K. Zuckerman, K. N. Harper, G. J. Armelagos.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 06, 2015
  Over the past several decades, the field of paleopathology has rapidly advanced, but a continuing delay in incorporating scientific advances and a lack of methodological rigor hinder its progress. Inconsistencies in the presentation of data, the persistent use of non‐standardized criteria and non‐specific skeletal lesions to diagnose diseases, and the misuse of or delay in adopting critical, relevant concepts and methods from other disciplines obfuscate the current state of evidence and unnecessarily prolong debates. Here, we present three major research questions that have been affected by these issues: the origin and antiquity of syphilis in the Old World; the pathogen responsible for the Black Death; and whether the incidence of cancer has risen in recent human history. Drawing on these examples, we conclude with recommendations that could facilitate a more rigorous, scientific approach to important questions in paleopathology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 06, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2426   open full text
• Health Patterns of the Etruscan Population (6th–3rd Centuries bc) in Northern Italy: The Case of Spina.
  V. S. Manzon, E. Gualdi‐Russo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 04, 2015
  A sample of 303 skeletons from the Etruscan necropolis of Spina (Ferrara, Italy, 6th–3rd centuries bc) was examined for paleopathological lesions in order to assess the general health, diseases and quality of life of this Iron Age population. The observed pathologies included porotic hyperostosis, specific and aspecific infections, metabolic and endocrine disorders, tumours and osteoarthritis. A total of 46.7% of adults and 7.7% of subadults showed at least one pathological lesion. Statistical comparisons were made between sexes and adult‐age classes (20–35 years and >35 years) to analyse the prevalence of the lesions. The analysis of porotic hyperostosis and osteoperiostitis allowed to determine the general health status of this group, and the analysis of osteoarthritis allowed to hypothesise a gender division of labour. The results suggest a relatively high‐life expectancy for the time as well as good health and quality of life. The few specific infections and metabolic disorders indicate fairly good nutrition, while the high frequency of porotic hyperostosis can be partly linked to some type of hereditary anaemia. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 04, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2438   open full text
• Dietary Variability During Bronze Age in Central Italy: First Results.
  A. Varalli, J. Moggi‐Cecchi, A. Moroni, G. Goude.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 04, 2015
  This research aims at delineating the dietary practices in Central Italy during the Bronze Age. The study of food choices is a mean for investigating palaeoenvironmental agricultural and economic activities and social relationships, which have been little explored until now in Italy from this specific perspective. Recent researches have showed that the Middle Bronze Age is a crucial period of dietary changes in Italy. Following these first observations, we studied three Bronze Age sites in Tuscany and Latium: Grotta dello Scoglietto, Grotta Misa and Felcetone. Analyses of stable carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotopes on 38 human and 22 animal collagen samples were performed. The results show three different dietary patterns. Data from Grotta dello Scoglietto (Early Bronze Age) indicate a high‐protein intake, with a probable consumption of fish. Additionally, sulphur results let us infer the presence of some non‐local people. Individuals from Felcetone (Initial phase of the Middle Bronze Age) show a terrestrial diet dominated by plant proteins, which suggests a low δ15N food intake, namely legumes, as well as C4 plant, such as millet. Finally, values from Grotta Misa (Middle Bronze Age) highlight a mixed terrestrial diet and the consumption of millet. Given the variety of the obtained results, we are able to conclude that the transition from the Early to the Middle Bronze Age represents a moment of change, which is reflected by the presence of different dietary patterns. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 04, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2434   open full text
• Auditory Exostoses in Pre‐Hispanic Populations of the Lower Paraná Wetlands, Argentina.
  B. Mazza.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 04, 2015
  Auditory exostosis (AE) has been characterised from the medical and anthropological perspectives as an adaptive biological response to repeated immersion in cold water as well as exposure to cold environmental temperatures and wind chill. At the archaeological level, the highest prevalence has been found in societies living in coastal environments in areas located at 30–45° north or south latitude with a subsistence pattern based on fishing and mollusc gathering. The region of the lower Paraná River wetlands in Argentina is an area dissected by multiple rivers, streams, and lakes, especially in the Paraná delta near Buenos Aires where these features create a landscape composed of many islands. A variety of archaeological analyses performed on faunal remains, stone tools, bone, and ceramic artefacts are consistent with the interpretation that towards the end of the late Holocene (2000–700 BP), this region was inhabited by hunter–gatherer populations with a subsistence pattern based mainly on fishing and hunting along with the gathering of molluscs. In this work, we present an analysis of 176 crania of individuals recovered from 21 archaeological sites in the region. Results indicate the presence of AE in 6.25% of the cases, with all of these corresponding to adult male individuals. This moderate prevalence coincides with the expected levels for populations where contact with water is frequent in regions located at 30–45° latitude. The absence of female individuals showing evidence of AE allows us to suggest a possible sex‐based division of labour. We hope that this work can contribute to ongoing discussion of the economic and social aspects that characterised pre‐Hispanic life in the study area, while also expanding the available information on AE at the worldwide level. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 04, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2432   open full text
• Age‐at‐Death Estimates from a Disarticulated, Fragmented and Commingled Archaeological Battlefield Assemblage.
  M. Brickley, A.‐M. Dragomir, L. Lockau.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 03, 2015
  Estimation of age‐at‐death is an important and challenging part of any investigation of human remains. Extensive research has been undertaken on this subject as demographic information contributes much to bioarchaeological and forensic work. Disarticulated, fragmentary and commingled human remains occur from a wide range of spatial and temporal contexts, and estimation of age‐at‐death can be particularly challenging in these collections. This study evaluated the impact of preservation on techniques that might be applied and their relative utility, using human remains from the site of the Smith's Knoll associated with the Battle of Stoney Creek, a War of 1812 collection from Ontario Canada with some supporting documentary evidence on age‐at‐death. Features assessed were the pubic symphysis, auricular surface and epiphyseal fusion in the innominate. An age‐at‐death estimate was produced for 16 out of 19 individuals considered; the highest minimum number of individuals (MNI) was 24 (right radius) from 2701 identifiable fragments. The pubic symphysis made no contribution to construction of a demographic profile, but as has been suggested previously epiphyseal fusion was useful in this respect. Results demonstrate that previous statements regarding preservation of the auricular surface and its utility in fragmented and poorly preserved collections need to be carefully evaluated. Although 129 fragments of innominate were recorded just one had an auricular surface and post auricular area that could be fully assessed. Transition Analysis was easier to apply than techniques developed previously, and findings from this study suggest that use of the forensic prior distribution could assist in assessment of battlefield assemblages. These results raise some valuable points that need to be considered in any future attempts to improve age‐at‐death estimates using the auricular surface, and important questions regarding expectations for estimation of age‐at‐death in disarticulated, fragmented and commingled collections of human bone. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 03, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2430   open full text
• Health Consequences of European Contact in the Great Plains: A Comparison of Systemic Stress Levels in Pre‐ and Post‐Contact Arikara Populations.
  A. M. Offenbecker, D. T. Case.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 01, 2015
  The biocultural effects of European contact varied considerably throughout the Americas. Some populations were decimated by colonialism, while others benefited from trade relationships and access to new technologies. It has been suggested that initial contact with European fur traders and explorers was economically favourable for Plains village populations, thereby facilitating a period of cultural florescence. In this study, we evaluate the hypothesis that Plains groups were better off than their predecessors during the initial contact period by comparing frequencies of enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, and porotic hyperostosis in pre‐ and post‐contact Arikara skeletal assemblages. We included both juveniles and adults in our sample to capture variation in the stress experience of different segments of the population. Our analysis revealed similarly low frequencies of cribra orbitalia in the pre‐ and post‐contact groups and no observed cases of porotic hyperostosis. Enamel hypoplasia, however, was significantly more prevalent among post‐contact Arikara villagers when compared to their pre‐contact counterparts, which suggests that stress levels were higher after European contact. Additionally, enamel hypoplasia was most common among post‐contact juveniles. The elevated frequency of enamel hypoplasia in the post‐contact sample combined with the low frequencies of cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis suggests that disease stress, rather than nutritional deficiencies, was likely responsible for the decline in overall health following European contact. These results also suggest that juveniles are sensitive indicators of systemic stress within a population and should be included in bioarchaeological analyses of prehistoric health when available. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 01, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2439   open full text
• Developmental Defects in the Spine: Initial Findings in Archaeological Cases from Córdoba Highlands (Argentina).
  M. Fabra, S. Salega.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 01, 2015
  Congenital disorders are pathologies rarely found in archaeological cases. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases, and a growing interest in understanding their development and implication as genetic markers within certain collections. In the central region of Argentina, researchers have begun to focus on issues related to the health of prehispanic populations from a bioarchaeological perspective. Between 1999 and 2012 our research group recovered, by rescue archaeological activities, a total number of 62 individuals from different archaeological sites in the province of Córdoba, from which only three individuals with pathologies classified as congenital were recorded (4.83%). Radiocarbon and contextual information sets these individuals in the late Holocene (2156 ± 86 and 920 ± 20 14C years BP). Hence, this work aims at presenting two pathological conditions deriving from congenital developmental abnormalities that arise during the first three months of pregnancy: (a) Klippel–Feil syndrome (type II) which was suffered by the individuals from the sites of Guasmara and El Vado, and (b) central sagittal fissure of the vertebral body or ‘butterfly vertebra’ as in the case of one individual from La Calera. We also analyse other lesions in these skeletons that may be associated with the conditions mentioned above, and we provide a thorough interpretation from an osteobiographical perspective. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 01, 2015   doi: 10.1002/oa.2429   open full text
• Morphometric Assessment of the Appendicular Skeleton in the New Kingdom and Napatan Components from Tombos in Upper Nubia.
  V. E. Gibbon, M. R. Buzon.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 19, 2014
  Due to its critical location on the Nile River controlling trade from the south, Tombos is an important ancient site to explore the interaction between Egyptians and Nubians. To assess population continuity at Tombos through sociopolitical transitions, the appendicular skeleton of people from the New Kingdom and Napatan periods was examined. Using morphometric and statistical analyses, body proportions on the upper and lower limbs were studied on each element through size (i.e. length, breadth, and width) and shape (bone's measurements with size removed). The Napatan component (when Nubia ruled Egypt) was consistently larger in size than the earlier New Kingdom component (when Egypt ruled Nubia), with little variation in shape. More variability in both size and shape was observed in males. When compared with other Nubians (C‐group and Kerma) and Egyptians (Middle and New Kingdom), the Tombos Napatan sample (males and females) was generally larger, whereas the Tombos New Kingdom sample was generally smaller than other Nubians and similar in size to Egyptians. Some of the variability between the Tombos samples may be the result of gene flow, or rather changes in migration to the area through time and sociopolitics. However, the numerous differences in size with few in shape provide more support for an environmental explanation since size is more susceptible to nutritional stress, disease, and physical activity. These results show that the people of Tombos underwent biological alterations during these major sociopolitical changes from Egyptian rule over Nubia during the New Kingdom to Nubia ruling Egypt during the Napatan period. This study also demonstrates that morphometric analyses of multiple bones and measurements are an important supplement to other bioarchaeological analyses to provide a broader of view of physical changes that occur over time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 19, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2424   open full text
• Dental Wear and Pathology in the Precolonial Caribbean: Evidence for Dietary Change in the Ceramic Age.
  H. L. Mickleburgh.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 03, 2014
  This study investigates temporal changes in dietary practices in the Caribbean archipelago during the Ceramic Age (400 BC–AD 1500), through analyses of dental wear and pathology. Some previous studies in the region have suggested that diet and subsistence practices changed over time due to increasing sociopolitical complexity, climate change, or adaptation to island environments rich in marine resources. Both horticultural/agricultural intensification and increased marine focus of the diet over time have been posited, based among other things on faunal and botanical remains, and early ethnohistorical accounts. Local and micro‐regional stable isotope studies of temporal dietary variation have found few indications for change over time, and large regional isotope studies are still lacking. Dentitions from sites throughout the region dating to the Early Ceramic Age (400 BC–AD 600/800) and the Late Ceramic Age (AD 600/800–1500) were analysed in order to assess temporal differences. Intra‐individual rates of wear were calculated using the difference in degree of wear between the adjacent molars and the two groups were compared with principal axis analysis. Caries, antemortem tooth loss, abscesses and dental calculus were recorded per individual and per tooth/socket, and population caries and antemortem tooth loss rates were assessed and compared by age group, tooth class and sex. Comparisons between the two occupation periods revealed significant differences in the rate of dental wear and pathology, indicating a shift in dietary practices over time, coinciding with known social changes. The increase in pathology rates suggests a rise in the consumption of cariogenic foods or preparation techniques that increase cariogenicity. The decrease in rate of wear over time indicates a reduction in abrasivity of the diet. Together these data suggest that there was a growing focus on refined, cariogenic foods, likely horticultural/agricultural produce. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 03, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2421   open full text
• Entheseal Changes in Free‐Ranging Versus Zoo Reindeer—Observing Activity Status of Reindeer.
  S. Niinimäki, A‐K. Salmi.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 01, 2014
  We evaluate whether entheseal changes (EC) can be used to reconstruct activity among reindeer to study its domestication. Humans influence reindeer activity patterns through corralling, which renders them less mobile than free‐ranging reindeer and through use as draught animals, which can result in overuse of certain muscles. There is also variation within free‐ranging reindeer in baseline activity levels due to environmental factors. Other sources of variation at entheses include age, sex, pathology, size, and genetic disposition. Here we examine if there are differences in the entheses between zoo versus free‐ranging reindeer. We recorded the entheses of reindeer long bones using a modified EC scoring system. Weight effects were accounted for by performing analyses separately for specimens under and over 95 kg, but unfortunately age information was lacking. We found that several flexor muscle insertion sites in the ulna were more developed among free‐ranging reindeer. This difference is likely due to feeding behaviour. The free‐ranging animals were digging for lichen from under the snow whereas the zoo reindeer were fed by their keepers. This difference in entheses, however, was found to be significant only among the heavier reindeer. Among the zoo reindeer, the insertion for Subscapularis muscle was more developed, possibly due to increased time spent immobile with the shoulder‐bracing muscle apparatus activated. This difference was significant among the heavier deer and nearly statistically significant among the lighter weight reindeer. Domesticated Siberian draught reindeer fell between zoo and free‐ranging reindeer in several tibial entheses. According to these results, some forelimb entheses may be useful to study differences in mobility and feeding patterns between groups of reindeer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 01, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2423   open full text
• Neonatal Mortality, Young Calf Slaughter and Milk Production during the Early Neolithic of North Western Mediterranean.
  R. Gillis, I. Carrère, M. Saña Seguí, G. Radi, J‐D. Vigne.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 01, 2014
  The North‐Western Mediterranean witnessed a rapid expansion of farmers and their livestock during the Early Neolithic period. Depending on the region, cattle played a more or less important role in these communities; however how these animals were exploited for their milk is not clear. Here we investigate calf mortality to determine indirectly whether cattle dairying was practised by Early Neolithic stock herders. Age‐at‐death (AtD) frequencies for calves from two sites: Trasano (Italy, Impressa culture: 7–6th millennium BC) and La Draga (Spain, Cardial culture: 6th millennium BC) were estimated from dental eruption and development stages, and measurements of un‐fused post‐cranial material. Adult age classes are well represented in the dental AtD frequencies and were interpreted as the result of the slaughter of prime beef and retired lactating females. For calves aged less than 12 months, there was no statistical difference in the AtD frequencies based on dental and post‐cranial material indicating that the data is a good representation of the mortality patterns of calves, either natural or deliberate. At both sites there was a strong mortality peak at 3–6 months in all AtD profiles. At La Draga, this peak was clearly differentiated from a peak at 0–1 month, which can be interpreted neonatal mortality possible a consequence of the birthing season coinciding with the end of winter during more humid climatic conditions that at present. The deliberate slaughter peak around 3–6 months is discussed, and we propose that stock herders controlled the mortality of infant classes, possibly in response to variable external environment pressures while maintaining animal productivity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 01, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2422   open full text
• Toothpick use among Epigravettian Humans from Grotta Paglicci (Italy).
  S. Ricci, G. Capecchi, F. Boschin, S. Arrighi, A. Ronchitelli, S. Condemi.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 31, 2014
  This paper deals with two teeth (an upper right M1 and an upper right dM2) from the Epigravettian found in the site of Paglicci (Southern Italy) showing interproximal grooves that are situated below the crown, on the root walls just apical to the cementum–enamel junction. These grooves have been examined on a digital microscope which displays 3D images of the analysed surfaces. The images obtained made it possible to interpret these interproximal grooves as tooth picking activities that can be interpreted as an attempt to alleviate sore gums. The comparison with experimental images from available literature made it possible to form hypotheses concerning the nature of the probes that might have been used by the humans. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 31, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2420   open full text
• A Palaeopathological Assessment of the Late 19th and Early 20th Century Khoesan.
  D. Botha, M. Steyn.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 09, 2014
  Since the arrival of Dutch colonists in the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Khoesan populations were subjected to severe political and economic marginalisation and often fell prey to racial conflict. These circumstances persisted until the early 20th century, during which an astonishing number of Khoesan skeletons were transported from South Africa to various locations in Europe, as at the time, different institutions competed to obtain these remains. The purpose of this study was to assess the health status of the late 19th and early 20th century Khoesan. Skeletal remains housed in two different European institutions were studied. The sample comprised 140 specimens from the Rudolf Pöch Skeletal Collection in Vienna, Austria, and 15 specimens from the Musée de l'Homme in Paris, France. These individuals represent both sexes and were aged between newborn and 75 years, with 54 being younger than 20 years of age. Results indicated high levels of typical disease conditions associated with groups under stress, such as periostitis, cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis. Treponemal disease, rickets, osteoarthritis and trauma were also encountered amongst other more specific indicators of health and disease. This study provided additional knowledge on the health status and lives of the Khoesan people during this turbulent period and created new awareness regarding a group of severely mistreated individuals. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 09, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2419   open full text
• Practical Significance: Ordinal Scale Data and Effect Size in Zooarchaeology.
  S. Wolverton, J. Dombrosky, R. L. Lyman.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 06, 2014
  Quantitative analysis of zooarchaeological taxonomic abundances and skeletal part frequencies often relies on parametric techniques to test hypotheses. Data upon which such analyses are based are considered by some to be ‘ordinal scale at best’, meaning that non‐parametric approaches may be better suited for addressing hypotheses. An important consideration is that archaeologists do not directly or randomly sample target populations of artefacts and faunal remains, which means that sampling error is not randomly generated. Thus, use of inferential statistics is potentially suspect. A solution to this problem is to rely on a weight of evidence research strategy and to limit analysis to descriptive statistics. Alternatively, if one chooses to use statistical inference, one should analyse effect size to determine practical significance of results and adopt conservative, robust inferential tests that require relatively few assumptions. Archaeologists may choose not to abandon statistical inference, but if so, they should temper how they use statistical tools. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 06, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2416   open full text
• The Embarrassment of Riches: Rationalising Faunal Assemblages from Large Urban Sites.
  C. Rainsford, T. O'Connor, P. Connelly.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 29, 2014
  Museums and other curatorial bodies face the significant challenge of storing large volumes of material recovered from decades of archaeological excavation, amongst which are very large collections of animal bones. As stores fill up, there is pressure to reconsider curation policies, to the point of refusing further deposition and disposal of existing material. Faced with this situation, York Archaeological Trust looked to develop and implement a strategy to reduce the curated research resource of animal bones, accepting that some excavated assemblages are of low research potential. Applying this strategy to animal bones from the Hungate excavation resulted in a substantial reduction in the volume of material regarded as of significant future research value. The strategy also generated a digital record, including images, that provides the justification for those retention decisions as well as a useful survey that facilitates the location of suitable material for further research. This pilot study shows that it is possible to rationalise what would otherwise be a substantial store of bone assemblages to give a smaller, better‐documented and more research‐relevant archive of material. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 29, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2412   open full text
• Ancient DNA Analysis of Anatolian Goat Remains Excavated from a Urartian Castle in Eastern Turkey.
  I. Akis, V. Onar, N. Toker, O. Belli, G. Pazvant, K. Oztabak.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 25, 2014
  In recent years, mitochondrial diversity of goats has been extensively studied, in order to shed light on domestication processes. There are limited studies on genetic diversity and demographic history of Anatolian goat breeds, and these studies have focused only on modern goats. Until today, no research has been conducted on DNA analysis of ancient Anatolian goats. In the present study, seven ancient DNA samples of goat remains from Van‐Yoncatepe archaeological site in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, dating 1000 BC, were successfully extracted and amplified for the first time. A 230‐bp fragment of mitochondrial DNA Hypervariable Region 1 of the samples was analyzed. All of the ancient sequences belonged to haplogroup A, which is the most widely distributed and frequently encountered haplogroup in modern goats. The results also pointed out that Anatolian ancient goats might have contributed to the genetic structure of modern goats in the Near East, the Mediterranean Region and South‐Southeastern Asia. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 25, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2415   open full text
• The Status Problem of Iberian Holocene Equids: New Data from Cueva de El Mirador (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain).
  P. Martín, J. M. Vergès, J. Nadal.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 25, 2014
  Equid remains are scarce and very fragmented in Iberian Neolithic and Bronze Age sites. Evidence suggesting that horses were domesticated does exist, but it is often inconclusive, thus leaving the question unanswered. Today, DNA analyses have provided information about a, most likely Iberian, nucleus of horse domestication, making it crucially important to expand the database. The Holocene sequence (6th and 3rd millennium cal bc) of the Cueva de El Mirador (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) has yielded 92 equid remains distributed in 12 Neolithic and Bronze Age levels. In this paper, we present the study of the equid remains from the Cueva de El Mirador from an archaeozoological perspective, giving indirect evidence of horse domestication. Our results vary widely and lead to open interpretations about horse domestication and how humans used these animals. This study of horse remains focuses on species identification and on determining how humans economically used these animals. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 25, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2413   open full text
• New Equations for the Size Reconstruction of Sturgeon from Isolated Cranial and Pectoral Girdle Bones.
  E. Thieren, W. Van Neer.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 12, 2014
  Measurements on cranial and pectoral girdle bones of 56 museum specimens of modern sturgeon (Acipenser sturio and A. oxyrinchus) were used for the establishment of regression equations allowing back‐calculation of size from isolated sturgeon remains. Different curve fittings (power, linear, logarithmic and exponential fit) were modeled to retain the most accurate regression. These were then applied to archaeological sturgeon remains (A. sturio/A. oxyrinchus) from Vlaardingen, a Dutch late Neolithic settlement. The back‐calculated lengths obtained on the archaeological remains all stayed within the known size ranges of the two species and allowed making inferences on the possible place of capture of the fish. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 12, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2407   open full text
• Human Response to Climate Change during the Umm an‐Nar/Wadi Suq Transition in the United Arab Emirates.
  L. A. Gregoricka.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 11, 2014
  Stable oxygen isotope ratios in archaeological human dental enamel represent an under‐utilised tool in the examination of changing climatic patterns in the ancient world. In the Oman Peninsula at the end of the third millennium bc, rapid aridification was accompanied by a breakdown in interregional trade relations; however, the human response to these changes is poorly understood. At the Bronze Age necropolis at Shimal in the United Arab Emirates, dental enamel from individuals interred in both Umm an‐Nar (ca 2700–2000 bc) and Wadi Suq (ca 2000–1300 bc) tombs underwent oxygen, strontium and carbon isotope analyses to examine how local inhabitants of southeastern Arabia responded to both environmental and socioeconomic change. While individuals from Shimal exhibit a clear shift in mean δ18Oc(VPDB) values from the Umm an‐Nar (−3.5 ± 0.6‰, 1σ) to the Wadi Suq (−2.4 ± 0.9‰, 1σ), corresponding 87Sr/86Sr and δ13Cap signatures display homogeneity indicative of continuity in Bronze Age lifeways. Together, these data highlight the ability of local communities to successfully adapt to their changing environs (in lieu of societal collapse or a shift to a more mobile lifestyle) in an effort to maintain their way of life. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 11, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2409   open full text
• The Removal of Ear Trophies Associated with Scalpings in Prehistoric North Alabama.
  W. E. De Vore, K. P. Jacobi.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 15, 2014
  The act of scalping has long been associated with Native American conflict‐related human body part trophy taking. Reasons for their removal were varied and often included communal and personal factors. Previous research has identified several different types of scalp removals based on the amount of soft tissue affected during the process of scalping. One of these types can involve the removal of the ears. Through reanalysis of known scalping victims within the middle Tennessee Valley of North Alabama, we have identified five cases where victims were both scalped and had their ears removed. These cases provide a unique understanding of the practice of human body part trophy taking. They support ethnographic accounts that indicate ear removal has great time depth and was geographically widespread. Although the five cases presented here are similar to total compound scalpings, they actually represent total simple scalpings. Unlike total compound scalpings, where the ears are removed attached to the skin of the scalp, these cases show evidence of secondary removal of the ears after the scalp was already detached. This secondary removal of the ears after the act of scalping supports the interpretation that the aggressors intended different purposes for each trophy. It is likely that the scalp and ears each had their own meaning. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 15, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2404   open full text
• A Mid Upper Palaeolithic Child Burial from Borsuka Cave (Southern Poland).
  J. Wilczyński, A. Szczepanek, P. Wojtal, M. Diakowski, M. Wojenka, D. Sobieraj.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 07, 2014
  During the excavation in the Borsuka Cave site (southern Poland), extraordinary materials were obtained for the study of the Mid Upper Palaeolithic (MUP) settlement in the region. In layer VI, six deciduous teeth of a modern Homo sapiens infant were discovered together with 112 pendants made from the teeth of European elk and steppe wisent or aurochs. The teeth appear to belong to a 12‐ to 18‐month‐old child. The sex of the child cannot be determined. Diagnostic features of the teeth and the fact that they all represent the same developmental phase suggest that they belong to a single individual. In this paper, we put forward a number of alternative explanations for why only a child's teeth and numerous pendants were deposited in the late Pleistocene sediments of Borsuka Cave, for example, natural factors (carnivore activity), human habitation, existence of a pendant workshop in the vicinity of the cave and intentional burial. Although no traces of a burial pit were encountered, intentional burial, the oldest known from Poland, is indicated by the presence of human remains together with numerous ornaments and absence of ‘domestic’ finds, such as lithic cores, debitage and tools. An unusual presence of a larger number of pierced teeth of large herbivores in a child burial is noticeable among assorted mortuary practices recorded in MUP Central Europe. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 07, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2405   open full text
• Scurvy‐related Morbidity and Death among Christopher Columbus' Crew at La Isabela, the First European Town in the New World (1494–1498): An Assessment of the Skeletal and Historical Information.
  V. Tiesler, A. Coppa, P. Zabala, A. Cucina.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 06, 2014
  This article explores the living conditions and specifically the possible etiologies of subperiosteal reactions among those seafarers who did not survive Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the Americas and died at La Isabela, the first permanent European settlement in the New World, which is located in the present‐day Dominican Republic. The town was founded in 1494 by Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) and occupied for only 4 years. This study analyses the macroscopic and histological evidence of the skeletal series excavated from this contact cemetery, which is presently curated at the Museo del Hombre Dominicano. Twenty of the 27 systematically scored individuals reveal subperiosteal bone accretions, and in at least 15 individuals, these accretions appear bilaterally. The morphology, distribution and healing stages of the majority of these lesions provide new, direct evidence suggesting severe adult scurvy, a condition caused by sustained vitamin C deprivation, which was common among seafarers before the 18th century. The historical context surrounding the individuals' death at the European contact settlement and the conditions and duration of Christopher Columbus' second transatlantic voyage to the New World represent key elements in the interpretation of these lesions. In this case, the evidence also corroborates the known failure of Columbus' crew to exploit the locally available foods rich in vitamin C. Scurvy probably contributed significantly to the outbreak of sickness and collective death within the first months of La Isabela's settlement, an aspect that inflects the current discussion about the degree of virulence of New World infections that decimated the European newcomers, who we conclude to have been already debilitated and exhausted by scurvy and general malnutrition. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 06, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2406   open full text
• Exposure to Cadmium and Lead in an Agropastoral Iron Age Population.
  A. A. Pastorelli, L. Campanella, A. Coppa, P. Stacchini.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 11, 2014
  Metals present in the environment (soil, water and atmosphere) can affect food safety and human health through bio‐accumulation and bio‐magnification phenomena. Human exposure to the metals may take place through the environment and by ingesting contaminated food (including water), determining harmful effects usually detectable over the long term. Starting with the Industrial Revolution, local occurrence and concentration of metallic contaminants in the environment have been exponentially increasing: it has been assessed that, nowadays, daily absorption of lead, by North American people, is noticeably greater than that during prehistoric times. In this study, we measured concentrations of cadmium, lead and zinc in 153 bone samples (femurs) of Iron Age inhabitants of Central Italy (Abruzzo): the Samnites from the Alfedena Necropolis (2600–2400 bp). The data found are in agreement with the results of similar published studies. Heavy metal concentrations varied widely among samples with the exception of zinc. A significant difference (p same Mann–Whitney test <0.05) in cadmium bone levels was found between male (0.08–1.8 mg/kg, median 0.31 mg/kg) and female samples (0.05–1.3 mg/kg, median 0.53 mg/kg). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 11, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2403   open full text
• A Bioarchaeological and Biogeochemical Study of Warfare and Mobility in Andahuaylas, Peru (ca. ad 1160–1260).
  D. S. Kurin, E. M. Lofaro, D. E. Gómez Choque, J. Krigbaum.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 18, 2014
  Warfare impacts how people and populations can move about the landscape. Ethnographers have posited that internal warfare, conflict that takes place within a single society, is strongly associated with female abduction. In contrast, external warfare, combat between different societies, is often accompanied by the in‐migration of men for purposes of defence. To test this assertion, we evaluate human remains from one of the most violent eras in Andean prehistory, the Late Intermediate Period (ad 1000–1400). In the south‐central highlands of Andahuaylas, Peru, this era witnessed the coalescence of two formidable polities, the Chanka and the Quichua. Ethnohistoric accounts describe internal warfare among the Chanka and external warfare between the Quichua and their neighbours. In this study, bioarchaeological and biogeochemical methods are marshalled to elucidate ancient patterns of violence and mobility with greater nuance. We employ strontium isotope analysis of tooth enamel apatite to inform on residential origin, and we reconstruct patterns of violent conflict through analysis of cranial trauma. In all, 265 crania were excavated from 17 cave ossuaries at two Chanka sites and one Quichua site. Data were collected on age, sex and cranial modification—an indicator of social identity and cranial trauma. A representative subsample of molars from 34 individuals subjected to strontium isotope analysis demonstrates that among the Chanka, violence was significantly directed towards social groups within society, marked by modified crania. The presence of two nonlocal women with signs of increased morbidity and mistreatment points to possible mobility‐by‐abduction. In contrast, among the Quichua, men have significantly more trauma, and wounds are concentrated on the anterior. Trauma on women is lower, nonlethal, and concentrated on the posterior. This divergent pattern is commonly observed in external warfare (raids and community defence), where men face attackers and women escape them. The presence of two nonlocal men supports a mobility model of strategic in‐migration. In sum, osteological and isotopic data sets are shown to reveal divergent life‐course experiences not captured by the archaeological data or historic records alone. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 18, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2398   open full text
• Scars of Parturition? Influences Beyond Parity.
  P. Maass, L. J. Friedling.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 12, 2014
  In the 40 years since the phrase ‘scars of parturition’ was coined, studies have attempted to show the relationship between scars on the bony pelvis and parity history. Despite numerous studies, the relationship of parity and scarring remains unclear. The challenge facing these studies is the rarity of skeletal collections of known parity. The alternative study approach is examining relationships between scars and factors other than pregnancy‐related strains that may affect their manifestation. Skeletal remains of 312 individuals were examined for scarring at the dorsal pubic surface, pubic tubercle, preauricular sulcus, interosseous groove and iliac tuberosity. Pelvic and femoral measurements were also taken. Features were compared according to sex and age. Principal components analysis was performed to assess the influence of body and pelvic size on scar manifestation. Scars occurred in both sexes, although they were more common and more severe in females. Scar severity remained unchanged or increased with age in both sexes. Females had smaller bodies but larger pelves than males. The interspinous and transverse inlet diameters and the femur measurements increased with age. Principal components analysis showed that body and pelvic sizes represented the majority of the observed variation, with scars occurring more commonly in small‐bodied individuals with large pelves, most of which were females. Both sexes also show a difference in the magnitude of scarring at the pubis and ilium. These results suggest that weight‐bearing and pelvic stability may be a better explanation for scarring than parturition‐related strain. Female pelves are more flexible and require more ligamentous stabilization, causing increased scar formation. The weight‐bearing strain on male pelves may sometimes also be sufficiently large to cause similar scars. Future studies may be able to test this theory on samples of known parity history. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 12, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2402   open full text
• Activity Reconstruction of Post‐Medieval Dutch Rural Villagers from Upper Limb Osteoarthritis and Entheseal Changes.
  J. L. A. Palmer, M. H. L. Hoogland, A. L. Waters‐Rist.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 11, 2014
  The first objective of this study is to reconstruct levels and types of physical activity and associated sexual and social differences using human skeletal remains from the predominately 19th century Dutch cemetery of Middenbeemster. For most individuals, life in the Beemster centred around dairy farming and was heavily based on manual labor, with a purported higher class of wealthier individuals performing less manual labor. Two skeletal markers of activity are examined in the upper limb of late young adult and middle‐aged adults of both sexes (26–49 years, n = 69): osteoarthritis (OA) and entheseal changes (EC). Results support the hypothesis that the majority of the population engaged in high levels of physical activity; however, a group with a clearly lower or different pattern of activity, possibly representing a higher, less active class, was not discernible. This may be due to a low number of less active individuals in the analysed sample and/or the heterogeneity of occupations and activities. A gendered division of labour was evident in the EC data with males having more pronounced muscle attachments in almost all sites, especially the biceps brachii, used primarily in lifting. Females had more pronounced triceps brachii, which may be due to activities that required pushing or pulling with the elbow in a flexed position. The prevalence and severity of OA did not differ between the sexes. While this could be interpreted to indicate men and women engaged in a similar level of strenuous activity, hormonal and anatomical differences limit the strength of the comparison. The second objective of this study is to evaluate the concordance of OA and EC as activity markers. The correlation between OA and EC is very low, illustrating their variable and complex etiologies. Etiological factors need further research for OA and EC to become more reliable activity markers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 11, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2397   open full text
• The White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in the Ancient Peruvian Ceremonial Centre of Huaca Pucllana.
  A. Altamirano‐Sierra, P. Vargas‐Nalvarte.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 09, 2014
  New data regarding the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) at the archaeological complex Huaca Pucllana (200–700 ad) are presented on the basis of the recent discovery of teeth in ritual offering features. Previous information of this species from fossil, archaeological and modern records is reviewed. The use of the white sharks as an El Niño indicator is rejected. Past and present white shark distribution in the South East Pacific is reviewed, and the extermination of pinniped colonies as a factor in the poor modern record is discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 09, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2401   open full text
• Cultural Changes in Funeral Rites During the Neolithic in the Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula? The Cave of Pantà de Foix (Barcelona).
  M. E. Subirà, D. López‐Onaindia, R. Yll.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 24, 2014
  During the third millennia bc, there is a change in the funerary patterns of the populations in Catalonia. This novelty usually has been usually related to a change in the economical source of the human groups that become less sedentary as the stockbreeding becomes more important. In the present study, we analyse this change, reflected in the mortuary practices, by the study of diet and health markers such as caries, dental calculus or enamel hypoplasias and of biological affinities based on dental non‐metric traits. It has been included a total amount of 317 permanent teeth from Cova del Pantà de Foix sites, a sepulchral cave found at the south‐west of the city of Barcelona and dates from the third millennia bc. The 74.2% of them present dental calculus deposits, which are usually related to a high protein intake. Nevertheless, the high prevalence of carious lesions (15.3% of the teeth) suggests that the main dietary contribution comes from carbohydrates. Furthermore, when this group is compared with one from the Middle Neolithic Age, which presents a lower calculus prevalence, no biological differences are observed. This lack of differences among these groups denote that the origin of the high amount of calculus deposit is environmental, which is consistent with the elevated observation of hypoplasias of the crown enamel. The absence of dietary, biological and economical differences indicates that the population substrate during the Neolithic in Catalonia is the same and that the transition in the funerary rite is related to a substantial change only regarding to mortuary practices. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 24, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2400   open full text
• Combining Odontochronology, Tooth Wear Assessment, and Linear Enamel Hypoplasia (LEH) Recording to Assess Pig Domestication in Neolithic Henan, China.
  A. Pike‐Tay, X. Ma, Y. Hou, F. Liang, M. Lin, V. Peterson.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 04, 2014
  Mandibles of Sus scrofa (wild boar/pig) from ritual pits H160 and H208 of Longshangang, a Late Yangshao Neolithic site in Xichuan County, Henan, were analyzed for evidence of domestication. Three methods of dental analysis were applied: odontochronology, tooth wear assessment, and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) recording, which provide age at death, season of kill, and season of birth data. We investigate whether: (i) the LEH height frequencies on the second molars of the mandibles correspond with the possibility of double farrowing and (2) double farrowing is supported by the season of and age at slaughter data. If so, these data suggest a substantial degree of human management of suids at the site. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 04, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2395   open full text
• A Bird in the Hand: Data Collation and Novel Analysis of Avian Remains from South Uist, Outer Hebrides.
  J. Best, J. Mulville.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 26, 2014
  The island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides has a rich archaeological past and a rich ecotonal landscape, which provides access to a wide range of avian resources. Throughout the island's past, these have played an important but sometimes modest role in the subsistence and life of the local populations. This paper explores fowling and avian resource use on South Uist through the analysis of new bone assemblages and their integration with collated existing avian data. The dataset shows that the inhabitants of South Uist made use of a wide range of avian resources year round. Some species were specifically and repeatedly targeted, whereas others were exploited infrequently or in low numbers. A targeted use of seabirds was identified, with period‐specific increases in the capture of waders and waterfowl. A range of habitats from sea to moors were utilised for avian resources, and several capture techniques would have been employed. Evidence also suggests that birds were taken from further afield. The introduction of domesticates is traced from initially low numbers in the Iron Age to their increased occurrence in the Norse period. Over time, there is a notable decrease in the presence of great auk (Pinguinus impennis). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 26, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2381   open full text
• The Diverse Origins of Bird Bones from Scottish Coastal Sites.
  D. Serjeantson.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 21, 2014
  Bird bone assemblages from coastal sites in the north and west of Scotland are very diverse. Here, bird bones from 25 assemblages from 15 sites are compared. Many birds were caught for food, but there are also up to 50 incidental species, some of which are represented by one or two bones only. While the principal origin of the birds is seabird fowling, some were also obtained as a bycatch of fishing and others were collected casually. Some may have been collected accidentally with seaweed. Many are non‐anthropogenic, from raptor discards and bird pellets, but possibly also from other predators. These diverse origins of the bird bones have important implications for interpreting former avian distributions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 21, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2387   open full text
• Osteometric Analysis of South American Sea Lions (Otaria flavescens) Pups From Patagonia. An Assessment of Their Use as Indicators for Seasonality in Archaeological Sites.
  F. Borella, G. L. L'heureux, M. F. Grandi.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 21, 2014
  Zooarchaeological analyses of pinniped remains have been scarce in South America because of lack of specific studies of species determination and estimation of age and sex. Nonetheless, the presence of small and unfused bones (assigned as pup remains) of Otaria flavescens (O. flavescens) in the Patagonian archaeological record has been frequently used as an indicator of summer occupation accomplished by ecological analogues. For this reason, we carried out a postcranial skeletons osteometric study of modern pups of South American sea lions (O. flavescens) with known sex and aged 0–12 months, allowing a more precise age estimation of archaeological samples. Then, we revisited the evidence for seasonality in the Cabo Virgenes 6 site at Cabo Virgenes locality, one of the archaeological localities in Patagonia where the seasonality has been determined only on the basis of the presence of unfused pup bones. Our metric data study on a modern sample shows that the regression analyses generated a complementary and dependable age estimation model for unfused appendicular bones of O. flavescens between 0 and 12 months old that can be applied to samples recovered from archaeological sites. These osteometric studies of postcranial elements allow us to adjust the age estimation of the animal's death and re‐examine seasonality of the Cabo Virgenes 6 site (Santa Cruz, Argentina). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 21, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2392   open full text
• Raising Practices of Neolithic Livestock Evidenced by Stable Isotope Analysis in the Wei River Valley, North China.
  X.‐L. Chen, S.‐M. Hu, Y.‐W. Hu, W.‐L. Wang, Y.‐Y. Ma, P. Lü, C.‐S. Wang.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 21, 2014
  Although a patchwork of projects shows a process of agriculture intensification in North China during the Neolithic, the impact of cereal farming on animal husbandry and their mutual interaction remain cloudy. This study reports bone collagen δ13C and δ15N of humans and animals from Wayaogou (ca 6.5–6.0 kyrs bp) and Dongying (ca 5.9–5.6 kyrs bp, 4.6–4.0 kyrs bp) to explore temporal trend of livestock raising and particularly the importance of millet fodder to stock raising practices in the Wei River valley, North China. The isotopic evidence overall shows that millet products increased in human and domestic animal diets during the mentioned chronological span. δ13C values of pigs and dogs at Dongying are higher than those at Wayaogou, implying that the importance of millet nutrients increased to animal husbandry diachronically. Interestingly, δ13C results of domestic cattle of Dongying late phase (−14.1 ± 1.1‰, N = 5) are more enriched than Wayaogou wild Bos (−17.8 ± 0.3‰, N = 3), indicating that millet fodder had taken a significant place in early cattle husbandry. Besides, differences between Bos species of the two periods also imply that δ13C values of bone collagen constitute a potential indicator for tracing the origin of cattle husbandry in North China. In addition, domestic sheep at Dongying produced similar isotope data to wild ovicaprid at Wayaogou, suggesting that they possibly had grazed for the most in grassland and therefore experienced a different lifestyle from cattle. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 21, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2393   open full text
• Conflict in Pre‐Hispanic Northwest Argentina: Implications Arising From Human Bone Trauma Patterns.
  M. S. Gheggi.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 19, 2014
  The time span ranging from ca. 900 to 1450 A.D. in the South‐Central Andes has been traditionally posited as a period of social unrest, political disintegration and large‐scale conflict due to, primarily, environmental causes. However, the osteological record of traumatic injuries in a sample of 223 adult and subadult crania from different areas of Northwest Argentina does not clearly correspond to the expected scenario of pervasive and formalized armed attacks. Cranial trauma prevalence in the sample is low (17.48%), and no statistically significant differences were met between the sexes. No differences were found when comparing trauma prevalence between settlements or regions, suggesting that location or function of the sites may not have influenced in trauma frequencies. This information more comfortably agrees with a scenario of conflict where several sources of violence may have caused the record of traumatic injuries (i.e. raids, ambushes, etc). These results serve to problematize how conflict is expected to be expressed in the archaeological record, especially in osseous human remains, what sources of violence may have generated the traumatic patterns observed and the intensity of conflict in this region in particular and in the pre‐Hispanic Andes in general. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 19, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2391   open full text
• Cultural Effects on Phenetic Distances Among Postclassic Mexican and Southwest United States Populations.
  C. S. Ragsdale, H. J. H. Edgar.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 19, 2014
  The Southwest United States (US) and Mesoamerica are often thought of as disparate regional networks separated by Northern Mexico. Chaco Canyon in the Southwest US, Tlatelolco in Central Mexico and Casas Grandes in Northern Mexico, all had large inter‐regional trade centres that economically connected these networks. This study investigated how factors such as geographic distance, shared migration history, trade and political interaction affected biological relationships and population affinities among sites in Mexico and in Southwest US during the Postclassic period (ad 900 ~ 1520). Distances based on cultural and geographic variables derived from archaeological and ethnohistoric data were compared with phenetic distances obtained from dental morphological traits. The results of Mantel tests show trade (corr = 0.441, p = 0.005), shared migration history (corr = 0.496, p = 0.004) and geographic distance (corr = 0.304, p = 0.02) are significantly correlated with phenetic distances, whereas political interaction (corr = 0.157, p = 0.133) is not. Partial Mantel tests show trade (corr = 0.223, p = 0.049) and shared migration history (corr = 0.493, p = 0.003) remain significant when controlling for similarities with geographic distance, although the correlation for trade and phenetic distance is lowered. Geographic distance is not significant when similarities with trade (corr = 0.067, p = 0.681) and shared migration history (corr = 0.148, p = 0.127) are controlled. These results highlight the importance of economic relationships and shared migration history across geographic regions in interpreting biological relationships among contemporaneous populations in prehistoric Mexico and the Southwest US. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 19, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2394   open full text
• New Evidence for Fish Processing in the Ancient Eastern Mediterranean: Formalised Epinephelus Butchery in Fifth Century bc Kinet Höyük, Turkey.
  C. Çakırlar, S. Ikram, M‐H. Gates.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 17, 2014
  Archaeological evidence for fish preparation in the Eastern Mediterranean is scarce. A Late fifth century deposit at Kinet Höyük provides tangible evidence for the systematic butchering of large individuals of Epinephelus (groupers), and possibly of Mugilidae (mullets), and Clarias gariepinus (African catfish). Butchery marks on head and proximal trunk regions of groupers follow a consistent pattern, indicating the processing of large fish heads for, apparently, local redistribution and consumption at the settlement. Although elements of the vertebral column remaining between the atlas and the ultimate vertebra are virtually absent in the assemblage associated with these butchered fish remains, this differential representation of elements does not appear to be an unequivocal reflection of fish processing techniques and subsequent trade. The insufficiency of research on ancient fisheries and fishing in the Eastern Mediterranean poses an obstacle to contextualise this deposit within a general historical and archaeological framework. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 17, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2388   open full text
• Bird Bone Remains from the 11th and 12th Centuries Settlement of Piatra Frecatei (Dobrudja, Romania) in the Context of Early Medieval Sites in Southeast Romania.
  E. Gál, S. M. Stanc.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 16, 2014
  In this paper, the avian bones identified from the 11th and 12th centuries settlement of Piatra Frecatei in Dobrudja (Southeast Romania) are presented. The results are put in context with data from other two coeval sites in the region. Among the 86 bird bones representing 3.7% of the total animal bone assemblage, domestic hen was the most frequent species by 61 bones (71%) and 13 specimens (59.3%). The wild species include birds that live in the aquatic environment evidencing that fowling took place in the vicinity of site, and most probably was connected to fishing. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 16, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2384   open full text
• Bird Remains from 5th – 17th Century AD Archaeological Sites in the Middle Volga Region of Russia.
  D. N. Galimova, I. V. Askeyev, O. V. Askeyev.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 14, 2014
  This article presents research findings of bird remains from 22 archaeological sites of the 5th–17th centuries AD from the Middle Volga region of Russia. We identified 53 species: 50 wild species and three domestic. Remains of domestic chickens were most numerous. The predominance of bones of domestic birds and the variety of sizes at most archaeological sites of the 10th–17th centuries AD demonstrated that the people of the Middle Volga region had already developed domestic poultry keeping. Both domestic and wild birds were diverse and played an important role in the economy of the human populations in historic times in the Middle Volga region. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 14, 2014   doi: 10.1002/oa.2385   open full text
• Zooarchaeological and Stable Isotopic Assessments on Pinniped–Human Relations in the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Southern South America).
  A . F. Zangrando, H. Panarello, E.  L. Piana.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 13, 2013
  Recent zooarchaeological investigations in the Beagle Channel region have shown long‐term variations characterised by a high inter‐taxonomic dominance of pinnipeds during the first moments of the archaeological sequence (ca 6400 bp) at the Túnel Locality and a decrease in the relative importance of this resource and a diversification of subsistence in that place since 5500 bp. Two possible explanations for these variations are evaluated: (i) variations in foraging habits of pinnipeds that would lead to changes in the degree of predictability or access to the resource and (ii) a reduction in resource availability because of increased human predation pressure. To analyse these arguments, this paper presents and discusses the results of an analysis of stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) from collagen samples of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and representations of age and size of pinnipeds in the archaeological record of Túnel. Stable isotope analyses suggest that there were variations in the foraging behaviour of southern fur seals at the same time that zooarchaeological analyses record decreases of the ages and sizes of the hunted prey. On the basis of these results, an increase of hunter–gatherer predation pressure on pinnipeds to the Middle–Late Holocene in southern South America is suggested. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 13, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2352   open full text
• Llamas in the Cornfield: Prehispanic Agro‐Pastoral System in the Southern Andes.
  M. Dantas, G.  G. Figueroa, A. Laguens.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 04, 2013
  We report a study of the organisation of camelid production at the Ambato Valley, northern Argentine Andes, between the 6th and 11th centuries ad. We aim to contribute to the understanding of the different modes of economic production adopted in the past within non‐egalitarian social contexts. In view of this, information collected from previous studies is analysed from multiple perspectives, centering on the application of different analytical techniques to the assemblage of camelid bones (anatomical and taxonomical identification, osteometry and stable isotopes), to their diverse archaeological contexts and architectural and agricultural units, together with the implementation of frames of reference and ethnoarchaeological models. The results support the presence of an organisational mode for the production of plants and animals on the basis of a combination of different agrarian and livestock productive strategies under a unique new integrated agro‐pastoral practice, differing from both previous ones. This new practice combined, in the very same land, the use of pens and agriculture terraces in an annual productive cycle adjusted to the seasonal calendar, where maize production was used as stubble for llamas during the dry season, at the same time those fertilised corn fields during fallow. Although this new practice suggests an intensification in production, the bond and synergy of animal and plant productive strategies in a single practice could be considered risky because it decreases the range of possible responses to external fluctuation, to the extent that these could have influenced simultaneously or indirectly on both resources. This might have implied an extra factor contributing to the destructuration of the Ambato societies around 1000 ad. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 04, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2351   open full text
• Rheidae Egg Human Exploitation and Stable Isotopes: Trends from West Central Argentina.
  M. A. Giardina, G. A. Neme, A. F. Gil.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 07, 2013
  Rheidae eggshells are abundant in the archaeological record of west central Argentina. Eggs were more important in human diet than the bird meat itself, as with many other Ratite species around the world. Currently, two species inhabit the south and central areas of Argentina and Chile (Rhea pennata and Rhea americana), with different geographical distributions and diet but with similar behaviour. In this paper, we use δ13C and δ18O isotopes from Rheidae eggshells to explore the ratite diet, its spatial differences in the archaeological record, and their importance in human diet, and as a way to approach human mobility in hunter‐gatherer societies from west central Argentina. There was a significant correlation between both δ13C and δ18O isotope data and the Rheidae species' distribution in the landscape, showing differences in their past diet and territoriality. Additionally, the unexpected δ13C and δ18O isotope values in the Altoandina Desert area suggest human transport of the Rheidae eggs to these locations. The isotopic data from the eggshells need to be incorporated into the ecological history of the region in order to understand past human diet and mobility. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 07, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2346   open full text
• δ13C and δ15N Characterization of Modern Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) from the Patagonian Andean Forest. Scope and Limitations of Their Use as a Geographical Marker.
  Augusto Tessone, Pablo Marcelo Fernández, Cristina Bellelli, Héctor Panarello.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 02, 2013
  This paper presents an isotopic characterization (δ13C and δ15N) of modern huemul from Patagonian Andean forest. This deer is considered an endemic species, now inhabiting the sub‐Antarctic forest of Chile and Argentina. We analyse if the isotopic signals of the modern huemuls can be used as geographic markers on two distinct spatial scales. Firstly, on the intra‐forest level, we analyse the relation between the δ13C and δ15N of the huemul and the annual precipitation in the place in which the sample was collected. Secondly, on the inter‐environmental level, we evaluate to what extent the huemul's isotopic signal differs from that of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), an herbivore that occupies Patagonia's continental steppe. The results reveal that, on the one hand, there is no relation between the isotopic values of modern huemules and precipitation levels, whereas on the other hand, the modern huemul is different from the guanaco in both isotopes. We believe that this difference between the herbivores is associated with the isotopic signals at the base trophic chain, which is influenced by the precipitation gradient. In this way, even though for now, these isotopic markers turn out not to be useful for differentiating between huemuls coming from sectors of the forest with marked differences in precipitation, it is possible to distinguish herbivores coming from the forest and steppe of continental Patagonia, enabling the use of δ13C and δ15N as geographic markers. The isotopic characterization of δ13C and δ15N of the modern huemuls and its relation to the Patagonian Andean forest has strong implications for paleoecological and archaeological aspects of this environment, including the biogeographical history of the huemul, and in order to the test the models of use and exploitation of the forest by hunter‐gatherers in the past. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 02, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2336   open full text
• Isotopic Ecology and Human Diets in the Forest–Steppe Ecotone, Aisén Region, Central‐Western Patagonia, Chile.
  C. MÉndez, R. Barberena, O. Reyes, A. Nuevo Delaunay.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 16, 2013
  This work aims to build a comprehensive isotopic ecology with the ultimate purpose of assessing long‐term human diet decision‐making by means of stable isotope analysis. We present a set of δ13Ccollagen and δ15Ncollagen isotopic values on the main faunal resources from the forest and steppe areas of the Aisén region (Central‐Western Patagonia, Chile), in order to characterise their isotopic ranges and assess their consumption by past hunter–gatherer populations. Two sets of bioarchaeological remains are used for this comparison; a 10 200–9700 cal year bp assemblage from Baño Nuevo cave and a 1600–300 cal year bp assemblage gathered at different locations throughout Aisén. Isotopic signals from both assemblages indicate diets based on the consumption of protein provided by terrestrial mammals from steppe environments and no long‐term signature of forest‐resource consumption. On the other hand, the earlier group shows values that may indicate a wider dietary breadth, although this observation is preliminary. These results further suggest that the use of forests and the resources they provided, although visible through the zooarchaeological record (i.e. taxa represented at sites), must have been discontinuous and, perhaps, marginal in comparison with steppe regions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 16, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2337   open full text
• Early Human Decapitation, 11,700 to 10,700 cal BP, within the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic A Village of Tell Qaramel, North Syria.
  Youssef Kanjou, Ian Kuijt, Yilmaz Selim Erdal, Osamu Kondo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 12, 2013
  The process and timing of skull removal remains poorly understood by researchers. New archaeological and skeletal analysis from two skeletons from the early Pre‐Pottery Neolithic (PPNA) site of Tell Qaramel, northern Syria, highlights that Neolithic villagers used stone tools to physically decapitate the dead. Drawing upon cutmarks on the axis and the mandible from a primary and a secondary burials, we employed a scanning electron microscope to document how Neolithic people cut the ligament and its surrounding connecting tissues that bind the cranium with the bones of axis and the mandible. The position of the cutmarks, especially at the top of the odontoid process of the axis, illustrates the complexities of intentional skull removal. From these and associated burial data, we illustrate that Levantine Neolithic people had specific practical codes for the sequence of skull removal, but given variation in the decomposition of the human body, at times villagers had to use flint tools for skull removal. This study provides evidence of some of the World's earliest examples of intentional decapitation within human communities. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  August 12, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2341   open full text
• Weapon‐related Cranial Lesions from Medieval and Renaissance Turin, Italy.
  V. Giuffra, L. Pejrani Baricco, M. Subbrizio, G. Fornaciari.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 08, 2013
  Archaeological excavations carried out in the square around the Cathedral of S. Giovanni in Turin brought to light burials referable to the medieval and Renaissance periods. The anthropological examination of the skeletal remains allowed to identify two skeletons from the medieval period (10th–11th centuries) and four skeletons from the Renaissance age (15th century) showing weapon‐related cranial injuries. These peri mortem lesions are indicators of interpersonal aggression and in particular of armed conflicts. The two individuals from the early medieval period presented three traumas consisting in sharp force lesions caused by bladed weapons. As regards the Renaissance sample, the majority of the nine peri mortem injuries were sharp force wounds, followed by a blunt force trauma. These distribution patterns might reflect different fighting techniques, whereas the side distribution and location of the skull trauma provide further indications on the fighting modalities. Identification of the weapons that caused these traumas is suggested. The lack of post‐cranial wounds at Piazza S. Giovanni might be explained by the greater attention paid to the head, which was the main target of attack, or by adequate protection of the body through medieval and Renaissance armours. Otherwise, the wounds in the body would have been found only in the soft tissues, with no involvement of the bones. Despite the presence of weapon injuries, the results obtained from the study of the Renaissance sample are different from the findings of other contemporary battlefields. It is highly likely that the individuals of the Renaissance age were not young soldiers employed in war episodes and brought back for burial in Turin after battles that had taken place elsewhere. Instead, they were probably individuals who had died in riots or in other violent city episodes, as the historical records for the Renaissance age seem to confirm. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 08, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2334   open full text
• Sexual Dimorphism of Proximal Hand Phalanges.
  F.‐A. Karakostis, E. Zorba, K. Moraitis.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 08, 2013
  Research on sexual dimorphism in proximal hand phalanges contributes to the assessment of the biological profile of an individual from human skeletal remains. Furthermore, it provides fundamental information for studying the origins of manual dexterity. The anatomy of proximal hand phalanges has been widely described and the occurrence of sexual dimorphism has been reported in studies concentrating on sex determination. However, there is limited research focusing on the level of sexual dimorphism. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the degree of sexual dimorphism in proximal hand phalanges. A total of 661 bones from 160 adult individuals (86 males and 74 females) of the Athens collection were studied. Seven measurements were taken involving the maximum length and diaphyseal and epiphyseal widths. Descriptive statistics, t‐values and percentages of sexual dimorphism were estimated. The results of this study indicate that, in almost all dimensions measured, males have larger proximal hand phalanges than females. Proximal hand phalanges present a high degree of sexual dimorphism (reached 24.78%). The phalanges of the left side demonstrate a higher degree of sexual dimorphism. The proximal phalanges of the thumb proved to be the most sexually dimorphic bones in the material. The minimum sexual dimorphism observed was in the maximum lengths of phalanges, whereas the most sexually dimorphic measurement is the mediolateral width at midshaft. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  August 08, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2340   open full text
• Body‐part Representation, Fragmentation, and Patterns of Ertebølle Deer Exploitation in Northwest Zealand, Denmark.
  K. J. Gron.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 05, 2013
  The faunal assemblages from Asnæs Havnemark, Fårevejle, and Trustrup, located in northwest Zealand, Denmark, yielded extensive, yet substantially fragmented bone material dating predominantly to the late Mesolithic Ertebølle culture, ca. 5400‐3950 cal B.C. This paper presents a combined assessment of skeletal‐part representation of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from these three sites in conjunction with quantification of overall fragmentation data for the assemblages. These data indicate that the observed pattern of skeletal‐part abundance is most consistent with a pattern of density‐mediated skeletal attrition, and therefore whole carcasses were initially deposited. Deer were not part of a logistic exploitation strategy at these sites. This indicates variability during the Ertebølle period not only in which resources were exploited, but in how these resources were processed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  August 05, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2339   open full text
• Hunting, Herding, and Caravanning: Osteometric Identifications of Camelid Morphotypes at Khonkho Wankane, Bolivia.
  A. V. Gasco, E. J. Marsh.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 02, 2013
  Khonkho Wankane is a ceremonial center located in the southern Lake Titicaca Basin, Bolivia. During the Late Formative period (AD 1–500), its residents practiced agropastoral lifeways and participated in the rise of the state at Tiwanaku. Like at many Andean sites, bones from the family Camelidae are the most abundant large mammal in domestic contexts. Identifying camelid morphotypes represented by these bones carries far‐reaching implications for understanding past hunting, herding, and caravanning practices, and their roles in larger social and economic webs. Identifications were based on a locally focused reference collection, including llamas (Lama glama) from the immediate vicinity of the site, as well as Andean guanacos (Lama guanicoe), a much smaller morphotype than the Patagonian guanacos used in many osteometric studies. Multivariate statistical analyses and incisor morphology identified all four camelid. Different analyses suggest that the crux of osteometry lies in the reference collection, not the statistical test. An additional, very large morphotype likely corresponds to a castrated llama, the preferred cargo animal among modern drovers. The presence of these animals is interpreted as evidence that groups hunted vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) and guanaco, which are not currently present around the site, herded llamas and alpacas (Vicugna pacos), and perhaps organized caravans with castrated llamas. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 02, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2331   open full text
• δ13C and δ15N Variability in Modern Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) Assemblages in Southern Patagonia: Implications for Zooarchaeological Studies.
  A. Tessone, D. Rindel, J. B. Belardi, H. O. Panarello, R. A. Goñi.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 01, 2013
  We study the isotopic variability of modern social groups of guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and discuss the implications of these results for the analysis of archaeofaunas from archaeological sites of Patagonia. The aim of this work is to evaluate whether the study of the isotope composition of carbon and nitrogen from collagen (δ13C and δ15N) is a methodology that allows the discussion of hunting strategies – individual versus mass – carried out by human populations in this particular case of the guanaco from southern Patagonia. Samples come from five modern assemblages of guanacos located in the west margin of the Cardiel Lake and are the result of a catastrophic mortality episode produced by winter stress. The isotopic variability of these samples is compared with that of a mesoregional attritional assemblage built from multiple sites and chronologies. The results indicate, in the first place, that there is no differentiation between males and females, second, that the offspring show no increase of signals when compared to the other age categories and finally, juveniles recorded the lowest δ15N values. In relation to the main purpose of this research, measurements of variability from modern assemblages and the attritional groups have been compared. The three assemblages with lower variability are modern ones. However, the two remaining modern assemblages record a variability higher than or equal to the attritional groups. Thus, for southern Patagonian guanacos, the hypothesis that proposes that the isotopic variability of a herd would be lower than the one obtained from multiple populations and different hunting events is rejected. Finally, we analyze the possible causes for these results together with situations in which δ13C and δ15N can be used in the study of the guanaco hunting strategies in southern Patagonia. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 01, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2330   open full text
• Bioarchaeological Analysis of a Royal Burial from the Oldest Maya Tomb in Palenque, Mexico.
  Lourdes R. Couoh.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 27, 2013
  In 1957 a new discovery inside Temple XVIII‐A was made in Palenque, the Mayan archaeological site in Chiapas Mexico, a royal tomb of an original design which proved to be the oldest at the site. Two skeletons were found, the principal (PAL‐44) was at the centre showing red pigmentation on the surface of some bones, personal adornments and offerings, which indicate he was an early ruler of Palenque. The second, (PAL‐45), deposited at the entrance, not in a special mortuary position, without offerings, suggests it was of a lower social status. This research presents a new bioarchaeological analysis with the following results: 1) PAL‐44 has been directly AMS 14C‐dated to 250–420 cal. AD (LTL12759A: 1696 ±30 BP) which means that the personage was buried long before the first designated ruler of Palenque, who, according to the epigraphic record was enthroned in 431 AD. 2) With X‐Ray Fluorescence (XRF) the red pigment was identified as cinnabar (HgS). 3) PAL‐44 is a young adult male with a severe idiopathic scoliosis with a double curvature that affected the ribcage and lower limbs. Such a three dimensional deformity resulted in changes to his body mechanics and induced motion asymmetry. Consequently his health and mobility must have been significantly affected by such a severe condition. 4) PAL‐45 is an adult female with signs of nutritional problems in childhood and entheseal changes probably related to her activity. Three ante‐mortem traumas are registered: rib fracture, frontal depressed circular fracture and a nasal septal deviation. This traumatic event took place two weeks, approximately, prior to PAL‐45's death. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  July 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2338   open full text
• Exploring Human Subsistence Strategies and Environmental Change through Stable Isotopes in the Dry Puna of Argentina.
  C. T. Samec, M. R. Morales, H. D. Yacobaccio.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 26, 2013
  This article explores the feeding and territorial behaviour of the wild camelids – guanacos and vicuñas – consumed by the inhabitants of the Dry Puna during the Early and Mid‐Holocene, as a way to deal with the strategies for resource exploitation employed by these human groups. We present 38 stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) generated from bone collagen extracted from the faunal remains obtained from the Hornillos 2 archaeological site (Susques, Jujuy Province, Argentina). These bone assemblages were recovered from nine layers that comprise human occupations corresponding to both periods (from 9710 to 6130 years bp). These data will be discussed considering ecological and ethological information about wild camelids, especially regarding territorial behaviour and dietary selectiveness of vicuñas and guanacos that currently inhabit the Puna. Finally, the trends and patterns identified in these isotopic evidences will be analysed in the light of the environmental and cultural changes that took place during the mentioned chronological span. Our results show no significant differences between camelid species, implying that δ13C and δ15N values of bone collagen constitute a poor taxonomical indicator, dismissing the possibility to identify the early incidence of human intervention in animal diet as an initial step to deal with the problem of domestication. In chronological terms, the δ15N results from Early and Mid‐Holocene show certain differences that can be linked to the preponderance of arid conditions during the latter. This underscores the usefulness of this line of evidence when evaluating environmental changes. On the other hand, the δ13C values show no substantial differences, meaning that carbon isotopic composition of bone collagen in mixed C3–C4 systems is not a reliable paleoenvironmental proxy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2332   open full text
• Bone Modifications in an Early Holocene Cremation Burial from Palawan, Philippines.
  M. Lara, V. Paz, H. Lewis, W. Solheim.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 19, 2013
  Fragments of a single human skeleton recovered from a discrete archaeological context and dating to the Early Holocene from Ille Site, Palawan, Philippines, provided a unique opportunity to utilise anthropogenic bone modifications to reconstruct the postmortem history of a body prior to its deposition. Aside from being burnt, the remains were found to exhibit a combination of cutmarks, scrape marks, and impact scars indicative of disarticulation, defleshing, and hammerstone percussion. The results clearly demonstrate a complex ritualistic treatment of the body prior to interment that, so far, has not been recorded in Southeast Asia. This thus adds to the growing data of varying burial traditions during the early Holocene across the region. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 19, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2326   open full text
• Death in Flames: Human Remains from a Domestic House Fire from Early Iron Age, Denmark.
  L. Harvig, J. Kveiborg, N. Lynnerup.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 17, 2013
  This paper presents osteoarchaeological analyses of the human skeletal material from a burnt down house in Jutland, Denmark, dated to the 1st Century BC. We describe how the osteological analyses of this complex site were approached and illustrate how we reconstructed the death of the human victims. Besides basic osteological analyses, we also tried to reconstruct the posture of the deceased humans using 12” posable wooden mannequins. Along with bones from several domestic animals, skeletal elements from six human individuals were recovered. All individuals were located in the eastern end of the house–the byre end. The demographic structure indicates a small family household. Our posture reconstruction further proposes that they did not die of asphyxiation while sleeping: At least two of the individuals were lying face down, trying to protect themselves. Two other individuals were lying on their side in crouching positions, which cannot be ruled out as examples of pugilistic attitude. However, we suggest this is rather unlikely. The humans could have died as they failed to rescue their invaluable animals from the fire. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  July 17, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2335   open full text
• Rural Rickets: Vitamin D Deficiency in a Post‐Medieval Farming Community from the Netherlands.
  Barbara Veselka, Menno L.P. Hoogland, Andrea L. Waters‐Rist.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 11, 2013
  Rickets is caused by vitamin D deficiency as a result of limited exposure to sunlight and inadequate diet. In the 19th century, rickets was endemic in most northern European cities. In post‐Medieval Netherlands, rickets is documented in low frequencies in a few urban samples, but has not been studied in contemporaneous rural populations. Beemster is a rural farming community in the Netherlands that was established in the 17th century upon drained land, with the Middenbeemster cemetery in use until 1866 AD. Ninety‐five individuals from the ages of 32 weeks in utero to 15 years were examined for rickets in order to understand factors that can cause vitamin D deficiency in rural, non‐industrialized populations. To identify rickets in the Beemster sample, ten features were scored, with bending deformities of the lower limb and one other feature, or at least three non‐bending features, having to be present in order for diagnosis. Nine individuals (9.5%) had evidence of rickets—a high prevalence, especially for a rural community where ample sunlight was available. The two and three year old Beemster infants were most heavily affected with an age‐specific prevalence of 30.4%. Two three‐month‐old infants also had rickets. Some of the affected may have developed rickets secondarily, as a result of a different illness, but cultural practices including prolonged swaddling, occlusive clothing, and keeping the young indoors, are suggested to have contributed to this high rickets prevalence. Dietary variables including poor weaning foods and common episodes of malnutrition may have also contributed to vitamin D deficiency. This study demonstrates the value of careful analysis of pathological conditions in subadults and highlights that rickets was not only a disease of cities, but affected populations that would appear to have been at low risk, because of maladaptive cultural practices. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 11, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2329   open full text
• Evaluating the Contemporaneity of Households at the Eden‐Farson site.
  M. O'Brien.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 06, 2013
  Archaeologists often rely on absolute dating methods, but the standard deviations associated with these approaches often leave us wondering what to make of spatially related archaeological units, such as adjacent sites, clusters of features or regional‐scale investigations. This issue is particularly relevant to the Shoshone Protohistoric site of Eden‐Farson located in southwest Wyoming. The campsite consists of at least 11 discrete excavation units and is associated with a successful communal game drive of over 156 pronghorn. Yet the sheer number of pronghorn and the ambiguous nature of the near‐surface cultural deposits have left researchers debating whether it represents a single occupation associated with a single successful game drive. Using a multivariate refit model, I have performed a bilateral refit analysis to identify links between the excavation units. Strong evidence for contemporaneity of Eden‐Farson excavation units comes from 38 linkages between 10 of the 11 proveniences. Coeval occupation of the separate houses also allows for an analysis of food‐sharing behaviours. With the last game drive occurring in the 1870s, the Eden‐Farson site provides a rare opportunity to examine the social organisation of communal hunting. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 06, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2328   open full text
• Bioarchaeological Patterns of Violence in North Patagonia (Argentina) during the late Holocene. Implications for the Study of Population Dynamics.
  Florencia Gordón.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 01, 2013
  This work presents bioarchaeological patterns of interpersonal violence inferred for Northeastern Patagonia (Argentina) during the late Holocene. The main goal is to evaluate if there is a significant increase in the frequency of indicators of violence during the final late Holocene, prior to colonial times, in possible concordance with the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (ca. 1150–600 years BP). A sample of skulls (n = 797) was studied through a series of methodological steps that included the evaluation of their state of preservation and the study of potential injuries, taking into account the degree of ambiguity of the diagnosis. The sample was divided into three chronological groups: early (ca. 3500–2500 years BP), middle (ca. 2500–1500 years BP) and late (ca. 1500–400 years BP). The individuals were also separated according to sex, age category and geographical distribution. Although a temporal trend toward increased violence was detected, it was not statistically significant. There was also a higher percentage of positive cases in Northern individuals compared to the Southern ones, and between males compared to females, but neither case had statistically significant differences. Alternative mechanisms, such as population dispersals, exchange and use of buffer areas, that may have functioned to dispel social tensions, are proposed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 01, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2325   open full text
• Taphonomic Analysis of Micromammal Remains from Striped Owl (Pseudoscops clamator) Pellets in Northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina: Implications for Archaeological Sites Formation.
  S. M. Rudzik, F. J. Fernández, J. D. Carrera.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 21, 2013
  The main objective of this study was to determine the taxonomic and taphonomic characteristics of the micromammal remains recovered from pellets of Pseudoscops clamator (striped owl), collected at three localities in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (Punta Lara Natural Reserve, 34°49'02,6''S, 58°03'03,9''W; Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, 34°36'6,44" S, 58°21'33,22" W; Los Robles Park, 34°40'22,03''S, 58°52'18,88''W). The main taphonomic variables (e.g. evidence of digestive action, breakage patterns and relative abundance of skeletal elements) suggest that this owl mainly produces intermediate to moderate modification. On the other hand, P. clamator preyed mainly upon large‐sized (>150 g) micromammals (e.g. Lutreolina crassicaudata, Cavia aperea, Holochilus brasiliensis and Rattus sp.), and to a lesser degree on medium‐ (50–150 g) and small‐sized species (<50 g) (e.g. Scapteromys aquaticus, Calomys sp., Oligoryzomys flavescens, Akodon azarae and Mus musculus). Fossil assemblages with a dominance of large‐sized micromammals are commonly associated with humans as agents of accumulation. However, this study demonstrates that this owl produces assemblages with abundant large‐sized micromammals, which introduces an equifinality problem. In that sense, digestive corrosion marks, breakage patterns and the relative abundance of skeletal remains are the main attributes to differentiate P. clamator from humans, as agents of accumulation. Finally, our results might serve as an analytical model for the taphonomic interpretation of the fossil record of micromammals from paleontological and archaeological sites, which fall within the distributional range and habitat of P. clamator. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 21, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2327   open full text
• Terminal Pleistocene Later Stone Age Human Remains from the Mlambalasi Rock Shelter, Iringa Region, Southern Tanzania.
  Elizabeth A. Sawchuk, Pamela R. Willoughby.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 15, 2013
  This paper introduces research at the Mlambalasi rock shelter in the Iringa Region of southern Tanzania. The deposits are composed of a historic and Iron Age occupation, a microlithic Holocene Later Stone Age (LSA), and then a macrolithic Late Pleistocene LSA. Middle Stone Age deposits are also present on the slope in front of the rock shelter. Excavations in A.D. 2002, 2006, and 2010 yielded fragmentary human remains as well as pottery, iron, stone tools, faunal bone, and glass and ostrich eggshell beads. Among the human remains, four individuals are present: two adults and a juvenile were found in the same LSA context, and another adult associated with the Iron Age/historic period. The most complete skeleton is an adult of indeterminate sex that was found in situ in an LSA deposit. Charcoal in proximity to the bone was AMS radiocarbon dated to 12,925 cal BC (OxA‐24620), which is consistent with radiocarbon dates on giant land snail shells from above and below the remains. The skeleton exhibits a series of pathological changes such as extensive dental wear and carious lesions, as well as damage most likely caused by termites, post‐mortem. The most striking aspect of this individual is its small size; stature and body mass estimations place it in the range of historic Khoesan from southern Africa. Consequently, this research adds to the discourse regarding the existence of small‐bodied people in the East African LSA. Findings from this new skeletal sample will contribute to studies of human biology and variation in Africa during the terminal Pleistocene and Holocene. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 15, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2323   open full text
• Interpreting Oral Pathology at Machu Picchu, Peru.
  B. L. Turner.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 28, 2013
  This study analyzes oral pathological conditions—caries, antemortem tooth loss, and occlusal macrowear—among adults (N = 70) interred at Machu Picchu, Peru. Previous isotopic diet reconstructions at Machu Picchu suggest substantial early‐life variation that may have narrowed somewhat by the last decade of life. This study seeks to further elucidate the intersection of diet, sex, and health at Machu Picchu by analyzing oral pathological conditions with existing carbon and nitrogen isotopic data. Observed caries prevalence is corrected to control for age and tooth loss, and is described for both anterior and posterior teeth; wear data are scored and reported for individual tooth types. Results indicate caries prevalence consistent with carbohydrate‐rich diets and no significant difference between males and females. However, no significant isotopic parameters are associated with caries prevalence in young adult males, while caries prevalence is significantly associated only with enamel carbonate δ13C in older adult males. Dietary protein sources, but not C4 resources, are associated with caries prevalence in young adult females, and to a lesser degree in older adult females. Significant associations between occlusal wear and caries exist among young adult males and young adult females, but involving different tooth types. These findings suggest differential protein consumption at Machu Picchu between males and females, and separate masticatory and physiological processes shaping caries prevalence between the sexes at the site. This study therefore underscores the role that gender roles may have played in diet variation among this population and the need to account for sex in analyzing oral pathology. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 28, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2318   open full text
• Rickets in a High Social Class of Renaissance Italy: The Medici Children.
  V. Giuffra, A. Vitiello, D. Caramella, A. Fornaciari, D. Giustini, G. Fornaciari.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 28, 2013
  Exploration of the Medici Chapels in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence revealed the burials of nine juvenile members of the Medici family (16th–17th centuries). The estimated children's skeletal ages ranged from newborns to 5‐year‐olds, showing a series of bone abnormalities, in particular diffuse periosteal new bone and bowing of long bones. The comparable pathological lesions, including porosity evident on the skull, orbital roofs, costocondral ribs and growth plates between metaphyses and epiphyses, enlargement of metaphyses and sternal rib ends, and long bone bending, are interpreted as the skeletal manifestation of rickets. The diagnosis of a metabolic disease linked to vitamin D deficiency would appear to be unexpected for children brought up at the court of a Renaissance elite class family like the Medici of Florence. Analysis of the historical and social background is particularly helpful to understand the causes of the onset of the disease in this aristocratic group. Documentary sources, supported by 13C and 15N bone collagen analysis, attest that weaning of these children took place when they were around 2 years old. With a prolonged breast‐feeding and a delay in introducing solid food in the diet, vitamin D deficiency is expected to rise considerably, in particular if the other main risk factor, namely inadequate sunlight exposition, is associated with this human milk‐based diet. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 28, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2324   open full text
• Cynophagia in the Púchov (Celtic) Culture Settlement at Liptovská Mara, Northern Slovakia.
  A. Chrószcz, M. Janeczek, Z. Bielichová, T. Gralak, V. Onar.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 26, 2013
  This paper deals with the remains of butchered dogs from the La Tène and Early Roman sites in northern Slovakia. A large settlement revealed at Liptovská Mara was inhabited by the Celtic tribe of Cotini, representing the so‐called Púchov culture. The long‐term excavation of the site has yielded one of the largest collections from that time in Slovakia. During archaeozoological analysis, the skeletal remains of dogs were identified. Interestingly, a large portion of the specimens represent the cranial skeleton, and the majority of mandibles bear distinctive marks of butchery. On the basis of their placement and similar characteristics, the authors conclude that they resulted from tongue‐removal procedures. Moreover, their frequent occurrence clearly supports the idea of the use of dog flesh at the site. The authors argue that cynophagia occurred mainly for economic reasons; however, it might also have been part of the rituals documented in the sanctuary of Liptovská Mara. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2320   open full text
• Morphological Characteristics of Healthy and Osteoarthritic Joint Surfaces in Archaeological Skeletons.
  K. A. Plomp, C. A. Roberts, U. Strand Viðarsdόttir.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 19, 2013
  Osteoarthritis is a major health concern in living populations, as well as being one of the most common pathological lesions identified in the archaeological record. The aetiology of the disease remains unclear, with a multi‐factorial influence of physical strain, age, genetics, and obesity. Previous studies have identified a relationship between the presence of knee osteoarthritis on the distal femoral joint and the morphology of the intercondylar notch, patellar groove, and medial condyle. The current study expands this research to investigate the relationship between distal femoral, distal humeral, and proximal ulnar joint morphology and osteoarthritis with 3D shape analysis techniques. These methods provide a more detailed analysis of joint morphology in order to determine any relationship between 3D shape and osteoarthritis. The results indicate a complex relationship between joint shape and knee osteoarthritis, with eburnated right femora showing a statistically significant association. The shapes associated with eburnated or affected femoral joints can be explained by osteophyte development, and therefore likely represent systematic shape changes and not a particular joint shape predisposing individuals to the condition. There was no identifiable relationship found in the proximal ulna or distal humerus, indicating that joint shape is unlikely to influence the development of the condition in the elbow joint and that any shape changes produced by osteoarthritis are not systematic or quantifiable. The joints analysed in this study were highly influenced by asymmetry, sexual dimorphism, and allometry, resulting in a small sample size of affected joints in many datasets. Further analyses of large skeletal samples are needed to more thoroughly investigate the possible relationship of distal femoral joint shape and osteoarthritis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 19, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2319   open full text
• Population Affinities of the Jebel Sahaba Skeletal Sample: Limb Proportion Evidence.
  T. W. Holliday.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 19, 2013
  The Lower Nubian Epipaleolithic site of Jebel Sahaba (Sudan) was discovered in 1962. From 1962 to 1966, a total of 58 intentionally buried skeletons were uncovered at the site. Diagnostic microliths indicative of the Qadan industry as well as the site's geology suggest an age of 14–12 ka for these burials. In this study, the body proportions of the Jebel Sahaba sample are compared with those of a large (max N = 731) sample of recent human skeletons from Europe, Africa and circumpolar North America, as well as to terminal Pleistocene ‘Iberomaurusian’ skeletons from the Algerian sites of Afalou‐Bou‐Rhummel and the later Capsian‐associated Ain Dokhara specimen, as well as Natufian skeletons from the southern Levantine site of El Wad. Bivariate analyses distinguish Jebel Sahaba from European and circumpolar samples, but do not tend to segregate them from recent North or sub‐Saharan African samples. Multivariate analyses (principal components analysis, principal coordinates analysis with minimum spanning tree and neighbour‐joining cluster analyses) indicate that the body shape of the Jebel Sahaba humans is most similar to that of recent sub‐Saharan Africans and different from that of either the Levantine Natufians or the northwest African ‘Iberomaurusian’ samples. Importantly, these results corroborate those of both Irish and Franciscus, who, using dental, oral and nasal morphology, found that Jebel Sahaba was most similar to recent sub‐Saharan Africans and morphologically distinct from their penecontemporaries in other parts of North Africa or the groups that succeed them in Nubia. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 19, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2315   open full text
• The Post‐Mortem Pressure Distortion of Human Crania Uncovered in an Early Medieval Pohansko (Czech Republic) Graveyard.
  Mikoláš Jurda, Petra Urbanová, Miroslav Králík.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 19, 2013
  Post‐mortem distortion resulting from the pressure of overlying sediments (i.e. grave backfill) is one of the taphonomic factors capable of altering the geometry of buried and subsequently recovered skeletal remains. If pressure distortion is a frequent occurrence, it could systematically flaw the outcome of an anthropological examination. To study the patterns of post‐mortem distortion in buried crania and shape alterations associated with a specimen's in situ position, 46 male crania recovered from an Old Slavic graveyard (Pohansko, Czech Republic) were analysed together with control specimens from four modern European osteological collections (N = 207) using geometric morphometrics. The results indicate a common pattern of shape change in buried skulls associated with their in situ orientation. However, as the overall shape variation between the Old Slavic crania (which, with their tendency towards longer, narrower shapes differed markedly from the modern Czech crania) oriented in situ on their back and side reflects the duality of dolichocranial and brachycranial forms, it seems likely that the in situ positioning of the crania stemmed from their original morphology. The lack of substantial effect of the in situ orientation on the cranial morphology is associated with a larger cranial size and a tendency for sturdiness in the Old Slavic subsample. Both of these characteristics are likely to be contributing to the resistance of these crania to taphonomic alterations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 19, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2321   open full text
• Palaeobiology of the Medieval Population of Albano (Rome, Italy): A Combined Morphological and Biomolecular Approach.
  R. Ciaffi, R. Lelli, G. Müldner, K. Stantcheva, A. L. Fischetti, G. Ghini, O. E. Craig, F. Milano, O. Rickards, G. Arcudi, C. Martínez‐Labarga.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 15, 2013
  Recent years have seen increased interest in skeletal populations from the Imperial Roman Age in Italy, but much less is known about diet and standards of living in the subsequent medieval period. To fill this gap, we conducted a morphological analysis of human remains from Albano, an Italian town near Rome, as well as a stable isotope analysis of bone collagen to reconstruct diet. The sample was recovered from a Medieval cemetery (1040–1220 cal. yr. BP) located in the gardens of the historical Palazzo Doria Pamphili in Albano. A minimum number of 40 individuals (31 adults and 9 sub‐adults) were examined using standard methods. Though the general health status of the population was good, signs of cribra orbitalia and diffuse enthesopathies were noted during the morphological examination. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of the bone collagen from 24 adult humans and three faunal bones indicate that the diet of the population may be described as predominantly terrestrial and C3‐plant based although the data for some of the individuals suggest a modest consumption of C4‐(millet) based or aquatic proteins. No evidence of significant dietary differences between the sexes was found. The comparison of the isotope data from Albano with those from populations recovered in the same region is consistent with a shift from a terrestrial, possibly plant foods‐dominated subsistence in the Early Middle Ages to a diet with a higher contribution from animal proteins, both terrestrial and aquatic, in the Later Middle Ages. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 15, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2316   open full text
• Cremated Human Remains Deposited in Two Phases: Evidence from the Necropolis of the Tuileries Site (Lyon, France: 2nd Century AD).
  A. André, R. Leahy, S. Rottier.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 28, 2013
  A small 2nd century AD necropolis was discovered at site N°16–28 Tuileries Street, in the 9th district of Lyon. This funerary ensemble included two secondary funerary structures, one containing cremation residues and the other an ossuary. Together, the structures have spatial, stratigraphic and anthropological particularities, which can be used to establish the relative chronology of certain funerary gestures applied to a single individual. Here, we insist on the necessity of detailed anthropological analyses, which allowed us to reestimate the minimum number of individuals, reconsider the relationship between the two different structures and postulate a new interpretation of the funerary gestures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 28, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2317   open full text
• Early Pig Management in the Zagros Flanks: Reanalysis of the Fauna from Neolithic Jarmo, Northern Iraq.
  M. D. Price, B. S. Arbuckle.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 23, 2013
  In this paper, we present a reanalysis of pig (Sus scrofa) remains from the Neolithic site of Qalat Jarmo, originally excavated in the 1940s and 1950s. Employing modern zooarchaeological techniques, not available during the initial analyses, we explore the nature of swine exploitation strategies and demonstrate that pigs were most likely managed by the early 7th millennium (Pottery Neolithic) and perhaps earlier. Comparing biometric data with those from other sites in the region, we show that the Jarmo pigs exhibit evidence for size decrease associated with intensive management, but had not yet achieved the degree of dental or post‐cranial size reduction seen in later Neolithic domestic populations. Although samples from the earliest (Pre‐Pottery) occupation of the site are small, there is some evidence to suggest that domestic pigs were present at Jarmo as early as the late 8th millennium cal. bc. In either case, Jarmo likely represents the earliest appearance of pig husbandry along the Zagros flanks, and we discuss the mechanisms by which Neolithic technologies, including domesticated animals, spread to new regions. This project emphasises the value of curated faunal assemblages in shedding new light on the spread of Neolithic economies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 23, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2312   open full text
• The Movement and Exchange of Dogs in the Prehistoric Caribbean: An Isotopic Investigation.
  J. E. Laffoon, E. Plomp, G. R. Davies, M. L. P. Hoogland, C. L. Hofman.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 18, 2013
  This study explores the feasibility of using strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analyses of enamel from domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) to investigate networks of exchange in the prehistoric Circum‐Caribbean. Dog teeth were obtained from burial and domestic contexts from two prehistoric sites (Anse à la Gourde and Morel) on Grande‐Terre, Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles). Strontium isotope results were compared with local biosphere 87Sr/86Sr data at the scale of the site, island and archipelago. The isotope results indicate both local and nonlocal origins with three dogs (30%) identified as nonlocal (one from Anse à la Gourde and two from Morel). The variance in 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the nonlocal dog teeth is consistent with diverse multiple origins external to the island of Grande‐Terre but consistent with origins from other islands of the Lesser Antilles. The diverse origins of the nonlocal dog samples indicate that the prehistoric circulation of dogs occurred at multiple scales from regional to long distance. Significantly, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of some of the dog teeth are comparable with values of nonlocal humans at Anse à la Gourde determined in previous studies. It is possible that these comparable 87Sr/86Sr ratios result from similar natal origins, for example if individuals were migrating to Guadeloupe with dogs. The results of this study contribute to an ongoing regional investigation of the economic, social and political roles of animals and animal remains and the multiscalar networks of prehistoric mobility and exchange in the Circum‐Caribbean region. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 18, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2313   open full text
• Geography and Economic Preferences as Cultural Markers in a Border Town: The Faunal Remains from Tel Beth‐Shemesh, Israel.
  K. Tamar, G. Bar‐Oz, S. Bunimovitz, Z. Lederman, T. Dayan.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 18, 2013
  We present a zooarchaeological analysis of the faunal remains at Tel Beth‐Shemesh, a site located in the Shephelah region of Israel, which has been dated to the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age I. The site, identified as the biblical city of Beth‐Shemesh, was a Canaanite border town between Philistine and Israelite settlements and of great importance in our attempts to understand the social and cultural transformations that occurred in the southern Levant during those periods. This study contributes to a more accurate understanding of the cultural identity of the site's inhabitants by exploring the cultural differences between populations as reflected in their different dietary preferences. We analysed the subsistence economy at the site, the general exploitation patterns, herd management strategies and consumption practices, all of which are based mostly on domestic livestock. We determined the cultural identity at the site mainly by comparing the representation of pig remains with that found at other sites in the region, and offer various explanations for the differences. The comparisons revealed clear differences between Tel Beth‐Shemesh and other known nearby Philistine sites. This site appears to have possessed a self‐contained production and consumption economy with similarities in the general pattern of animal exploitation between the two periods. These similarities constitute evidence for the continuation of the local population and of its culture at the site during the period of turmoil that swept the region during the transition to the Iron Age. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 18, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2309   open full text
• Cooked Bones? Method and Practice for Identifying Bones Treated at Low Temperature.
  A. Solari, D. Olivera, I. Gordillo, P. Bosch, G. Fetter, V. H. Lara, O. Novelo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 21, 2013
  Is it possible to determine low‐temperature cooking in archaeological bones? The indirect exposure of bones to fire at low temperature (≤ 100 °C), linked to cooking, produces macroscopic modifications on these bones. These modifications have not been clearly or systematically described previously. Instead, physicochemical changes at nanometric level are only now beginning to be understood. In this paper, our principle aim is to explore new methods and techniques that correlate macroscopic features such as smoothness or light transparency with physicochemical characterization results that could aid towards detecting cooked bones in the archaeological record. This study then selected 11 archaeological samples, both human and non‐human. Bones were considered to be thermally treated or not, on the basis of macroscopic criteria. Complementary characterization techniques were used to study morphology (scanning electron microscopy and small angle X‐ray scattering), structure (X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy), local composition (energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy) and texture (gas adsorption). Indeed, fractal dimension, particle size, crystalline percentage or specific surface area may well explain some of the macroscopically observed modifications on these samples. The possibility that such apparent modifications may also be due to diagenesis is also considered. From an archaeological point of view, the results are promising. Our characterization of human and non‐human bones demonstrates that physicochemical techniques are complementary and provide good criteria against which to distinguish boiled from un‐boiled archaeological samples. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 21, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2311   open full text
• The Protohistoric ‘Quicklime Burials’ from the Balearic Islands: Cremation or Inhumation.
  M. Van Strydonck, L. Decq, T. Van Brande, M. Boudin, D. Ramis, H. Borms, G. De Mulder.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 04, 2013
  Traditionally, the Balearic so‐called ‘quicklime burials’ of the Iron Age have been considered to be inhumations in quicklime. The general appearance of the bones, however, resembles more closely that of cremated bones. Laboratory tests reveal that the observed features of the bones from these burials, including cracks, thumbnail fractures and warping, cannot be explained by an inhumation in quicklime. The δ 13C value, Fourier transform infrared spectra, SF values and the low carbon content of the apatite moreover indicate a thermal manipulation of the bones. The 14C content is depleted with regard to the accepted archaeological age of the sample, which can best be explained by carbon exchange between bio‐apatite and fossil CO2 released during the heating of limestone. This implies that the Balearic ‘quicklime burials’ must be interpreted as an elaborate cremation practice in presence of limestone. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 04, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2307   open full text
• Stable Isotopic Evidence of Ancient Maya Diet at Caledonia, Cayo District, Belize.
  A. J. Rand, P. F. Healy, J. J. Awe.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 25, 2013
  The skeletal remains of 18 individuals interred at the ancient Maya site of Caledonia (100 to 1000 C.E.), located in the Cayo District of Belize, w ere sampled for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis in order to reconstruct their diet. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in 18 bone collagen samples and stable carbon isotope ratios in bioapatite from 15 bone and 6 tooth enamel samples were assessed. Small sample sizes precluded the assessment of dietary variation with respect to age, sex, social status or time period among the Caledonia Maya. However, the sampled individuals consumed a varied diet consisting of maize, supplemented with some C3 plants, terrestrial herbivores and/or lower order freshwater resources such as snails and molluscs and possibly maize‐fed animals. This dietary variability with an emphasis on maize is unsurprising given the biological diversity surrounding the site and the known importance of this crop to the ancient Maya. As expected, the isotopic values from Caledonia are similar to those from nearby sites from similar time periods. However, four individuals exhibit a marine dietary signature, possibly indicating inland trade of marine resources from coastal sites, or the migration of coastal people to Caledonia. This study demonstrates the validity of sampling small, fragmented collections from minor Maya centres in order to gain valuable insight into ancient Maya dietary practices. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 25, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2308   open full text
• Beavers (Castor fiber) in the Past: Holocene Archaeological Evidence for Beavers in Romania.
  L. Bejenaru, S. Stanc, M. Popovici, A. Balasescu.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 25, 2013
  Archaeological beaver (Castor fiber) remains from Romanian sites dating from the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages are described in terms of their frequencies (based on the number of identified specimens), morphology and size. A summary of previous archaeozoological studies in the geographical and historical regionalization of the Romanian territory (i.e. Banat, Dobrudja, Moldavia, Muntenia, Oltenia and Transylvania) shows that temporal and regional variation characterizes the assemblages. The data also reveal that beaver hunting contributed little to local economies, although some spatial and temporal variations are apparent and are here compared with the evidence from the historical record. In addition, univariate, bivariate and geometric morphometric analyses are employed to examine different anatomical elements. Studies of the lower third molar (M3) reveal that there is a statistically significant intraspecific variability between the Neolithic and Iron Age populations, situated also in different regions, Muntenia and Moldavia, respectively. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 25, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2306   open full text
• Scurvy as a factor in the loss of the 1845 Franklin expedition to the Arctic: a reconsideration.
  S. Mays, G. J. R. Maat, H. H. Boer.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 05, 2013
  In 1845, an expedition, commanded by Sir John Franklin, set out to discover the Northwest Passage. The ships entered the Canadian Arctic, and from September 1846 were beset in ice off King William Island. A note left by the expedition in May 1847 reported all was well, but by April 1848, 24 of the 129 men had died. The ice‐locked ships were deserted in April 1848, but the 105 survivors were so weakened that all perished before they could reach safety. The causes of the morbidity and mortality aboard the ships have long been debated, and many commentators have argued that scurvy was an important factor. This study evaluates the historical evidence for the likely effectiveness of anti‐scorbutic precautions taken on polar voyages at that time, and investigates whether the skeletal remains associated with the expedition provide evidence for scurvy. Skeletal remains available for study were carefully examined for pathological changes, and lesions potentially consistent with scurvy were subject to histological analysis. Where remains were no longer accessible, use was made of published osteological work. It is argued that the anti‐scorbutic measures customarily taken on mid 19th century British naval polar voyages were such that there is no a priori reason to suppose that scurvy should have been a problem prior to the desertion of the ships. The analysis of the skeletal evidence provided little in the way of bony lesions consistent with the disease, and cannot therefore be used to support the presence of scurvy. Factors other than scurvy may been the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the 11 months prior to the desertion of the ships. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 05, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2305   open full text
• Rare Types of Trephination from Hungary Shed New Light on Possible Cross‐cultural Connections in the Carpathian Basin.
  Z. Bereczki, E. Molnár, A. Marcsik, G. Pálfi.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 28, 2013
  Symbolic or incomplete trephinations are very common in Hungary in 9th–11thcentury AD skeletal series connected to early Hungarians, although they also occur in the preceding Avar Age (6th–9th c. AD) material. During the compilation of a database of regional cranial modification data, the authors found rare almond‐shaped symbolic trephinations in both periods, while these had formerly only been reported in Early Hungarian series. In this study, the new almond‐shaped lesions are described along with other symbolic trephinations of 14 newly found skulls from the 8th–11thcenturies AD in the Southern Great Plain of Hungary. The authors review the research of the phenomenon. The new findings may strengthen the theory of direct and very close cultural connections of these two ethnic groups, adding a new aspect to the debate over the origin and relationship of Late Avar (late 7th–early 9th c. AD) and Early Hungarian (9th–11th c. AD) populations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 28, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2304   open full text
• Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Spacing Between Bone and Tooth Collagen and Hydroxyapatite in Human Archaeological Remains.
  C. A. M. France, D. W. Owsley.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 20, 2013
  Spacing between stable isotope values in bones and teeth is a valuable tool for examining dietary influences and diagenesis. This study examines carbon and oxygen isotope values from collagen and hydroxyapatite (structural carbonate and phosphate) in archaeological human bones and teeth to derive species‐specific correlation equations and isotope spacing values. The δ13Ccollagen and δ13Cstructural carbonate in bone and dentin collagen show a strong correlation (R = 0.87, 0.90, respectively) with an average Δ13Ccarb‐coll spacing of 5.4‰. The consistency of this isotope spacing with other large mammals and in humans with both low and high protein intake (as indicated by enriched δ15N values) suggests a similar allocation of protein‐derived carbon and whole diet‐derived carbon to collagen and structural carbonates, respectively, as other terrestrial mammals regardless of absolute meat intake. The δ18Ostructural carbonate and δ18Ophosphate show the strongest correlation in enamel (R = 0.65), weaker correlations in dentin (R = 0.59) and bone (R = 0.35), with an average Δ18Ocarb‐phos of 7.8‰. This isotope spacing is slightly lower than previously reported for large mammals and limited available data for humans. The results potentially indicate species‐specific fractionations and differing access to body water and blood‐dissolved inorganic carbonates in the presence of collagen formation. The use of correlation between δ18Ostructural carbonate and δ18Ophosphate to determine diagenetic state is not recommended. The strength of this correlation observed in bones and teeth is variable and alternate indicators of diagenetic state (i.e. C:N ratios of collagen) provide more robust and independent evidence of isotope preservation despite presence/absence of a strong isotope correlation. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

  January 20, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2300   open full text
• Stable Isotopic Analysis of Human Skeletons from the Sunhung Mural Tomb, Yeongju, Korea: Implication for Human Diet in the Three Kingdoms Period.
  K. Choy, S. Jung, O. Nehlich, M. P. Richards.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 20, 2013
  This study reports the results of stable isotope analyses (carbon, nitrogen and sulphur) of human bone collagen from the Sunhung mural tomb from the Three Kingdoms Period of Korea (AD 300–668). The stable isotope data indicate that the main source of protein in the diet of the interred seven Sunhung individuals came from C3‐based terrestrial resources, and there was an isotopic variation between individuals at this site. To investigate dietary patterns in the Three Kingdoms period, we compared our results with reported isotopic data from other southeastern Three Kingdoms sites (Imdang‐dong, Songhyeon‐dong and Yean‐ri). We found that the Sunhung individuals had similar isotope ratios to the people from these other sites. However, there was noticeable isotopic difference among individuals from each study site, although much of the dietary protein in each site was mainly from terrestrial sources. We propose that the most parsimonious explanation for this isotopic pattern is variation in social status during this time period. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 20, 2013   doi: 10.1002/oa.2303   open full text
• Osteometric Variation in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) from the Kodiak Archipelago, Alaska.
  C. F. West, K. N. Jarvis.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 04, 2012
  The research presented here is a re‐examination of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) remains from the Uyak site on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Previous analyses suggest there were two breeds of dog represented in this archaeological assemblage, primarily on the basis of dog cranial size. Here, we use a series of metric and nonmetric traits to test the argument that these ‘breeds’ actually represent a population of male and female dogs. On the basis of the results presented here, we argue the metric and nonmetric data produced by this study suggest that the dogs in this sample are male and female specimens, rather than two distinct breeds. The Uyak assemblage is the largest collection of domestic dog from Kodiak, and these results have the potential to contribute to our understanding of human–dog relationships in the archipelago. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 04, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2293   open full text
• Examining Activity Patterns and Biological Confounding Factors: Differences between Fibrocartilaginous and Fibrous Musculoskeletal Stress Markers.
  E. Weiss.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 28, 2012
  The present study examines a sample of 105 hunter–gatherer California Amerinds to determine whether fibrocartilaginous musculoskeletal stress markers (MSMs) are better for activity reconstructions than fibrous MSMs. Femoral and humeral head diameters were measured as proxies to body size. All data were analysed for statistical significance using non‐parametric tests. Fibrous MSMs of the left deltoideus, left and right hip adductors, and left and right tibial soleus correlate positively with body size proxies. For fibrocartilaginous MSMs, the right humeral teres minor insertion negatively correlates with humeral head diameter. Both types of MSMs correlate positively with age. More upper limb fibrocartilaginous MSMs display asymmetry than do upper limb fibrous MSMs. Lower limb sex differences were found at the same MSM sites that correlated with body size. Upper limb sex differences at the right teres major, a fibrous site, and the right triceps brachii, a fibrocartilaginous site, seem to reflect activity patterns. Results suggest that fibrocartilaginous MSMs are more useful in reconstructing activity patterns because they display more asymmetry in upper limbs and are less affected by body size than are fibrous MSMs. Yet, correlations with age and a lack of variability at fibrocartilaginous MSM sites may hinder their utility in activity reconstructions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 28, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2290   open full text
• Probable Atretic Cephalocele in an Adult Female from Punta Secca (Sicily, Italy).
  C. L. Sulosky Weaver, R. J. A. Wilson.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 26, 2012
  Excavations at Punta Secca, Sicily (Italy), in 2008 uncovered a substantially built tomb of ca ad 625/630 inside a private house and accompanying evidence for libations and funerary feasting in honour of the deceased. Inside the tomb were the skeletal remains of an adult female aged approximately 20/25 years and a child aged approximately 3/5 years. DNA analysis showed the child to be female and the adult and child to have been consanguineous. Archaeological and epigraphic evidence demonstrates that they were Christians. The cranium of the adult female showed an enlargement of the central portion of the occipital bone and a circular depression that terminated in a bifurcated foramen (diameter 3.25 mm). The former is likely an instance of occipital bunning; the latter is the first attested example of atretic cephalocele from an archaeological context. Tombs do not normally occur in ancient houses, and the hypothesis is advanced that the individual may have suffered from medical side effects, such as seizures, which caused rejection of the adult female by the local Christian community but veneration of her by her family as a holy woman. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 26, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2291   open full text
• Assyrian Attitude Towards Captive Enemies: A 2700‐year‐old Paleo‐forensic Study.
  H. Cohen, V. Slon, A. Barash, H. May, B. Medlej, I. Hershkovitz.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 16, 2012
  The Assyrians, who ruled at the height of their power between Egypt and the Persian Gulf (745–630 BC), are known from historical records to have been cruel and unrelenting towards their enemies. However, osteological evidence for this behavior is scarce. We herein present a case of an adult male skeleton, dated to the Iron Age IIB period (second half of the 8th century BC), who manifests traumatic injuries to the skull, left forearm, vertebrae, and ribs. Using modern forensic methods, the injuries were studied, and the consequences that led to these injuries reconstructed. Three possible scenarios are presented: (i) wounds inflicted during a chaotic battle; (ii) wounds caused by the chasing and capturing of a victim; and (iii) a commonly practiced violent attitude of Assyrian soldiers towards a captive combatant. Combining all the evidence at hand, the latter scenario appears more likely. This skeleton may therefore be one of the sole tangible physical evidence for the veracity of the Assyrians’ post‐battle behavior, as depicted in ancient texts and reliefs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 16, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2288   open full text
• Comparative Study of Perimortem Weapon Trauma in Two Early Medieval Skeletal Populations (AD 400–1200) from Ireland.
  J. Geber.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 06, 2012
  Violence was a reality of life in early medieval Ireland (AD 400–1200). Its omnipresence is indicated from numerous narratives of regicide, mortal conflicts, battles and warfare that survive in ancient myths, legends and annalistic accounts. The archaeological evidence of violence and conflict is mainly identified in the osteoarchaeological record, and approximately 13% of all skeletal populations from excavated early medieval cemeteries in Ireland have shown evidence of weapon trauma. This study considers the osteological representation of violent deaths in two contemporaneous Irish skeletal populations dating to this period: Mount Gamble in County Dublin and Owenbristy in County Galway. This analysis involves assessing the different anatomical regions of the body for evidence of lesions that can be attributed to weapon trauma. The results indicate that these populations are likely to have been exposed to violence under differing circumstances; the evidence suggests that the individuals from Mount Gamble may have been well equipped or skilled at interpersonal battle, in contrast to the majority of individuals from Owenbristy who may have been unprotected and unprepared. The presence of two adolescents and two adult females amongst the victims from the latter population gives insight into a wider social dimension of weapon trauma in early medieval Ireland. There is also evidence of postmortem mutilations and decapitations, which reflect ritualistic aspects of violence. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 06, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2281   open full text
• Celtic Ritual Activity at Gordion, Turkey: Evidence from Mortuary Contexts and Skeletal Analysis.
  P. Selinsky.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 29, 2012
  Primary support for a Celtic presence in Turkey during ancient times comes from textual sources. However, the analysis of human skeletal remains and mortuary practices at the site of Gordion, combined with archaeological findings, provide persuasive evidence of a Celtic settlement including ritual activity. Data are drawn from 47 individuals excavated from the Lower Town area of the site: 21 Later Hellenistic (late 3rd to 2nd centuries BCE) and 26 Roman (1st to 2nd centuries CE). The two sub‐samples have markedly different paleodemographic profiles. Composition of the Later Hellenistic group is unusual, with very few infants (5%) and primarily young or middle aged adults (52%), whereas the Roman sample has many infant burials (27%) and less than half young or middle aged adults (35%). Burial contexts for the two groups are also distinct, with only one formal interment associated with the Later Hellenistic, the remaining individuals being in mixed groupings of human and animal bones or disarticulated and commingled human skeletal deposits. By comparison, the Roman sample comprises exclusively primary burials, two cremations, and 24 inhumations. Evidence of inter‐personal violence, such as perimortem cranial trauma and decapitation, is totally absent in the Roman group but present in 25% of the Later Hellenistic specimens. The nature of the Later Hellenistic skeletal assemblages and the ritual space in which they were found show similarities to European Celtic remains identified as resulting from ritual sacrifice. The data presented here represent the first comprehensive bioarchaeological approach to these population groups from central Turkey. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 29, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2279   open full text
• Bone Degradation and Environment: Understanding, Assessing and Conducting Archaeological Experiments Using Modern Animal Bones.
  L. P. Karr, A. K. Outram.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 22, 2012
  Archaeological experiments that use modern bones to replicate past animal bone assemblages have often failed to consider the effects of environment, storage and preparation on modern bones. Often, these experiments make little mention of the conditions to which bones were subject during their storage and preparation for use in experiments. In other instances, these variables are reported but not considered as factors that contribute to the nature of the results obtained. This study considers previously reported data concerning the degradation of frozen bones (−20°C), and bones exposed to hot, dry conditions (40°C), and presents new data for bones exposed to room temperature environments (22°C) and refrigerated environments (2°C), and bones that are frozen (−20°C) and then thawed (22°C). These conditions are all relevant to understanding the nature of bone degradation and the use of bones in modern archaeological experimentation. This article also surveys a range of previously reported experiments that utilise modern bones to create analogies to the past and considers different methodological approaches and their relationship to the condition of bones at the time of their fracture and fragmentation. The longitudinal data presented in this study demonstrate differential rates of bone degradation over time in various environmental conditions. This degradation results in dramatic changes in bone fracture morphology, bone strength and utility for bone tool production. These observations have significant implications for experiments that utilise modern bones, especially when experimental data are used to create analogies to the archaeological past. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 22, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2275   open full text
• Frequency of Complete Cleft Sacra in a Native American Sample.
  D. M. Mulhern, C. A. Wilczak.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 15, 2012
  The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the current understanding of the variability of complete sacral clefts in human populations by presenting new data on a large prehistoric and historic Native American skeletal sample (n = 1943). Results are examined by age, sex, time period, and regional distribution and compared with reported frequencies of complete sacral clefts in other modern, historic, and ancient populations. In all, 1.6% of the sample exhibited complete sacral clefts, including 2.1% of males and 1.1% of females. Although males exhibit a frequency twice as high as females, this difference is not statistically significant. However, within the Alaskan sample, the sex difference was significant (p = 0.002), with 3.4% of males and 0.5% of females exhibiting complete clefts; these differences may be related to mechanical influences during growth and development in males. Differences among age groups are not significant. Regional comparisons among Alaska, Eastern Woodlands, Great Basin/Northwest/California, Great Plains, and Southwest showed no significant differences overall, but Alaska (2.2%) and Great Plains (0.5%) do show a significant difference (p = 0.024). No significant differences were found between prehistoric, protohistoric, and historic/recent samples, suggesting a lack of a secular trend in frequency of complete sacral clefts in Native American populations. One individual exhibited an enlarged canal, which may be indicative of a more severe condition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 15, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2280   open full text
• Skeletal and Surgical Evidence for Acute Osteomyelitis in Non‐Adult Individuals.
  A. L. Santos, J. A. Suby.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 15, 2012
  Osteomyelitis is a non‐specific infection of the bone and bone marrow. In the past acute osteomyelitis (AO) led to high mortality especially in non‐adults. Nevertheless, its diagnosis in archaeological populations is rare. Documented individuals with known cause of death offer a unique opportunity to study this condition. This article aims to describe the bone lesions in non‐adults diagnosed with AO at the Coimbra University Hospital (CUH) and now belonging to the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection (CISC). Moreover, mortality rates and demographic profiles for individuals aged ≤18 years old and diagnosed with AO in the CUH, between 1923 and 1929, were also determined. The 5 (1%) non‐adults in the CISC with AO listed as cause of death were selected for this study, and their bones were analysed macroscopically and radiologically. The skeletal remains of one individual revealed a small area of new bone formation in the shaft of the left femur. Radiography of this bone showed a radio‐opaque area in the diaphysis. The other four individuals show evidence of surgical treatment, responsible for many cases of disability in the past. In the 7‐year period under analysis, 122 juveniles were diagnosed with osteomyelitis and admitted for surgery at the CUH, 43 (35.2%) of which were diagnosed with AO. Sixty‐five per cent of the cases of AO occurred between the ages of 8 and 15 years, with boys twice as frequently affected as girls, and lower limb bones were involved in 91% of AO cases. AO was responsible for 76.9% of the deaths. This study of pre‐antibiotic non‐adults may help to recognize skeletal signs of AO and their surgical treatment in unidentified skeletal remains. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 15, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2276   open full text
• Ritual Patterns in the Deposits of Fauna Associated with Iberian Burials: The Necropolis of El Poblado During the Fourth to Second Centuries bc (Archaeological Complex of Coimbra del Barranco Ancho, Murcia).
  S. Albizuri, M. E. SubirÀ, J. Ruiz.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 15, 2012
  The study of grave goods, including animal deposits, offers a deeper understanding of social issues. This paper presents the results of the analysis of human and animal bone samples from the Iberian necropolis of El Poblado, Murcia. The examination focusses on 18 deposits of ovicaprids radii and ulnae, mostly of the left side, that were derived from 14 cremation tombs of the 74 studied. By considering the human and animal remains together, it is possible to highlight differences in the rituals of certain graves and variations in animal symbolism related to human sex and age. This provides a new understanding of the social and cultural differentiation that existed in the Iberian communities of this period. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 15, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2274   open full text
• Diet and Oral Health of Populations that Inhabited Central Argentina (Córdoba Province) during Late Holocene.
  M. Fabra, C. V. González.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 08, 2012
  The aim of this work is to study, from a bioarchaeological perspective, the diet and oral health of the populations that inhabited Central Argentina in two periods which would reflect changes in subsistence strategies: earlier late Holocene (ca. 2500–1500 years BP) and later late Holocene (ca.1500–400 years BP). The sample is composed by 83 adult individuals from 47 archaeological sites. We considered five non‐specific indicators of stress, infectious and degenerative diseases: hypoplasia of dental enamel, dental caries, abscesses, antemortem teeth loss, and calculus. We also considered hypercementosis, dens in dens, and agenesis. We test intraobserver error by means of intraclass correlation coefficient and analysis of variance of repeated measures. We calculated prevalence by sex, age, geographic subregion, and chronological period. We applied Chi‐square (X2) to test statistical significance of observed differences. Considering the sample as a whole, low prevalence of dental caries (10.27%), abscesses (16.52%), and hypoplasia (10.84%) are coincident with values observed for populations with mixed or hunter‐gathering subsistence strategy. In later late Holocene, high incidence of caries should be considered as indicator of consumption of C4 vegetables or other carbohydrate‐rich vegetables, such as legumes of Prosopis sp. Also, moderate values of dental enamel hypoplasia should be related with metabolic‐systemic stress episodes. Summarizing, these results are coincident with isotopic, archaeological, and ethnohistorical evidences which suggest climatic, social, and demographic pressures that might have affected the lifestyle of these populations before the Spanish conquest. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 08, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2272   open full text
• The Sunghir 3 Upper Paleolithic Juvenile: Pathology versus Persistence in the Paleolithic.
  L. W. Cowgill, M. B. Mednikova, A. P. Buzhilova, E. Trinkaus.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 02, 2012
  The Mid Upper Paleolithic Sunghir 3 late juvenile early modern human, from the most elaborate burial in the Pleistocene, had pathologically foreshortened and anteriorly bowed femora and, based on her dental enamel hypoplasias and transverse lines, sustained severe and persistent systemic stress throughout her decade of life. Her modest femoral and tibial asymmetry and her femoral bicondylar angles indicate non‐pathological patterns of posture and locomotion. The levels of rigidity for her weight‐bearing tibiae and the non‐dominant left arm reflect normal weight‐bearing and manipulation. These indicators are combined with an elevated level of right humeral strength, leading to pronounced humeral diaphyseal asymmetry, combined with elevated muscular insertion asymmetry. In combination with marked upper limb muscle markings and normal levels of bone formation, these reflections of her robustness indicate that she was fully mobile and participated actively in the tasks of her social group. There is no indication of the skeletal hypotrophy/atrophy that would be associated with less than full participation in the mobility and subsistence of her social group. As such, Sunghir 3 joins a growing list of developmentally or degeneratively pathological Late Pleistocene humans who nonetheless remained mobile and active. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 02, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2273   open full text
• Kana Tamata or Feasts of Men: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Identifying Cannibalism in Prehistoric Fiji.
  S. Jones, H. Walsh‐Haney, R. Quinn.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 17, 2012
  By integrating osteological, taphonomic, archaeological and stable isotopic data, we test for cannibalism in the Lau Group, Fiji and discuss the potential underlying cause(s) and context(s) of this behaviour. First, we compare taphonomic and element representations of human skeletal material from two contexts in Fiji, examining human bone fragments from archaeological sites, including middens and burials in the Lau Island Group. Fourteen sites produced human remains. Only two of those sites included distinct human burial contexts, but in the remaining 12 sites, the human bone was recovered from middens or contexts where midden was mixed with possible secondary burials. A total of 262 number of identified specimens per species, representing an estimated 15 minimum number of individuals make up the Lau human assemblage. Second, we analysed bones contained in 20 individual human burials from four different sites that are housed at the Fiji Museum for comparative purposes. Third, we examine previously published stable isotopic (δ13C, δ15N) analysis of bone collagen to gauge protein consumption of likely cannibalised humans in midden contexts and potential cannibals from primary burials. We model a cannibalistic diet category within the context of isotopically measured Pacific Islands food groups and apply an isotopic mixing model to gauge plausible dietary contributions from six sources including human flesh. Isotopic mixing models of the Lauan samples illustrate a high diversity in reconstructed diets. The percent contribution of human flesh is low for all individual Lauans. We conclude that mortuary rituals evidenced by sharp‐force trauma may suggest non‐nutritive and non‐violent practices that may have included the consumption of small amounts of human flesh. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 17, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2269   open full text
• A Unique Case of Prone Position in the Primary Cremation Tomb 252 of Monte Sirai Necropolis (Carbonia, Sardinia, Italy).
  G. Piga, A. Malgosa, T. J. U. Thompson, M. Guirguis, S. Enzo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 12, 2012
  A series of graves belonging to the Phoenician period were investigated after the campaign excavation of 2007 in the Phoenician‐Punic necropolis of Monte Sirai (Carbonia, Sardinia, Italy). One tomb in particular (labelled 252) is presented here because of its uniqueness. Tomb 252 contained the cremated remains of an individual, probably male, and comparison of the excavation records alongside reconstruction of the bone material itself makes clear that the individual was cremated in a prone position. It represents the first case of prone cremation reported in the literature. To investigate whether the temperature of the cremation was homogenous across the entire body, we have conducted a combined physical–chemical analysis using X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 12, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2270   open full text
• Pathological Changes of the Cranium of a Young Female Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus R.)—A Case Study (the Sudety Mts, Poland).
  D. Nowakowski, K. Stefaniak.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 12, 2012
  A cranium of a young female cave bear (Ursus spelaeus R.) was found in the Upper Pleistocene sediments of Bear Cave in Kletno, SW Poland. A detailed analysis of the cranium, including radiology, CT and histological methods, revealed numerous pathological changes caused both by diseases and by injuries inflicted by another predator. It is likely that during its lifespan, the young female was exposed to several attacks (bites on the head) from adult bears. The injuries varied in extent and caused bone infection and inflammation. The nature of most of them suggests that they were not fatal but could have had a significant effect on the overall fitness of the animal. In contrast, the lesions on the frontal bone and in the anterior part of the parietal bone may have been the cause of the individual's death. Additionally, the cranium was found to have cut marks, sharp‐edged longitudinal scars that indicate the use of a sharp‐edged tool, and are usually interpreted as effects of skinning. The finding is suggested to be indirect evidence of the existence of people in southern Poland during the Pleistocene. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 12, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2271   open full text
• Assessing Post‐traumatic Time Interval in Human Dry Bone.
  H. H. Boer, A. E. Merwe, S. Hammer, M. Steyn, G. J. R. Maat.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 04, 2012
  The post‐traumatic status of antemortem fractures in human dry bone remains is currently defined as being either ‘healing’ or ‘healed’. However, detailed ‘dating’ of the related post‐traumatic time interval would be desirable, since it would aid in assessing individual medical status and care at the time of death. Within forensic pathology practice, fresh tissue healing phases are routinely used as an intrinsic parameter for the length of the post‐traumatic time interval. Unfortunately, the direct application of such a method is hampered when applied to dry bone skeletal material. This study explores the possibility of applying a fracture dating system, drawn forth from the traditional forensic pathology method, on dry bone remains. More specifically, the aim is to establish the extent to which various histomorphological features indicative of specific time intervals of healing are consistently detectable. Human dry bones with fractures and amputations in various phases of healing were studied. Results show that the complementary use of radiological and histological investigation techniques improves the differentiation between various healing phases and thus allow for a more detailed dating of lesions. For future use, healing features that have proven to be consistently detectable and their related post traumatic time intervals are listed. The system aids in demarcating a considerably more ‘narrow’ post‐traumatic time interval than usual. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 04, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2267   open full text
• Linear Enamel Hypoplasia and Age‐at‐Death at Medieval (11th–16th Centuries) St. Gregory's Priory and Cemetery, Canterbury, UK.
  Justyna Jolanta Miszkiewicz.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 30, 2012
  Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) is a macroscopically detectable band‐like dental defect, which represents localized decrease in enamel thickness caused by some form of disruption to a child's health. Such dental deformations are utilized in osteoarchaeological research as permanent markers of childhood physiological stress and have been extensively studied in numerous ancient human populations. However, currently there is no such data for medieval populations from Canterbury, UK. Here, LEH is examined in the context of age‐at‐death in human burials from the medieval St. Gregory's Priory and adjacent cemetery (11th–16th centuries), Canterbury, UK. The cemetery and Priory burials represented lower (n = 30) and higher status (n = 19) social groups, respectively. Linear enamel hypoplastic defects were counted on mandibular and maxillary anterior permanent teeth (n = 374). The age and sex of each skeleton were estimated using standard methods. Differences in LEH counts, age‐at‐death, and LEH formation ages were sought between the two social groups. Results indicate significantly greater frequencies of LEH in the Cemetery (mean = 17.6) compared to the Priory (mean = 7.9; t = −3.03, df = 46, p = 0.002). Adult age‐at‐death was also significantly lower in the Cemetery (mean = 39.8 years) compared to the Priory burials (mean = 44.1 years; t = 2.275, df = 47, p = 0.013). Hypoplasia formation ages differed significantly between the Priory (mean = 2.49 years) and Cemetery (mean = 3.22 years; t = 2.076; df = 47; p = 0.034) individuals. Results indicate that childhood stress may reflect adult mortality in this sample, and that the wellbeing of individuals from diverse social backgrounds can be successfully assessed using LEH analyses. Results are discussed in terms of the multifactorial etiology of LEH, as well as weaning‐related LEH formation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 30, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2265   open full text
• A Cut‐marked and Fractured Mesolithic Human Bone from Kent's Cavern, Devon, UK.
  R. J. Schulting, S. M. Bello, B. Chandler, T. F.G. Higham.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 23, 2012
  An isolated adult human ulna fragment recovered from the ‘black mould’ layer of Kent's Cavern by William Pengelly in 1866 exhibits a series of stone tool cut marks. The specimen has been directly AMS 14C‐dated to 7314–7075 cal bc (OxA‐20588: 8185 ± 38 bp) and may be from the same individual as a maxilla fragment dated to the same period. The cut marks are located on the olecranon process, in a position indicative of dismemberment, whereas the fracture characteristics of the bone furthermore suggest peri‐mortem breakage, typical of butchery for the extraction of marrow. We here present and discuss the specimen and consider both ritual mortuary treatment and anthropophagy as possible explanations. Although it is difficult to interpret a single element in isolation, the latter scenario seems to be better supported and is not without parallel in prehistoric Europe, as indicated by a review of the available literature. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 23, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2261   open full text
• The Domestic Camelids (Cetartiodactyla: Camelidae) from the Middle Formative Cemetery of Topater 1 (Atacama Desert, Northern Chile): Osteometric and Palaeopathological Evidence of Cargo Animals.
  R. Labarca, F. Gallardo.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 18, 2012
  The Middle Formative Cemetery of Topater 1 (ca. 500 bc–100 ad), located in the oasis of Calama, Northern Chile, presents an unusually diversearray and quantity of funerary offerings, distributed among the graves of more than 200 individuals. Among the offerings are the remains of several mummified camelids and camelid skeletal elements, primarily distal extremities and artefacts made from the bones of these animals. Taking only the first skeletonised anterior and posterior phalanges of Topater 1 camelids, we conducted univariate and multivariate osteometric analyses in order to assign the sample to the appropriate taxonomic groups. At the same time, we described all osteopathologies registered for the extremities in the collection. Of the 45 phalanges measured, 30 were of similar or greater size than contemporary reference llamas. Fourteen of the 164 samples of bone extremities presented pathologies, most of them first phalanges. These abnormalities included different degrees of exostosis and, less commonly, eburnation and lipping. Considering both lines of evidence, we conclude that the llamas sacrificed at the Topater 1 cemetery correspond to, at least, two very large and robust cargo llama morphotypes. When living, these animals would have transported goods as part of the intense exchange activity that was taking place during this period in the region extending from the Pacific coast to Northwest Argentina and perhaps even beyond. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 18, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2263   open full text
• Was the Dog Locally Domesticated in the Danube Gorges? Morphometric Study of Dog Cranial Remains From Four Mesolithic–Early Neolithic Archaeological Sites by Comparison With Contemporary Wolves.
  V. Dimitrijević, S. Vuković.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 15, 2012
  In this article, we test a hypothesis about local dog domestication in the Danube Gorges of the central Balkans in the course of the Mesolithic period. Morphometric features of dog mandibles and teeth from Mesolithic–Early Neolithic sites of Vlasac, Padina, Lepenski Vir, and Hajdučka Vodenica have been analysed and compared with recent wolves from the central Balkans. Decrease in size and changes in proportions of dog's dental features were tracked diachronically. We identified specimens which manifested mixed wolf/dog features. Such specimens originate from the Early Mesolithic contexts, the time when a decrease in size began. On the basis of this pattern, we suggest that dog domestication may have taken place in the Danube Gorges during the Early Mesolithic (ca 9500–7500 cal. bc). The reduction of size continued throughout Late Mesolithic (ca 7500–6300 cal. bc), but there were still individuals that might be regarded as ‘transitional’ in comparison with wolves on account of their size, and a distinct difference in size between wolves and dogs did not develop. Accordingly, if local domestication was in progress here, the domestication process might have lasted for more than just few generations and even several millennia. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 15, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2260   open full text
• First Approach to Study the Presence of Domesticated Camelids (Lama glama) in the Chaco‐Santiago Region, a Marginal Zone of the South Central Andes.
  Luis M. Papa.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 15, 2012
  We analysed bone remains of camelids from the Maquijata site, assigned to the late pottery‐making and farming stage (ca. 800–400 BP), in order to differentiate between domestic and wild species in the Chaco‐Santiago archaeological region. This region is considered marginal to the Argentine Northwest regarding its cultural development and has received less attention than other regions. South American camelids have been one of the major resources in this continent, with domestication recorded in the South Central Andes at around 4400–3000 BP. We applied osteometric techniques and multivariate statistical analyses to proximal phalanges; the results showed interspecific differentiation of archaeological specimens, though with some methodological application issues. These results are the first contribution regarding the presence of domesticated animals in the study area. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 15, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2262   open full text
• The Non‐Adult Cohort from Le Morne Cemetery, Mauritius: A Snap Shot of Early Life and Death after Abolition.
  J. Appleby, T. K. Seetah, D. Calaon, S. Čaval, A. Pluskowski, J. F. Lafleur, A. Janoo, V. Teelock.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 25, 2012
  The cemetery of Le Morne in Mauritius dates from the 1830s and is thought to contain the remains of slaves, freed slaves or potentially free Madagascans, which in itself has economic and social implications and makes the cemetery all the more intriguing. During 2010, excavations recovered the remains of 11 individuals, of which six were children. Although a small sample, the burials of the non‐adults show several interesting features. Two neonates were buried contemporaneously and may have been twins, while a late term foetus in a grave with a young woman may represent an incident of coffin birth. This sample has the potential to cast light on the burial practices of the slave/ex‐slave community in Mauritius, about which little is currently known. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 25, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2259   open full text
• Linking Bone Changes in the Distal Femur to Functional Deficits.
  J. L. Young, E. D. Lemaire.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 16, 2012
  Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that leads to functional deficits in the afflicted. Quantifying these deficits in a clinical population and relating them to bone changes in the distal femur is crucial to identifying potential impairment in archaeological populations. This study provides a hybrid knee OA grading system linking MRI observations of clinical populations and direct bone observations on skeletal populations. This system is then related to 28 pain, disability, and activity limitation outcome variables provided by the OA Initiative through frequency distributions, probability profiles, and Spearman's rank correlations. The results suggest that while the five outcome variables with the highest probabilities were common to males and females, bone changes in knee OA impact males and females differently. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 16, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2257   open full text
• Trauma to the Skull: A Historical Perspective from the Southern Levant (4300BCE–1917CE).
  H. Cohen, I. Sarie, B. Medlej, F. Bocquentin, T. Toledano, I. Hershkovitz, V. Slon.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 11, 2012
  Background: Although the southern Levant is commonly perceived as having been a violent region throughout history, few studies have explored the pattern and intensity of skull trauma through time in the general population.The aim of this study is to follow changes in traumatic injury patterns in the southern Levant, over an extensive period of 6,000 years.Methods: 783 archaeological skulls from the Tel Aviv University osteological collection were examined for evidence of trauma. The specimens were divided into three periods: Chalcolithic‐Bronze‐Iron Age (4300–520 BCE), Hellenistic‐Roman‐Byzantine Period (332 BCE‐640 CE), and Early and Late Arab Period (640–1917 CE). The characteristics of injury on each skull were recorded.Results: A high frequency (25%) of traumatic lesions to the skull was evident among historic populations of the southern Levant, a rate that did not fluctuate significantly over 6,000 years. The most common pattern of trauma was minor circular depressed injuries. Most of the injuries were located on the parietal or frontal bones. Traumatic lesions were more frequent in males than in females, and in mature individuals than in adolescents and children, during all periods.Conclusions: The rate of trauma in the southern Levantine populations was shown to be considerably higher than in other archaeological populations worldwide. The fact that no significant differences in trauma rates were found over time implies that socio‐economical shifts (from agrarian to urban populations) had little impact on the local populations’ aggressive behavior. In contrast, changes in type of injury, from blunt force trauma to sharp force trauma and eventually projectile trauma, reflects changes in weaponry over time. The accumulated characteristics of cranial trauma pattern (type, location, side, size, sex, age) suggest that most of the individuals studied were not engaged directly in warfare. Rather, most injuries seem to be due to blows given during interpersonal violent encounters. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 11, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2258   open full text
• Multiple Calvarial Lytic Lesions: A Differential Diagnosis from Early Medieval France (5th to 7th c. AD).
  F. Bauduer, M. Bessou, P. Guyomarc'h, C. Mercier, D. Castex.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 05, 2012
  A skull from the early French Medieval period presenting multiple destructive lesions is investigated. The study of this presumably young female skull suggests a series of possible diagnoses using macroscopic features, standard radiography, CT, and 3D analysis.After a review of the paleopathological and medical literature, the debate focuses on several malignant disorders (cancerous metastases, multiple myeloma), Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and other benign conditions such as infection (especially tuberculosis) or sarcoidosis. Although the definite diagnosis of such paleopathological lesions is not straightforward, Langerhans cell histiocytosis is the most probable diagnosis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 05, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2256   open full text
• The Zoutsteeg Three: Three New Cases of African Types of Dental Modification from Saint Martin, Dutch Caribbean.
  H. Schroeder, J. B. Haviser, T. D. Price.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 29, 2012
  Dental modification was widely practiced in sub‐Saharan Africa as a form of cultural expression, and during the era of the transatlantic slave trade, it was regularly identified in enslaved Africans who were transported to the Americas. Here, we report three new cases of African types of dental modification from the Caribbean island of Saint Martin that were recently encountered during construction activities in the Zoutsteeg area of Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch half of the island. The artifacts associated with the burials indicate that they date to the late 17th century, prior to the foundation of the town of Philipsburg in 1735. The dental evidence further suggests that the three individuals were born in Africa, as opposed to the Americas. This could be confirmed by tooth enamel strontium isotope measurements which yielded values that are inconsistent with an origin in the Caribbean but consistent with an origin in Africa. Unfortunately, neither the dental patterns nor the strontium isotope values allow us to determine their specific origins in Africa. However, both the methods used to modify the teeth and the isotope ratios suggest that the ‘Zoutsteeg Three’ originated in different parts of Africa. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 29, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2253   open full text
• The Relationship between the Two Types of Vertebral Degenerative Joint Disease in a Joseon Dynasty Population, Korea.
  E. J. Woo, S. Pak.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. June 18, 2012
  The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the apophyseal joints and intervertebral joints in the vertebral column and assess which vertebral DJD is the more reliable indicator of general activity‐related stress. We hypothesized that the more reflecting vertebral DJD for general activity‐related stress would appear to show a higher correlation with Schmorl's nodes (SNs). To test this hypothesis, we examined 125 individuals from Eunpyeong Cemetery (mid‐15th to early 20th centuries) in Seoul, Korea and analyzed the frequencies of two types of vertebral DJD and their relationship with SNs. Cross‐tabulation chi‐square tests were used to evaluate the significance of the differences between frequencies of vertebral pathologies.In conclusion, results revealed that the relationship between the two kinds of vertebral DJD appeared differently depending on vertebral region, joint type and sex. The test results of association between the two types of vertebral DJD were statistically significant at the cervical and lumbar regions of males. SNs appeared independently of the pattern of vertebral DJD in nearly all joints with the exception of a correlation between DJD in the intervertebral joints and SNs of the lumbar region in females.As indicated in some studies, this study reconfirmed that the differences in the two kinds of vertebral DJD result from differences in normal vertebral morphology and anatomical function. This study contributes to the overall discussion on the relationship between vertebral DJD and physical activity by showing that the detailed recording and understanding of the two types of vertebral DJD is required before they can be used convincingly in a study on activity‐related stress. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  June 18, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2250   open full text
• Violence in the Central Iberian Peninsula during the Bronze Age: A Possible Prehistoric Homicide.
  S. A. Jiménez‐Brobeil, M. G. Roca, Z. Laffranchi, T. Nájera, F. Molina.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 24, 2012
  One of the most interesting sites of the Bronze Age in the central area of the Iberian Peninsula is La Motilla del Azuer (Daimiel, Ciudad Real), dated between 2200 and 1350 bc. The main objective of this study was to investigate interpersonal violence in this site and to report an uncommon case of violent death. No traumatic injury was detected in any child, and men and women significantly differed in the frequency of traumas. More traumatisms were found in men from the earlier stages of occupation, including a young man with at least three blunt force traumas and 26 sharp force traumas. The archaeological findings and trauma patterns in the skeletons of the 65 individuals studied suggest a relatively intense level of exposure to violence for adult men in the earlier stages of occupation of this settlement. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 24, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2251   open full text
• Diet, Geography and Drinking Water in Polynesia: Microfossil Research from Archaeological Human Dental Calculus, Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
  John V. Dudgeon, Monica Tromp.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 16, 2012
  Microfossil analysis of human dental calculus provides consumption‐specific and archaeologically relevant data for evaluating diet and subsistence in past populations. Calculus was extracted from 114 teeth representing 104 unique individuals from a late 16th to early 18th century skeletal series on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to address questions of human–environment interactions and possible dietary preference. Scanning electron microscopy was used in lieu of optical microscopy for its superior depth of field and resolution of surface detail. The calculus microfossil recovery produced 16,377 total biogenic silica microfossils: 4733 phytoliths and 11,644 diatoms. The majority of phytoliths correspond with the Arecaceae or palm family (n = 4,456) and the minority corresponds to the Poaceae or grass family (n = 277). Because of the relatively large sample size, we were able to test hypotheses related to age cohort, sex, dental element and geographic region. Results indicate no significant difference in phytolith or diatom recovery based on age cohort or sex. The high frequency and proportion of Arecaceae phytoliths found in calculus extracted from the anterior dentition suggests consumption of soft or cooked foods containing palm phytoliths and the high frequency of diatoms recovered from the southern part of the island argue for different sources of drinking water. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 16, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2249   open full text
• Anatomical and Biomechanical Aspects of the Horse Spine: The Interpretation of Vertebral Fusion in a Medieval Horse from Wroclaw (Poland).
  M. Janeczek, A. Chrószcz, V. Onar, R. Henklewski, J. Piekalski, P. Duma, A. Czerski, I. Całkosiński.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. May 16, 2012
  The investigation were carried out on the medieval horses thoracic and lumbar spine excavated between 2009‐2011 by the Institute of Archaeology, University of Wroclaw at New Market Square in Wroclaw (Wratislavia, Breslau), capital city of the Polish province of Lower Silesia. The pathological changes, like: ankylosis of the zygapophyses, fusion of the vertebral bodies and arches and the interspinal space calcification were observed. The X‐ray examination was done. During medieval artefact interpretation the biomechanical aspect of horse's locomotor system was taken into consideration. The archaeozoological material was compared with modern horse's spine (with similar pathological changes and known history of disease). The analysis proved, that the observed osseous reaction was a result of the long‐lasting inflammation. Such a disease appearance accompanies chronic inflammatory state of errector muscles of the spine. It is typical for those horses utilised for the saddle. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  May 16, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2248   open full text
• The Prevalence and Health Implications of Concha Bullosa in a Population from Mediaeval England.
  S. Mays, M. Mavrogordato, J. Lambert, J. Sofaer.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 25, 2012
  Concha bullosa is hypertrophy of the middle nasal concha attributable to its pneumatisation. It is considered to be the most common anatomical variant of the ostiomeatal complex, but it has been little studied in skeletal populations. It is uncertain whether the prevalence of concha bullosa varies in different world populations. Some have suggested that it predisposes to sinusitis, but this is controversial. The aim of the current work is to assess the prevalence of concha bullosa in a pre‐modern population and to investigate whether it is associated with maxillary sinusitis. Results showed that concha bullosa was present in 17 out of 45 individuals, a prevalence of 38%. There was no evidence of an association with sinusitis. This adds to a growing body of evidence that calls into question concha bullosa as a significant risk factor for sinus disease. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 25, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2246   open full text
• Variations in Diet and Stature: Are They Linked? Bioarchaeology and Paleodietary Bayesian Mixing Models from Linköping, Sweden.
  Caroline Arcini, Torbjörn Ahlström, Göran Tagesson.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 25, 2012
  From the early 19th century to the late 20th century, the mean stature of Swedish conscripts increased from 167 to 177 cm. Based on osteological data, estimated statures of medieval skeletal populations indicate that mean stature of males had decreased from an average 173 cm during the medieval period, to 165 cm at the mid 19th century. This change with respect to stature could possibly be linked to the change in diet. Based on the skeletal material unearthed from Linköping, Sweden, we explored the possible association between a changing diet and a decreasing stature. We compared the medieval sample (1100–1300 AD) to a sample dated 1780–1810 AD. A significant multiple regression analysis demonstrates that both sex and chronology explain the variation seen in femur length, but not stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. The Bayesian mixing model with uninformative priors suggests that pike is dominating in both the medieval and historical samples, followed by pig, cattle, cod and herring. Using an informative prior based on the consumption from the 16th century Swedish warship Lindormen did not alter the consumption pattern shown by the inhabitants of Linköping. As our results do not suggest a major shift in diet, as well as pointing out lacustrine fish as well as pig as more important to the protein in the diet than cattle, it deviates from what is inferred based on historical records. We conclude that the diet in a town cannot be generalized from the consumption of a ship and probably not from institutions either. These contexts have dominated the reconstructions of 19th century diet in Sweden based on historical records. However, there is also the possibility that the two isotopes employed are not sufficiently delicate to detect such dietary changes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 25, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2247   open full text
• Αge‐associated Variation and Sexual Dimorphism in Adult Cranial Morphology: Implications in Anthropological Studies.
  Efthymia Nikita.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 20, 2012
  The current paper explores the impact of age and sex on adult cranial shape and size variation in the documented collections from St Bride's and Spitalfields. The scope is to assess the extent to which it is valid to pool age and sex groups in inter‐population comparisons that use cranial data. For this purpose, age and sex differences in cranial shape and size were explored using multivariate analysis of variance, Discriminant analysis and Mann–Whitney tests. The results suggest a clear change in cranial shape with increasing age; however, this change is not statistically significant. Therefore, it is justifiable to pool different age groups in bioarchaeological analyses. Increasing age also has a minimal impact on cranial size among females, whereas among males, its impact is small but statistically significant. Finally, cranial shape and size are significantly different between males and females, irrespective of their age. This dimorphism can be used for the assessment of sex, although attention should be given to over‐classification problems when using discriminant analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 20, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2241   open full text
• The Occurrence and Possible Aetiology of Spondylolysis in a Pre‐contact California Population.
  M. A. Pilloud, C. Canzonieri.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 17, 2012
  The occurrence of spondylolysis (neural arch separation at the pars interarticularis) is reported in a pre‐contact (720–550 Cal BP) Central California population, CA‐CCo‐647 (n = 46). Spondylolysis was examined within this population to assess differences in sex, age, and possible relationships with biological affinity. Furthermore, prevalence rates of spondylolysis were compared across various populations to discern the aetiology of the defect. Within CA‐CCo‐647, spondylolysis was found in 17.4% (8/46) of the population. All occurrences are complete, bilateral separations of the neural arch in the lower lumbar (L4 and L5). The defect is not seen in individuals below the age of 18, and there is no correlation between adult age and spondylolysis. Male individuals display the defect at a higher rate (30.8% ‐ 4/13) than female individuals (12.1% ‐ 4/33); however, this is not a statistically significant finding. There does seem to be a correlation between an individual's sex and the onset of the defect; male individuals display spondylolysis at a younger age than female individuals. This finding could represent differences in activity patterns among young male and female individuals. In a biological distance analysis using craniometric data, male and female individuals with spondylolysis clustered closely, suggesting a genetic component for the defect. Finally, significant differences were found in spondylolysis prevalence between various populations representing distinct geographic and temporal settings. Significant differences were found among Native pre‐contact samples and even between two comparable pre‐contact California skeletal samples. These populations all engaged in distinct activities and were likely composed of genetically distinct groups of individuals, which may account for the differences in spondylolysis prevalence. All of these findings, both within CA‐CCo‐647 and between the various samples, suggest that the aetiology of spondylolysis is likely an interaction of genes and activity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 17, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2245   open full text
• Hallux Valgus among an 18th Century Population of the Canary Islands.
  A. Trujillo‐Mederos, M. Arnay‐de‐la‐Rosa, E. González‐Reimers, A. C. Ordóñez.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 17, 2012
  Hallux valgus is defined as the lateral deviation of the great toe. It is considered a disease mainly related to the use of boots or shoes that constrict the foot. This process usually ensues along many years and is accompanied by changes at the metatarsophalangeal joint, which serve to make the diagnosis on bare bones. Diagnostic criteria include lateral deviation of the metatarsophalangeal joint (1), lateral subluxation of the first phalanx, degenerative changes of the sesamoid articular facets, and exostosis or remodelling of the medial tuberosity. Following other authors, we have defined hallux valgus as the presence of (1) and any of the other three criteria. In a series of the 18th century burials from the church La Concepción, in Tenerife, Canary Islands, we found 35 cases of hallux valgus out of the 117 cases for which necessary data for the diagnosis could be recorded (29.91%). A significant association was found between changes in the left toe and burial site near the altar, where priests and other people of the high social status were interred. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 17, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2244   open full text
• New Data on South American Camelid Bone Size Changes during Middle‐Late Holocene Transition: Osteometry at Peñas Chicas 1.5 (Antofagasta de la Sierra, Argentinian Puna).
  C. A. Aschero, A. D. Izeta, S. Hocsman.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 04, 2012
  Approaching the study of camelid bone size change in the meridional portion of the South Central Andes is a significant subject especially when the assemblages are associated to radiocarbon dates placed at a time of social transition from an extractive to a producer economy. In this sense, this paper presents the results of applying osteometric techniques on a set of 10 elements from the Peñas Chicas 1.5 site dated around 3800 BP. The analysis shows the presence of at least three individuals, one of which corresponds to an Andean guanaco (Lama guanicoe) morphotype. The second and the third are similar in size to a modern llama (Lama glama) in their ‘intermediate’ and ‘cargo’ morphotypes. This is consistent with patterns already seen for sites from the Argentinian and Chilean Puna where the identification of larger individuals than the Andean guanaco modern standard shows the early stages of an increasingly bone size variability of South American camelids. This paper contributes with new data to understand the complex processes that occurred in the South Central Andes that led to the domestication of one of the most conspicuous animals in the archaeological record of the Argentinian Northwest. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 04, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2235   open full text
• Paleopathological and Molecular Study on Two Cases of Ancient Childhood Leprosy from the Roman and Byzantine Empires.
  Mauro Rubini, Yilmaz S. Erdal, Mark Spigelman, Paola Zaio, Helen D. Donoghue.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. April 04, 2012
  This study is based on the paleaopathology of leprosy on human skeletal remains and the detection of ancient Mycobacterium leprae DNA. Two cases of childhood leprosy were recognized. The first case was in a Roman necropolis at Martellona (Rome, Central Italy), dated to the 2nd to 3rd centuries ce. The skeleton of a child aged 4–5 years, from tomb 162, is the youngest individual in Italy from this time period, with the clear rhino‐maxillary syndrome and other bony changes indicative of leprosy. The second case from a burial at Kovuklukaya, in the Sinop region of Northern Turkey, was from the 8th to the 10th centuries, during the Byzantine era. The endocranium of a 4–5‐month‐old infant with new bone formation—an indication of chronic inflammation—was positive for M. leprae DNA. Infant and childhood leprosy is uncommon today, and there is a scarcity of information in the osteoarchaeological literature of leprosy in the past, especially in children. The significance of these cases is that it adds to an understanding of the history of the disease in the former Roman Empire. It is hoped that over time sufficient data can be obtained to understand the epidemiological dynamics and clinical evolution of leprosy from the ancient period until today. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  April 04, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2242   open full text
• Differential Diagnosis of Limb Length Discrepancy in a 19th Century Burial from Southwest Mississippi.
  Andrew R. Thompson.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 17, 2012
  This paper reports on a 19th century skeleton from southwest Mississippi that displays shortening of several right side bones. Most notable is a 50‐mm discrepancy in leg length involving the tibiae and fibulae. Osseous changes in the right foot suggest limited muscle function was present in this area. However, the shortened tibia and fibula show no signs of atrophy. After considering both osteological features and burial context, it is concluded that the individual was likely exposed to the poliovirus during childhood. While this diagnosis does not conform to the skeletal expectations of polio based on most paleopathological descriptions, the deformities observed fit within the range of what has been reported clinically. Based on this finding, it is suggested that polio should be considered as an etiological source of limb shortening even when signs of diffuse skeletal atrophy are lacking. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 17, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2238   open full text
• Mammalian Microfaunal Remains from Khonkho Wankane (Late Formative Period), Mollo Kontu (Middle Horizon Period) and Pukara de Khonkho (Late Intermediate Period) in the Bolivian Altiplano.
  J. T. Pokines.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 17, 2012
  Paleoecological and taphonomic analysis of the mammalian microfauna from three Bolivian altiplano sites is presented: Khonkho Wankane [Late Formative period; number of identified specimens (NISP) = 1019], Mollo Kontu (Middle Horizon period; NISP = 610) and Pukara de Khonkho (Late Intermediate period; NISP = 165). The following species, all of which are present in this region today, were identified: Akodon boliviensis (Bolivian grass mouse), Andinomys edax (Andean mouse), Auliscomys sublimis (Andean leaf‐eared mouse), Cavia porcellus (guinea pig/cuy), Chinchilla chinchilla (chinchilla), Ctenomys leucodon (white‐toothed tuco‐tuco), Eligmodontia puerulus (Andean gerbil mouse), Galea musteloides (common yellow‐toothed cavy), Lagidium viscacia (vizcacha), Neotomys ebriosus (Andean swamp rat),and Oligoryzomys destructor (destructive pygmy rice rat). Some direct human involvement with the deposition of some of the larger species (Cavia porcellus, Chinchilla chinchilla, Ctenomys leucodon and Lagidium viscacia) was noted, although C. porcellus was identified only from a single element from Mollo Kontu. Most deposition was likely due to natural in‐burrow deaths and other natural attrition of these species. No significant shift in environment during the occupation of these sites was detected. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 17, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2237   open full text
• Localised Primary Canine Hypoplasia: Implications for Maternal and Infant Health at Man Bac, Vietnam, 4000–3500 years BP.
  Amy McDonell, Marc F Oxenham.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 17, 2012
  The aim of this paper is to assess the frequency of localised primary canine hypoplasia (LHPC) in a sample of 24 subadults from a Neolithic cemetery assemblage located at Man Bac, northern Vietnam (~4000–3500 years BP), and explore the range of factors potentially contributing to the development of this condition. It is found that 41.7% of individuals (20.9% of primary canines) have LHPC, which is similar to the frequency reported in a suite of ancient cemetery series from Neolithic through to Metal Age Thailand. A range of competing aetiological factors considered included trauma to the deciduous canine, ostensibly by way of early childhood exploratory behaviours (e.g. ‘mouthing’ objects), nutritional and dietary deficiencies (especially vitamin A and D), the impact of the mother's health on the developing foetus as well as the effects of premature birth on the developing child. It is concluded that while the aetiology LHPC is multi‐factorial, the reasonably high prevalence of this condition at Man Bac suggests depressed maternal and neonatal health, consistent with a community experiencing high rates of fertility and transitioning to an agricultural subsistence economy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 17, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2239   open full text
• New Mesolithic Hunting Evidence from Bone Injuries at Danish Maglemosian Sites: Lundby Mose and Mullerup (Sjælland).
  C. Leduc.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 09, 2012
  The recent re‐analysis of the Maglemosian faunal assemblages from Mullerup and Lundby Mose (Sjælland) has led to the discovery of new hunting injuries in the Danish Early Mesolithic. In total, including the two cases already published, two examples come from the Lundby Mose site, and seven from Mullerup, including embedded flint fragments and perforations. Such new data emphasise the need for meticulous re‐analysis of bone assemblages, relying on experimental work on projectile impacts, in order to increase the number of such discoveries. The link with weapons and hunting techniques and the question of the frequency of projectile impacts during the Danish Mesolithic are discussed, as well as their significance in terms of mobility of human groups, particularly in the case of healed wounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 09, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2234   open full text
• Dental Pathology, Trauma and Attrition in a Zambian Iron Age Sample: A Macroscopic and Radiographic Investigation.
  Victoria Gibbon, Anne‐Marie Grimoud.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 06, 2012
  Using morphological and radiographic methods, we analysed the dentitions of 24 individuals from Ingombe Ilede and Isamu Pati Zambian Iron Age archaeological sites. In this study, we determined the frequency and distribution of attrition, pathological conditions and dental trauma. This research also presents the first view of dental health for an Iron Age population in southern Africa. In total, 482 teeth were available for this study with 287 teeth missing, where 50 of these were lost antemortem and one individual had an erupted supernumerary first mandibular incisor. With the use of radiography and morphology, 21.5% (104/482) of the analysed teeth had at least one pathological condition or evidence of dental trauma. Some interesting dental aspects found and discussed in this paper are linear enamel hypoplastic lesions, radicular resorption, periapical lesions, fractures, dental modification and carious lesions. Many of these features were diagnosed with radiography, and this was especially important for those found below the cemento‐enamel junction (p = 0.0202) that are less obvious with macroscopic investigation alone. Additionally, the quantity and direction of dental attrition was studied. There were observed sex differences with the direction of wear, likely representing a sex‐specific cultural practice of using teeth as tools. Overall, the results show that this sample suffered relatively little from dental problems, and many of those observed features were associated with the traumatic procedure of dental modification, whereas others were age and diet‐related. Additionally, with the use of radiography, rare dental fractures and other features were diagnosed; these results demonstrate the requirement for its application in dental studies on archaeological assemblages. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 06, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2228   open full text
• Bioarchaeological analysis of Iron Age human skeletons from Zambia.
  Victoria E. Gibbon, Andrew Gallagher, Thomas N. Huffman.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 06, 2012
  The Ingombe Ilede and Isamu Pati Iron Age sites in Zambia provide 47 human burials for analyses. Our new study provides demographic information (sex and age), evidence of trauma, infectious diseases as well as physiological and mechanical indicators of stress. We found a high mortality rate for infants and children. Most of the sample (65%) lacked indications of stress or infectious diseases, but a few had cribra orbitalia, osteoarthritis, osteophytosis and various dental pathologies. These conditions are known to be caused by diet, food processing, nutritional intake and cultural systems. In addition, there were low levels of degenerative joint disease and no evidence of trauma. The stature and body mass estimates show that these Iron Age people were similar in size and shape compared with contemporary South Africans. These data indicate a relatively healthy population with a well‐balanced diet and low afflictions of infectious and parasitic diseases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 06, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2231   open full text
• The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) as an Accumulator of Bones in Cave‐like Environments.
  Magdalena Krajcarz, Maciej Tomasz Krajcarz.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. March 06, 2012
  Identifying the behavioural patterns of bone collecting animals is a crucial aspect of taphonomic studies. Although many studies have established criteria for identifying animal‐collected or animal‐modified bones, very few papers describe the distinguishing features of fox‐made bone assemblages. The bone assemblage collected in an inactive underground stone mine in Potok‐Senderki (Poland) is diagnostic of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) den. This site provides an ideal opportunity to develop an understanding of the bone collecting behaviour of red foxes in cave‐like environments. This study showed that bones collected by red foxes are concentrated in clusters. The bones represent a broad spectrum of local fox prey species, with most bones showing the marks of gnawing. Each cluster may contain from <10 to >100 bones. Furthermore, the long axes of the bones in clusters frequently show specific orientation. The analysis of bones at this site might make an important contribution towards the establishment of baseline criteria for the identification and evaluation of fox‐accumulated bone assemblages. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  March 06, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2233   open full text
• An Infant Femur Bearing Cut Marks from Roman Hambleden, England.
  S. Mays, K. Robson‐Brown, S. Vincent, J. Eyers, H. King, A. Roberts.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 27, 2012
  A perinatal infant skeleton from the first–fourth century AD Roman villa site at Hambleden, England, shows what appear to be cut marks on the proximal part of the right femur. Gross, microscopic and micro‐computed tomography evaluations suggest that they occurred perimortem and were probably caused by a non‐serrated blade. The reason for the cuts is uncertain, but their location is consistent with the practice of embryotomy, as described in classical sources for obstructed labour due to a dead or dying foetus in a breech or leg presentation. If this interpretation is correct, this case represents a rare example of embryotomy in the palaeopathological record. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 27, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2232   open full text
• Early Evidence for Pig and Dog Husbandry from the Neolithic Site of An Son, Southern Vietnam.
  P. J. Piper, F. Z. Campos, D. Ngoc Kinh, N. Amano, M. Oxenham, B. Chi Hoang, P. Bellwood, A. Willis.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 06, 2012
  An Son in southern Vietnam is one of a series of Neolithic (food producing) settlement/cemetery sites in Southeast Asia that appear, archaeologically, shortly before and after 2000 cal. bc. Excavations in 2009 produced a small but important assemblage of vertebrate remains that permit relative comparisons with other zooarchaeological assemblages of similar date in Thailand and northern Vietnam. At An Son, domestic dogs are present from the earliest known phases of occupation with butchery evidence and a high proportion of canid remains, suggesting they were possibly used as a food resource. Suid bones were recovered from the earliest phases of the site excavated, and pig husbandry can be identified from at least 1800 to 1600 cal. bc. There is also evidence for the use of a range of other resources including fishing, hunting and the capturing of turtles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 06, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2226   open full text
• Is Unresolved Inflammatory Angiogenesis a Mechanism for the Delayed Development of Skeletal Lesions in Syphilis?
  G. Cole, T. Waldron.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. February 06, 2012
  A recently described case of putative early tertiary syphilis in a young adult male from 6th century Anglo‐Saxon England exhibits a distinctive endocranial pathology. A case–control study using both clinical and archaeological materials was performed to investigate a possible association of the pathology with syphilis. Scanning electron microscopy and microcomputed tomography were used to image the syphilitic case and normal cranial material.Although the pathology does seem to have an association with syphilis (OR = 13.14), the sample size is small, and the authors caution against overinterpretation of the results. The study confirms observations by other authors suggesting the lesion has some association with a range of pathological conditions. Any association with syphilis seems to be restricted to the early tertiary stages and is possibly absent in the later stages of the disease.The morphological differences present in the samples observed by scanning electron microscopy and microcomputed tomography illustrate the abnormal nature of the vascularity within the syphilitic cranium. The widespread presence of similar lesions within other tubular bones leads the authors to propose hypothesis that unresolved angiogenesis is the underlying mechanism behind the skeletal changes in tertiary syphilis. This angiogenic model accounts for several diverse characteristics in the progression of skeletal disease resulting from infection by spirochetes of the Treponema pallidum family. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  February 06, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2230   open full text
• Shape Change and Variation in the Cranial Morphology of Wild Canids (Canis lupus, Canis latrans, Canis rufus) Compared to Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) Using Geometric Morphometrics.
  E. Schmitt, S. Wallace.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 26, 2012
  Wild canid populations exhibit different anatomical morphologies compared to domesticated dogs in North America. This is particularly important concerning archaeological sites, which may contain early domesticated species, for the proper identification of osteological remains. Previous studies have indicated domestic dogs exhibit a shorter rostrum accompanied by a crowded tooth row; however, none describe the overall complexity of these changes. Consequently, using a landmark‐based geometric morphometric analysis, cranial morphological characteristics were examined in North American wild canids: the gray wolf (Canis lupus), coyote (Canis latrans), red wolf (Canis rufus), and the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). The shape and size of the cranium in lateral and ventral views were compared between the three wild species to the group of domesticated dogs. Wild canids clustered separately from the domestic group in all statistical analyses. Results indicate an expansion of the orbital region, a compression of the rostrum, and an overall warping in the shape and orientation of the skull. In domestic species, there is also a downward shift in the frontal portion of the skull accompanied by the braincase assuming a more upward position. This technique successfully depicted how slight changes in isolated areas of the cranium can have an impact on the overall shape and morphology of the skull. We presume these changes in cranial anatomy reflect the recent selective pressures domestic dogs have undergone since diverging from their wild ancestors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 26, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.1306   open full text
• Protocol for Recording Enamel Hypoplasia in Modern and Archaeological Caprine Populations.
  Bethan Upex, Marie Balasse, Anne Tresset, Benjamin Arbuckle, Keith Dobney.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 24, 2012
  This paper outlines the first methodology for recording dental enamel hypoplasia in the high‐crowned dentition of modern and archaeological caprine teeth. The method has been developed and trialed on five caprine populations from Orkney (UK); two modern populations (Shetland and North Ronaldsay breeds) and three Neolithic assemblages from the archaeological sites of Knap of Howar, Skara Brae and Holm of Papa Westray. Problems associated with differential tooth wear, as well as the presence of coronal cementum, are discussed, and recommendations are given on the identification and recording of hypoplastic dental defects in caprines. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 24, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2227   open full text
• Evaluating Intensity in the Processing of Guanaco (Lama Guanicoe) at the Lower Basin of the Colorado River (Argentina): Fragmentation Levels and Fracture Patterns Analysis.
  L. Stoessel.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. January 10, 2012
  This article explores the levels of fragmentation and fracture patterns in archaeofaunal assemblages from the lower basin of the Colorado River (Argentina) following Outram's methodology. Remains of ungulates (guanaco) have suffered, in these assemblages, a high degree of fragmentation probably caused during the processing of the carcasses. The presence of helical debris and shaft fragments indicates that fragmentation would respond to processing tasks for the consumption of marrow and possibly bone grease. The results of the application of this methodology that were obtained from the analysis of three late Holocene sites (La Primavera, Loma Ruiz 1 and El Tigre) are presented. These results provide new evidence not only for patterns of marrow and bone grease consumption but also for dealing with the subsistence model proposed for the study area. In this sense, the intensification processes already proposed during the final late Holocene (1000–250 bp) are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  January 10, 2012   doi: 10.1002/oa.2225   open full text
• Age‐Related Cortical Bone Maintenance and Loss in an Imperial Roman Population.
  Patrick Beauchesne, Sabrina C. Agarwal.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 29, 2011
  This article explores age‐ and sex‐related patterns of cortical bone loss, assessed by radiogrammetry of the second metacarpal, from a skeletal sample excavated from the Imperial Roman port city of Velia (1st and 2nd century ad), to contribute to our understanding of health and disease during the Imperial period. Patterns of age‐ and sex‐related bone loss and health at Velia are also compared with other historical samples and to modern clinical data. It was hypothesised that patterns of age‐ and sex‐related bone loss in this well‐represented Roman sample (n = 71) would mirror those reported in modern populations. Differences in the quantity of cortical bone between three age groups (18–29, 30–49 and 50+ years) are significant in both men and women; however, the pattern of bone loss differs between the sexes. Women show a gradual decline in bone quantity beginning in middle age, whereas men only lose bone in old age. However, there are no significant sex differences at any age group in the metacarpal cortical index. These findings suggest the hypothesis should be refuted because significant sex differences, particularly in old age, are an expected hallmark of bone loss in Western populations today. The possible biocultural and gender‐related factors that may have contributed to the observed patterns of bone maintenance and loss at Velia are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 29, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1303   open full text
• Oxygen Isotopes and Human Residential Mobility in Central Western Argentina.
  Adolfo F. Gil, Gustavo A. Neme, Andrew Ugan, Robert H. Tykot.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. December 02, 2011
  Stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O) from human bone apatite from central western Argentina (30º–37ºS latitude) were analysed to understand changes in human residential mobility during the Late Holocene. This region contains evidence for the use of domesticated plants over the last 2000 years (Zea mays, Cucurbita sp. and Phaseolus sp., among others), and previous models of prehistoric occupation have suggested a distinct change in mobility and population movement associated with their incorporation. The importance of these domesticates also seems to have varied geographically, being greater in the northern part of the region and declining as one moves south toward the limit with Patagonia. Expectations about patterns of residential mobility have varied accordingly.To better evaluate these models, we analysed carbonate δ18O from the bone apatite of 71 individuals with radiocarbon dates spanning the last 6000 years. Given the existing evidence, we expected to see temporal and geographic differences in their oxygen isotope values associated with changes in residential mobility and the incorporation of different sources of drinking water available within the region. These expectations were not met. Significant variations were seen across all samples compared, both temporal and geographic, with no discernible differences among them. The data suggest that populations throughout the area were all highly mobile, and that this did not change with the incorporation of domesticates. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  December 02, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1304   open full text
• Better a Broader Diagnosis Than a Misdiagnosis: The Study of a Neoplastic Condition in a Male Individual who Died in Early 20th Century (Coimbra, Portugal).
  Carina Marques, Ana Luísa Santos, Eugénia Cunha.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 28, 2011
  The paleopathological record of neoplastic conditions in the past is considered scarce. The detection of tumours in ancient populations is hindered by the quality and quantity of signs visible on the skeleton, the methodological approach, the preservation of remains, and by difficulties of differential diagnosis. The aims of this paper are to report the extensive and multiple osteolytic lesions observed in an adult male and to discuss the possible etiology of these lesions. The individual, a 71‐year‐old male who died in 1932, is part of the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection. Records indicate that he died of a ‘heart lesion’. The present study used macroscopic, radiological, and computerized tomography examinations to analyse the skeletal remains of the individual number 439. The type and pattern of the lesions detected, which were most prominent on the skull, were compared with both clinical and paleopathological diagnostic criteria for different nosologic groups. The differential diagnosis addresses problems expressed both in clinical and in paleopathological literature with regard to the difficulties in distinguishing metastatic tumours from multiple myeloma. The nature of the lesions represented by this individual precludes an exact diagnosis. Therefore, we employed a broader category, neoplastic condition, instead of choosing a more specific diagnosis that would likely have resulted in a misdiagnosis due to overlapping features on this individual's condition. Further investigations are necessary to establish more replicable indicators and to improve confidence in retrospective diagnosis of these types of conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 28, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1294   open full text
• Bioarchaeological Investigation of Possible Gunshot Wounds in 18th Century Human Skeletons from Korea.
  Y.‐S. Kim, M. J. Kim, T.‐Y. Yu, I. S. Lee, Y. S. Yi, C. S. Oh, D. H. Shin.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 23, 2011
  Notwithstanding the relative abundance of bioarchaeological evidence of pre‐20th century gunshot wounds discovered at European and American archaeological sites, similar findings in East Asian countries have been very rare. In this study, we report evidence of possible gunshot wounds sustained by two individuals buried in Joseon tombs of Korea. The shapes of the trauma seemed to indicate low‐velocity projectiles, most likely musket balls. To our knowledge, this is the first bioarchaeological report specifically concerning possible gunshot‐wound evidence in East Asian skeletons recovered from archaeological fields. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 23, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1301   open full text
• Pre‐Columbian Tuberculosis in Northwest Argentina: Skeletal Evidence from Rincón Chico 21 Cemetery.
  M. A. Arrieta, M. A. Bordach, O. J. Mendonça.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 21, 2011
  Systematic excavation of collective burial sites makes possible the recovery of skeletal series which may show bony evidence of infectious pathological conditions. This paper presents the first evidence of the existence of tuberculosis in prehistoric populations of NW Argentina with a subsistence economy based on agriculture and pastoralism. The study was carried out on individuals from Rincón Chico 21 cemetery, a burial site located in the Santa María Valley, Catamarca, used between the Late Ceramic Period and the onset of the Inca empire expansion (AD 1000–1400). Six individuals out of the 70 so far excavated showed destructive lesions in the vertebral bodies and periosteal reactions in other bones. The morphology and distribution of bone lesions led us to rule out several diseases from a broad spectrum of possible diseases that could have affected the skeletal system. Thus, the lesions were interpreted as caused by mycobacterial infections (Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex). Considering previous studies on the dynamics of biocultural interactions which take into account information related from contextual associations and chronology, we can conclude that a tuberculosis‐like disease was present in prehistoric populations from NW Argentina. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 21, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1300   open full text
• Exploring Geographic Origins at Cahuachi using Stable Isotopic Analysis of Archaeological Human Tissues and Modern Environmental Waters.
  Emily C. Webb, Christine D. White, Fred J. Longstaffe.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 08, 2011
  In this study, we used oxygen‐ and hydrogen‐isotope data from human bone (δ18O) and modern environmental water samples (δ18O and δD) to investigate geographic origins of individuals buried at Cahuachi, a ceremonial centre in the Nasca region of Peru (c.AD1‐1000). Our objective was to characterise the natural variation in water stable isotopic composition in the Rio Grande de Nasca drainage, and then to use these data to better infer place of origin for 30 adults interred at Cahuachi. Using the δ18O and δD values of 63 modern environmental water samples, it was possible to differentiate among the northern and southern river middle valleys, and to infer the isotopic composition of drinking water at higher elevations. Over half of the individuals included in this study had drinking water oxygen‐isotope compositions consistent with places of origin away from Cahuachi during the last 10 to 25 years of life, perhaps in the northern river middle valleys or in the upper valleys/sierra. The environmental water stable isotopic baseline developed in this study enabled a better understanding of the natural variation of waters in the Rio Grande de Nasca drainage. As a result, it was possible to assess the geographic range of place of origin for these individuals with greater certainty. Taken together, these data support the idea of Cahuachi as a place of both local and regional significance, with individuals from distant parts of the Rio Grande de Nasca drainage travelling to and/or transporting the dead to the site for death or burial. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 08, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1298   open full text
• An Osteological Study of Trophy Heads: Unveiling the Headhunting Practice in Borneo.
  Mercedes Okumura, Yun Ysi Siew.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 08, 2011
  Taking, modifying and displaying human body parts as trophies have been observed in several human groups since prehistoric times. Although there are many skeletal collections that present evidence for this practice, the existence of both skeletal material and written records referring to the same group is quite rare. Nevertheless, this is a case of 112 human skeletal remains collected by Charles Hose in Borneo in the late 19th century, which represents a unique opportunity to understand the vanished headhunting tradition and warfare practice in this area, as well as to compare the written records with the bioarchaeological evidence. Although Hose claims that all individuals collected by him were beheaded, our study shows that only 50.5% of the studied material show clear osteological signs of decapitation. Other practices which were part of the ritual of headhunting described by Hose could be observed, like widening of foramen magnum, burning of skulls, mandible tied to the cranium with a strip of rattan or cotton, as well as drilled perforations to suspend skulls in longhouses. Adult females and non‐adults comprised more than one third of the total number where sex and age could be determined, showing that males were not the sole targets for trophy heads. Overall, this study on the trophy skulls from Borneo is valuable as it combines and compares ethnographic accounts and osteological data to provide us with a broader scenario of a vanished practice. It draws attention to some aspects that should be taken into account when working exclusively with either written records or skeletal materials, as both present limitations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 08, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1297   open full text
• A Case of Maternal and Perinatal Death in Neolithic Southern Vietnam, c. 2100–1050 BCE.
  Anna Willis, Marc F Oxenham.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. November 03, 2011
  Despite ostensibly elevated rates of young female mortality in the past, believed to be associated with the risks of pregnancy and child birth, surprisingly few cases of pregnant female burials are reported in the bioarchaeological literature. This paper describes and discusses the case of a young female who died and was interred with an unborn full‐term breech foetus at the Neolithic site of An Son, southern Vietnam c. 2100–1050BCE. Her exceptionally poor oral health, evidence for cribra orbitalia, linear enamel hypoplasia, small stature and compromised gynaecological competence, contributes to a differential diagnosis that explores a range of additional complications that may have contributed to the death of both mother and unborn child. An examination and appreciation of this case contribute to our knowledge of the reproductive age and health of young females in Neolithic Southern Vietnam and the challenges they faced during pregnancy and childbirth. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  November 03, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1296   open full text
• Isotopic Investigation of Animal Husbandry in the Welsh and English Periods at Dryslwyn Castle, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
  A. R. Millard, N. G. Jimenez‐Cano, O. Lebrasseur, Y. Sakai.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 10, 2011
  Dryslwyn Castle in southwest Wales was founded by a Welsh lord in the AD 1220s, captured by the English in 1287, and declined from c.1407 until it was abandoned c.1450. In contrast to historical evidence for changes in procurement of meat, previous zooarchaeological work has suggested that throughout these three periods, there was no change in the supply of animals. We have analysed the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of 20 cattle and 25 pigs from the Castle to further test this hypothesis. Our results show that there was no detectable change in the source of supply of cattle to the Castle when it passed from Welsh to English control, though differences in isotope ratios compared to cattle from York suggest that such changes might well be detectable. For pigs, there was an increase in carbon isotope ratios in the English period and a reversion to the previous values in the decline period, which is interpreted as reflecting a change in diet of the pigs from woodland to more open environments. Such a change is anticipated locally due to human population pressure in the English period, but could also reflect a change in the region of supply. This paper shows that there is potential for developing isotope analyses as part of the study of medieval husbandry. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 10, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1292   open full text
• A Roman Skeleton with Possible Treponematosis in the North‐East of the Iberian Peninsula: A Morphological and Radiological Study.
  Carme Rissech, Charlotte Roberts, Xavier Tomás‐Batlle, Xavier Tomás‐Gimeno, Benjamin Fuller, Pedro Luis Fernandez, Miguel Botella.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. October 10, 2011
  The main goal of this paper is to describe and discuss pathological lesions observed in a Roman skeleton (between 2nd and 3rd century AD) from the north‐east region of the Iberian Peninsula (St Nicasi 18–24 site. Gavà, Barcelona), which may be compatible with treponematosis. Most of the skeleton, with the exception of the neurocranium, was recovered. Only the left tibia was affected, whereas the rest of the recovered skeletal remains were unaffected. Macroscopic examination revealed a male individual between 25 and 30 years of age at death with a sabre‐shaped left tibia. The proximal half of the diaphysis was pitted and the bone overall enlarged. The surface of the tibia showed occasional vascular impressions where, in some instances, small raised plaques of new bone appeared to bridge over them, specifically in the most affected area of the proximal half of the tibia. No destructive lesions were observed. Radiographic examination and gross inspection at the cross section of the tibia showed encroachment into the medullary cavity of coarse cancellous bone and cancellization of the cortex. The observed lesions indicate that the tibia was affected by a chronic infectious disease. Differential diagnoses were considered, and these included other infectious diseases, fibrous dysplasia, Paget's disease, chronic varicose ulcers affecting bone and trauma, with the conclusion that the disease affecting the tibia could have been treponematosis.This could be significant in the history of the treponematoses being one of the oldest examples of treponematosis in pre‐Columbian Europe. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  October 10, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1293   open full text
• A Pilot Study in Odontochronology for the Pig Domestication Question in North‐Central China.
  Anne Pike‐Tay, Xiaolin Ma.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 26, 2011
  In this paper, we report results of the pilot study in which we apply skeletochronological analysis of teeth to a collection of modern Chinese wild boar (Sus scrofa) of known age and date of death. This is the first time that odontochronology has been applied to suids in China. This work allowed us to establish parameters for subsequent analysis of a limited number of Neolithic‐aged Sus (wild boar and possible early domesticated pig) samples from Henan Province. The goal of the research is to contribute to the ongoing reconstruction of Neolithic dietary, health and economic patterns along the Yellow River. Our results are encouraging in that regular seasonal growth patterning is observed in the northern control sample, which is from the same region as our archaeological investigation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 26, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1287   open full text
• Using General Estimating Equations to Analyze Oral Health in the Moche Valley of Perú.
  C. M. Gagnon, C. Wiesen.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 21, 2011
  This study introduces a new method for analyzing oral health indicators and thus reconstructing diet. To this end, we examined the dental remains of 173 individuals recovered from the site of Cerro Oreja in the Moche Valley of Perú, who lived during the Salinar (400–1 BC) or Gallinazo (AD 1–200) phases. The infectious and degenerative conditions analyzed include: dental caries, dental wear, dental abscess, antemortem tooth loss and dental calculus, all of which have been used to track dietary and thus subsistence‐related economic and sociopolitical changes. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations, an extension of generalized linear models. Significant changes in the frequency of occurrence of most dental conditions suggest that during the period of study, there was an increase in the consumption of agricultural products. However, these changes in oral health did not equally affect females and males. By the end of the Gallinazo phase, significant sex differences developed, with females more often affected by dental caries and males displaying greater mean molar wear scores. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 21, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1284   open full text
• A Bioarchaeological Investigation into the Human Remains Discovered in the Chloorkop Area, South Africa.
  A. Meyer, N. Keough, C. W. Nienaber, M. Steyn.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 20, 2011
  In November 2008, human skeletal remains were discovered during construction works undertaken by Carlop Properties in the Chloorkop industrial area, Kempton Park, Gauteng. The Forensic Anthropology Unit of the University of Pretoria, Forensic Anthropology Research Centre (FARC) was notified, and rescue excavations of both the exposed and the undisturbed remains were undertaken. The skeletonised remains of at least 18 individuals were recovered and sent to the Department of Anatomy at the University of Pretoria for standard anthropological analysis. The identity and the time period of these human remains are unknown, and during social consultation, no relatives could be identified. Excavations revealed a formal burial pattern, which suggests a formal cemetery, probably associated with a historic institution. All individuals were buried in wooden coffins in an extended, supine position. The remains consist of both adult and juvenile remains. Some of the remains were found in a commingled state because of disturbance caused by construction work. The minimum number of individuals was determined by the visual pair matching of skeletal elements on the basis of similarities observed in bone morphology, age and sex, trauma and pathology and taphonomic alterations. Bioarchaeological techniques were used, and the following results were obtained. Of the 18 individuals, at least 15 were identified to be males, one possibly female and two juveniles. At least five of the adult male individuals presented with cut marks associated with standard autopsy procedures. No reference to the individuals' identity or to the context of the cemetery within the historical span of the Chloorkop area has been located. However, the burial pattern observed, as well as the demographic profile and pathology observed on the skeletal remains, suggests that these individuals could be linked to the Klipfontein Organic Products Factory (ca 1941s–1970s), which employed many migrant labourers, most to whom lived in compounds on the factory premises. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 20, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1289   open full text
• The Diagnosis and Context of a Facial Deformity from an Anglo‐Saxon Cemetery at Spofforth, North Yorkshire.
  E. Craig, G. Craig.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 15, 2011
  An individual aged between 6 and 7 years at death from a 7th to 9th century cemetery at Village Farm, Spofforth, North Yorkshire, presented significant pathological swelling to the left facial bones. The ectocranial surface was bulbous and uneven, and the expanded diploë was densely packed with a mass of thick trabeculae. Radiographic and histological analysis, in combination with the macroscopically observed pathological changes, supported the differential diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia. The skeletal changes to the left face and jaw would have resulted in a significant facial deformity. Examples of individuals with physical impairments or disfigurements from Anglo‐Saxon cemeteries are rare. Nevertheless, it seems that a significant proportion are afforded unusual burial practices more often associated with deviancy, for example, at the edge of cemeteries or on a reversed orientation, seemingly indicating that their diminished physical capabilities or altered physical appearance had a detrimental effect on their social status. The child from Spofforth was, however, buried in a normative manner, extended, supine and in a plain earth‐cut grave, with no indication that their facial deformity had prompted unusual funerary provision. This example of facial disfigurement contributes to a growing corpus of potentially disabled individuals from early medieval England. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 15, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1288   open full text
• A Possible Case of Hypopituitarism in Neolithic China.
  M. Hernandez.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 14, 2011
  A human skeleton with a possible case of hypopituitarism is reported. The individual (burial M53) is from the site of Guanjia, a Neolithic settlement in northern China, dated to the Late Yangshao period (6000–5500 bp). On the basis of the fully erupted third permanent molars and moderate occlusal dental wear resulting in substantial exposure of dentine, the initially estimated age‐at‐death was placed between 26 and 33 years. However, dimensions of the postcranial skeleton fall significantly below and outside the range from contemporaneous adult populations, and along with delayed epiphyseal fusion present throughout the skeleton, the postcranial age is concordant to that of an 11‐ to 13‐year‐old child. Most long bone epiphyses display incomplete fusion or are entirely unfused, but a lack of microporosity in the metaphyseal areas near growth plates indicates a cessation of longitudinal bone growth. Because no signs of porotic hyperostosis, cribra orbitalia, periosteal lesions or linear enamel hypoplasia are observed, the restricted growth of this individual is likely caused by a growth hormone disorder and is unrelated to nutritional deficiencies or systemic infection. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 14, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1266   open full text
• A Case of Dwarfism from the Byzantine City Rehovot‐in‐the‐Negev, Israel.
  V. Slon, Y. Nagar, T. Kuperman, I. Hershkovitz.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. September 14, 2011
  Skeletons of dwarfs have been found in many archaeological sites from around the world. Nevertheless, their descriptions (morphologically and metrically) are very limited. We describe herein the skeleton of a male dwarf, approximately 35–50 years old, found in the Byzantine cemetery (5th–8th century CE) of Rehovot‐in‐the‐Negev, southern Israel. Living stature was estimated at 120–125 cm. Detailed morphological skeletal descriptions and morphometric analysis, together with computed tomography (CT) observations, suggest a diagnosis of achondroplasia. The long bones anomalies, in tandem with other features such as hydrocephalus and spinal stenosis, are discussed in regard to their effect on the dwarf's daily life. The putative place of dwarfs in early Christian communities, compared with dwarfs from other times and places, will be addressed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  September 14, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1285   open full text
• Like You Need a Hole in the Head: Tool Innovation a Possible Cause of Trephination. A Case from Kerma, Nubia.
  D. C. Martin.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 26, 2011
  This paper presents one case from Kerma (ind‐14.1.595 or K317) which was initially reported to have a ‘fatal traumatic wound’ in the front of the skull. The individual has a dime sized, circular hole with no radiating or concentric fracture lines associated with it. It also shows clear evidence of healing along the inside edges of the pathology. This was according to the preliminary, and only, analysis performed when excavated at Kerma (1913–1916), which was most likely performed by a crew member not formerly trained in anthropology, or medical science. Differential diagnosis will be discussed with respect to this lesion actually being a form of traumatic injury, possible remnants of a bony tumour, and trephination, among other diagnoses. Trephination has been identified in ancient Egypt and Nubian studies, though it is a rarity. Although trephination is a possible cause for the present lesion, this example does not fit the morphology of any other examples of the practise from this region or time period. Given that there have been similar borings witnessed on architecture from the Egyptian Old Kingdom, this lesion may suggest implementation of an already present architectural tool for medical purposes among the Kerma Nubians. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 26, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1281   open full text
• Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis in Medieval Sigtuna, Sweden: A Study of Sinus Health and Effects on Bone Preservation.
  E. A. Sundman, A. Kjellström.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 15, 2011
  Frequencies of maxillary sinusitis in the population of the medieval town Sigtuna, Sweden, were examined. The first aim was to explore the occurrence of sinus conditions in this urban population, and the second was to investigate the effects of preservation in relation to these changes. The skeletal sample consisted of 274 adolescent and adult individuals buried ca 970–1530 AD. The maxillary sinuses were examined for different types of skeletal change related to sinusitis. The severity and location of these changes were recorded, together with the preservation of the sinus. When the diagnostic criteria for bone preservation from previous studies was used, i.e. the preservation of at least one complete antral floor, the results showed that 97.7% (n = 157) of the individuals were affected, with older individuals showing more severe bone changes. In the entire (i.e. more fragmented) sample, 94.5% (n = 259) showed signs of sinusitis. Again, older individuals showed more severe bone changes, and males were more frequently affected. Also, an increased frequency over time was found. The maxillae were subdivided into groups of bone preservation, and the results showed that there was a significant relation between preservation and the registered presence and severity of sinusitis. The results may be used as a cautionary note against investigating the occurrence of maxillary sinusitis without considering the skeletal preservation factor. There was no correlation between preservation and sex or age groups. This suggests that the differences between younger and older and male and female were not a result of preservation alone and could be considered as trustworthy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 15, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1268   open full text
• Boards and Cords: Discriminating Types of Artificial Cranial Deformation in Prehispanic South Central Andean Populations.
  T. G. O'Brien, A. M. Stanley.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 12, 2011
  For over a century, a number of ambiguous typologies have been employed to distinctly categorise types of artificial cranial deformation. This paper provides a quantitative method, based on multiple dimensions and discriminant function analysis, by which to assign skulls not only into discrete categories: deformed or not, but also by type: annular or tabular. A series of prehispanic, adult, human crania (n = 469) from archaeological sites in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru represented by both normal and artificially deformed specimens, provide craniometric data for four measurements across the vault: maximum cranial length, breadth and height and the frontal chord. These data are used to develop three indices which in turn are used to compute two discriminant functions. Results are plotted on a territorial map whereby the type of deformity can be determined. When these methods were applied to a comparative cranial sample of nondeformed skulls from South America, 100% of the samples was found to be nondeformed. When these methods were applied to the samples which were subjectively classified a priori by the first author as nondeformed, 81.3% of the samples were found to be nondeformed. This study demonstrates the value of a more objective and quantitative method by which to classify artificial cranial deformation, and thus provides a new approach. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 12, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1269   open full text
• Dental Health of Free Blacks in New York State during the Mid‐19th Century.
  K. C. Nystrom.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 12, 2011
  The current research will examine the frequency of carious teeth, periapical abscesses and ante‐mortem tooth loss in the Newburgh Colored Burial Ground (1830–1870), a free black cemetery in Newburgh, New York. The Newburgh material is compared with skeletal samples from the New York African Burial Ground, New York State almshouses, a free black cemetery from Philadelphia and middle‐class/upper‐class European cemeteries. Although previous research suggests that dental health became worse throughout the 19th century, there is no consistent pattern between the 17th‐century and 18th‐century skeletal sample of enslaved blacks from New York City and 19th‐century free blacks from Newburgh and Philadelphia. The frequency of dental caries does increase through time but the other indicators change little (equal or fewer ante‐mortem tooth loss) or suggest an improvement in dental health (fewer periapical abscesses) through time. Relative to contemporaneous populations, the individuals from Newburgh appear much more similar in terms of dental health to upper‐class and middle‐class European groups than to the other marginalised groups considered in this research. The impact of the economic, political and social changes that accompanied the Industrial Revolution and their potential impact on dental health are considered. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 12, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1261   open full text
• Degenerative Joint Disease and Social Status in the Terminal Late Archaic Period (1000–500 b.c.) of Ohio.
  Eun Jin Woo, Paul W. Sciulli.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 09, 2011
  This research presents an analysis of the inferred Late Archaic social structure in Ohio based on degenerative joint disease (DJD, also known as osteoarthritis) and mortuary practices. We tested the hypothesis that mechanical loading involving physical activities is differentially distributed in a population along levels or types of social stratification. This hypothesis was investigated via statistical treatment of DJD as a skeletal stress marker of activity, its occurrence by age and sex, an association with grave goods, and spatial distribution in terminal Late Archaic cemeteries. The skeletal samples used in this study came from three cemeteries, the Boose, Kirian‐Treglia (KT), and Duff sites, dating to the Ohio terminal Late Archaic period.In general, the high overall prevalence of DJD in these people indicates that this population led a rigorous life. This study hypothesized that the burials in the Late Archaic period in Ohio might be socially patterned as evidenced from the unequal distribution of grave goods and skeletal variability in DJD. Nevertheless, the analyses suggest that there is no statistical association between DJD and mortuary practices including grave goods and burial location in a cemetery. As observed in numerous hunter–gatherer populations, the societies in our sample were also characterized by the absence of a marked social stratification. The results suggest that there were only ‘natural inequalities’ in Late Archaic societies due to biological factors, such as age and sex. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 09, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1264   open full text
• Syndactyly in Pigs: A Review of Previous Research and the Presentation of Eight Archaeological Specimens.
  R. Madgwick, V. Forest, F. Beglane.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. August 02, 2011
  This paper reviews evidence for the rare condition of porcine syndactyly. It describes eight archaeological examples from Britain, Northern Ireland and France. Syndactyly refers to the partial or complete fusion of two or more adjacent phalanges on the medio‐lateral border. The degree and character of fusion are variable, but phalanges frequently unite to create a single skeletal element. This condition has been identified by veterinarians, zoologists and naturalists in individuals and populations in a range of species, but in spite of substantial research on the condition in humans and to a lesser extent cattle, it remains relatively poorly understood in other mammals. Syndactyly is generally agreed to be primarily congenital in origin, although factors affecting its incidence remain far from fully understood. In light of the general paucity of discussion of specific conditions of animal palaeopathology, this paper presents an analysis of these newly discovered syndactyle pig specimens, offers a review of research with particular reference to pigs and discusses the etiology of the condition. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  August 02, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1260   open full text
• Raw Material Availability and Technological Choice: Modified Metapodia from an Early Bronze Age Site in Central Israel.
  A. Allentuck.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 29, 2011
  This paper explores the incongruous relationship between bone raw material availability and technological choice at the Early Bronze Age site of Horvat 'Illin Tahtit (HIT) in central Israel. At HIT, the worked bone assemblage is mostly comprised of minimally modified sheep and goat metapodia whose function(s) are enigmatic. Most specimens have longitudinally oriented scraping abrasions on at least one face, and of these, some have bilaterally symmetrical drilled perforations on the distal–posterior face. Furthermore, the distal epiphyseal plates of almost all worked metapodia are unfused, whereas unfused epiphyses are nearly absent from the general faunal assemblage. Worked goat metacarpals are significantly more common than sheep metacarpals or metatarsals of either species, despite the greater abundance of sheep over goat in the general faunal assemblage. This paper proposes that the desire to express specific visible attributes of the bone raw material was the key motivation in choosing unfused goat metacarpals over similar, more abundant choices. The analysis considers material properties such as bone mineral density and natural morphology and concludes that material properties between various choices were equivocal. This result suggests that social meanings attributed to specific animals and specific skeletal elements structured bone raw material procurement decisions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 29, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1258   open full text
• Developmental Stress and Survival among the Mid Upper Paleolithic Sunghir Children: Dental Enamel Hypoplasias of Sunghir 2 and 3.
  D. Guatelli‐Steinberg, A. P. Buzhilova, E. Trinkaus.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 27, 2011
  The Sunghir 2 and 3 late juvenile to early adolescent immature skeletons, from the Mid Upper Paleolithic (Eastern Gravettian) of northern Russia, exhibit several episodes of dental enamel hypoplasias. Those of the older male Sunghir 2 relate principally to a stress episode in the third year post‐natal, although subsequent minor stress episodes may be indicated. They are not accompanied by other marked developmental abnormalities. The younger female Sunghir 3 exhibits at least three episodes of pronounced post‐natal stress through the third to fifth years post‐natal, followed by femoral and tibial growth arrest lines that formed shortly before her death at 9–11 years. These first decade post‐natal stress episodes of Sunghir 3 may be related to the same developmental condition that produced her abnormally bowed femora pre‐natally and/or to continued frailty related to that condition. Surviving these stress episodes for different lengths of time, both Sunghir 2 and 3 were awarded the most elaborate Paleolithic burial known. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 27, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1263   open full text
• Comparing the Chronological Distribution of Enamel Hypoplasia in Rogowo, Poland (2nd century ad) Using Two Methods of Defect Timing Estimation.
  M. Krenz‐Niedbała, T. Kozłowski.
  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. July 13, 2011
  The frequency and chronological distribution of enamel hypoplasias were assessed in a Roman Period population of the Wielbark culture from Rogowo, northern Poland, dated to the 2nd century ad. Hypoplasias were recorded on permanent incisors, canines, and premolars of 52 skeletons. The position of linear defects on the crown surface was measured and then converted to the age of occurrence using two methods: a conventional method that employs the chart of enamel development for the permanent teeth, constructed by Massler et al. (1941) in Swärdstedt's (1966) modification, and the method by Goodman & Song (1999), which corrects for hidden cuspal enamel. Hypoplastic defects were found in 48.1% of examined cases. Linear defects [linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH)] were observed in 38.5% of individuals and in 22% of investigated teeth. The chronological distribution of LEH according to the conventional method revealed two peaks of defects: one at 2.6–3.0 years of age and the other at 4.1–4.5 years of age. The method that accounts for hidden cuspal enamel also provided two peaks, but they occurred at later ages: 3.0–4.0 and 4.6–5.0 years of age. The prevalence of hypoplasia in the Rogowo population in comparison with other European populations of the Roman Period seems to be rather low for both individuals and teeth affected. This may indicate advantageous living conditions, which are supported by archaeological data that suggest general well‐being of the Wielbark people. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  July 13, 2011   doi: 10.1002/oa.1262   open full text