Rosalind Wallduck | Natural History Museum, London (original) (raw)
Papers by Rosalind Wallduck
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Recent analyses of archaeological collections have suggested that the frequency, location and mic... more Recent analyses of archaeological collections have suggested that the frequency, location and micro-morphometric characteristics of cut marks produced when cleaning partially decayed bodies are significantly different from butchery of fresh bodies. The present study attempts to verify this hypothesis by performing incisions into pig body parts at different stages of decay, using different hand pressures and two different types of tool. Focus variation microscopy was used for metric evaluations of experimentally produced cut marks. The clearest metric correlation observed was that greater cutting strength produces wider and deeper cut marks. We also observed that in general, when using the same strength, wider and deeper cut marks are produced on bone with less meat due to the decay (i.e. reduction) of organic tissues. It was also observed that liquefying tissues affect the precision of incisions, causing tools to slip on decaying remains. Finally, no clear metric or morphological differences were observed between cut marks produced using unretouched flakes and unretouched blades.
PLoS ONE , 2017
Cut-marked and broken human bones are a recurrent feature of Magdalenian (~17–12,000 years BP, un... more Cut-marked and broken human bones are a recurrent feature of Magdalenian (~17–12,000 years BP, uncalibrated dates) European sites. Human remains at Gough’s Cave (UK) have been modified as part of a Magdalenian mortuary ritual that combined the intensive processing of entire corpses to extract edible tissues and the modification of skulls to produce skull-cups. A human radius from Gough’s Cave shows evidence of cut marks, percussion damage and human tooth marks, indicative of cannibalism, as well as a set of unusual zig-zagging incisions on the lateral side of the diaphysis. These latter incisions cannot be unambiguously associated with filleting of muscles. We compared the macro- and micro-morphological characteristics of these marks to over 300 filleting marks on human and non-human remains and to approximately 120 engraved incisions observed on two artefacts from Gough’s Cave. The new macro- and micro-morphometric analyses of the marks, as well as further comparisons with French Middle Magdalenian engraved artefacts, suggest that these modifications are the result of intentional engraving. The engraved motif comfortably fits within a Magdalenian pattern of design; what is exceptional in this case, however, is the choice of raw material (human bone) and the cannibalistic context in which it was produced. The sequence of the manipulations suggests that the engraving was a purposeful component of the cannibalistic practice, implying a complex ritualistic funerary behaviour that has never before been recognized for the Palaeolithic period.
Objectives: Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological s... more Objectives: Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological sites of known funerary rituals (one interpreted as cannibalism and three interpreted as funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay) were analyzed to ascertain whether macromorphological and micromorphological characteristics of cut marks can be used to distinguish cannibalistic from secondary burial practices. Material and methods: Four collections were analyzed: the Magdalenian assemblage from Gough's Cave (UK) and the Mesolithic-Neolithic bone samples from Lepenski Vir, Padina and Vlasac (Serbia). A total of 647 cut marks (345 on human and 302 on non-human remains) were imaged and measured using an optical surface measurement system, the Alicona InfiniteFocus, housed at the Natural History Museum (London, UK). Results: The frequency of cut marks at Gough's Cave exceeds 65%, while it is below 1% in the Serbian sites, and no human tooth marks and only one case of percussion damage have been observed on the three Serbian collections. The distribution of cut marks on human bones is comparable in the four assemblages. Cannibalized human remains, however, present a uniform cut mark distribution, which can be associated with disarticulation of persistent and labile articulations, and the scalping and filleting of muscles. For secondary burials where modification occurred after a period of decay, disarticulation marks are less common and the disarticulation of labile joints is rare. The micromorphometric analyses of cut marks on human and non-human remains suggest that cut marks produced when cleaning partially decayed bodies are significantly different from cut marks produced during butchery of fresh bodies. Conclusions: A distinction between cannibalism and secondary treatment of human bodies can be made based on frequency, distribution and micromorphometric characteristics of cut marks.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Aug 2016
Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological sites of know... more Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological sites of known funerary rituals (one interpreted as cannibalism and three interpreted as funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay) were analyzed to ascertain whether macromorphological and micromorphological characteristics of cut marks can be used to distinguish cannibalistic from secondary burial practices. Four collections were analyzed: the Magdalenian assemblage from Gough's Cave (UK) and the Mesolithic-Neolithic bone samples from Lepenski Vir, Padina and Vlasac (Serbia). A total of 647 cut marks (345 on human and 302 on non-human remains) were imaged and measured using an optical surface measurement system, the Alicona InfiniteFocus, housed at the Natural History Museum (London, UK). The frequency of cut marks at Gough's Cave exceeds 65%, while it is below 1% in the Serbian sites, and no human tooth marks and only one case of percussion damage have been observed on the three Serbian collections. The distribution of cut marks on human bones is comparable in the four assemblages. Cannibalized human remains, however, present a uniform cut mark distribution, which can be associated with disarticulation of persistent and labile articulations, and the scalping and filleting of muscles. For secondary burials where modification occurred after a period of decay, disarticulation marks are less common and the disarticulation of labile joints is rare. The micromorphometric analyses of cut marks on human and non-human remains suggest that cut marks produced when cleaning partially decayed bodies are significantly different from cut marks produced during butchery of fresh bodies. A distinction between cannibalism and secondary treatment of human bodies can be made based on frequency, distribution and micromorphometric characteristics of cut marks.
Post-mortem manipulations of the body were common at Mesolithic-Neolithic sites along the Danube ... more Post-mortem manipulations of the body were common at Mesolithic-Neolithic sites along the Danube River. During assessment of disarticulated human remains from Lepenski Vir, an unusual set of incisions (notches) were observed on the diaphysis of a human left radius along with a few cut-marks. Very few studies have attempted to distinguish clearly the characteristics of these modifications. All incisions were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope and a Focus Variation Microscope that generated measurable three-dimensional digital models. Our results indicate that, on the basis of their micromorphometric features, qualitative and quantitative distinctions can be made between cutmarks and notches, a methodology which can be applied to other engraved bones. Cut-marks, accidentally produced during flesh removal, were more irregular, longer, narrower and shallower than the notches. The notches, produced by a 'nick and slice' motion (pressure was applied to the bone, then the tool was pulled in one direction), were deliberately engraved. This engraved human bone is a rare example within a Prehistoric European context, possibly a form of notation, marking or counting a series of (important) events.
Post-mortem manipulations of the body were common at Mesolithic–Neolithic sites along the Danube ... more Post-mortem manipulations of the body were common at Mesolithic–Neolithic sites along the Danube River. During assessment of disarticulated human remains from Lepenski Vir, an unusual set of incisions (notches) were observed on the diaphysis of a human left radius along with a few cut-marks. Very few studies have attempted to distinguish clearly the characteristics of these modifications. All incisions were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope and a Focus Variation Microscope that generated measurable three-dimensional digital models. Our results indicate that, on the basis of their micro-morphometric features, qualitative and quantitative distinctions can be made between cut-marks and notches, a methodology which can be applied to other engraved bones. Cut-marks, accidentally produced during flesh removal, were more irregular, longer, narrower and shallower than the notches. The notches, produced by a ‘nick and slice’ motion (pressure was applied to the bone, then the tool was pulled in one direction), were deliberately engraved. This engraved human bone is a rare example within a Prehistoric European context, possibly a form of notation, marking or counting a series of (important) events.
Abstract: Resulting from both methodological and theoretical advances in funerary archaeology, di... more Abstract: Resulting from both methodological and theoretical advances in funerary archaeology, disarticulated human remains as becoming increasingly recognized as resulting from complex death-ways in European prehistory. In the Balkans and Greece, this coupled with more sophisticated archaeological investigations in last 15 years, has led to the discovery of further prehistoric sites with disarticulated human bone deposits. For instance, the Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolitic site of Alba Iulia-Lumea Nouă was recently discovered, containing a vast number of disarticulated human remains, unparalleled at contemporary European sites. Although remarkable, Lumea Nouă is not the only instance of prehistoric body disarticulation in the Balkans and Greece. In this article, the three authors have combined specialisms in physical anthropology, cultural studies and fragmentation research to investigate practice of dividing the body and burying disarticulated human bones. An overview of their latest research into disarticulated bone assemblages in the Danube Gorges (‘Iron Gates’) Mesolithic–Neolithic sites is presented along with new analysis of disarticulated human bones from Neolithic sites in Northern Greece, placing the Alba Iulia finds into their wider context
Keywords: Danube Gorges Mesolithic and Neolithic, Iron Gates, Greek Neolithic, Balkan Neolithic and Chalcolithic
Abstract Cut-marks are produced when a knife (of flint, metal etc.) strikes the surface of a b... more Abstract
Cut-marks are produced when a knife (of flint, metal etc.) strikes the surface of a bone. Cutmarked human remains are surprisingly common in prehistoric contexts. Ascertaining the interval between an organism’s death and the production of cut-marks often remains uncertain, relying on indirect evidence. New 3-Dimensional technology (the Alicona InfiniteFocus Microscope) enables micro-morphometric characteristics of cut-marks to be quantified. This paper presents research that aims to determine whether cut-marks on a fresh corpse leave different micro-morphometric traces than those occurring after a period of decomposition. Cut-marks on human and non-human remains from four prehistoric sites have been analysed: the British Upper Palaeolithic (~14,700 cal BP) site of Gough’s Cave, interpreted as cannibalism, and the Serbian Mesolithic-Neolithic sites (~9,500–5,500 BC) of Padina, Vlasac and Lepenski Vir interpreted as funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay. Results have shown that the micro-morphology of cut-marks on human and non-human remains at Gough’s Cave are similar and relate to specific butchery tasks. The micro-metrics, however, are different, probably due to differences in body size. At the three Serbian sites, both the micromorphology and micro-metrics of cut-marks on human and non-humans remains differ, suggesting that the human remains were not butchered or fresh when cut. This pilot study suggests that micro-morphometric characteristics of cut-marks can be used to infer past funerary behaviour, and it would be valuable to increase the size of this data-set
Wallduck, R. and Bello S.M. 2014. Extending Death-Ways: Post-Mortem Body Manipulations in the Mes... more Wallduck, R. and Bello S.M. 2014. Extending Death-Ways: Post-Mortem Body Manipulations in the Mesolithic-Neolithic Period of the Danube Gorges, Serbia. In Ö YILMAZ (Ed), 20th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists10-14 September 2014 Istanbul - Turkey: ABSTRACTS OF THE ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS. Archaeology & Art Publications Tur. San. ve Tic. Ltd Şt: Istanbul. 433-434.
![Research paper thumbnail of Wallduck, R. 2013. Book review [A Companion to Forensic Anthropology, Edited by Dennis Dirkmaat]. Archaeological Review from Cambridge 27(2)](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/30501185/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Forensic anthropology is a vastly different field than that of 80 years-ago. The 'sexingup' of th... more Forensic anthropology is a vastly different field than that of 80 years-ago. The 'sexingup' of the role of forensic anthropologists by popular television shows such CSI and Bones, as well as the sombre, yet vital, role played by practitioners during the aftermaths of tragic events such as 9/11 and the tsunami in Japan, have thrust Forensic Anthropology into the public-eye. An increasing number of institutions throughout the world are providing academic qualifications in forensic anthropology at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, many with state-of-the-art research laboratories. The popularity of the sub-discipline, combined with the constant incorporation of cross-disciplinary elements such as taphonomy, postmortem intervals, DNA, and archaeology to name a few, has meant that A Companion to Forensic Anthropology joins an explosion of texts related to the field in the over the last few years. Books relating to forensic anthropology range in format from pragmatic manuals to the more sensationalist texts. A Companion to Forensic Anthropology falls towards the pragmatic end of these two categories: it is clearly intended as a supplement to text books on forensic anthropology, providing background information to numerous facets of the sub-discipline, provides details of up-to-date techniques-clearly referenced for further perusal-and utilises interesting and informative case-studies along the way. This is not to say, however, that this text is limited to students of forensic anthropology; as an archaeologist with a focus in anthropology and taphonomy, A Companion to Forensic Anthropology provides relevant cross-disciplinary references which may have slipped under the radar, as well as information about techniques beyond the remit of archaeology. It would also be useful to a subfield specialist wanting to brush-up on a less-familiar topic, providing the facts and rounding-up the current state of research.
e recent characterization of two archaic genomes (Neandertal and Denisovan) revealed that interb... more e recent characterization of two archaic genomes (Neandertal and Denisovan) revealed that interbreeding occurred between archaic and modern humans. e reconstruction of these ancient genomes now also allows investigation of the functional consequences for modern humans of this admixture, particularly for the rapidly-evolving, highly polymorphic Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules of the immune system. Virtual genotyping of the dra Denisovan and Neandertal genomes for the three classical HLA class I genes (HLA-A, -B and -C) identified archaic HLA class I haplotypes carrying functionally distinctive alleles that have introgressed into modern Eurasian and Oceanian populations. ese alleles, of which several encode unique or strong ligands for natural killer cell receptors, now represent at the HLA-A locus more than half the alleles of modern Eurasians and 66-95% of the alleles in Papua New Guinea. Of the 12 alleles characterized for the three HLA class I loci and two ancient genomes, 10 were identical to modern alleles but two, the Denisovan HLA-B alleles, had novel sequences. Using a recently released high coverage shotgun sequence of the Denisovan genome, we could precisely reconstruct the sequences of these two novel alleles by remapping all the reads specific of HLA-B against relevant modern HLA-B sequences. is reconstruction shows that the Denisovan HLA-B alleles contain no unique mutations but represent unique combinations of functionally important segments that render them distinct from all >2400 modern HLA-B alleles. e short segments of these 'recombinant' structures define functional epitopes that are rare or absent in Africa but very common in Oceania, representing 43-78% of the HLA-B allotypes in Papua New Guinea. us, this analysis of only a single Denisovan genome uncovered strong evidence that archaic admixture provided a significant source of HLA class I diversity for the subset of modern humans who first migrated out of Africa.
The treatment of the body during burial rituals has rightly occupied an important place in archae... more The treatment of the body during burial rituals has rightly occupied an important place in archaeology; however, there is a tendency for the focus to be the normative treatment of complete bodies, in which the use of funerary objects is the primary focus, and the practices involved in the burial process and the physicality of the body itself are of only secondary interest. The burial process is in fact very socially salient, and the study of this process can allow past attitudes towards the body to be better understood. In order to achieve this, the reconstruction of taphonomic histories of human remains is vital as it provides us with evidence of past funerary rites. This involves analysis of the skeletal modifications that occurred from the time of death until retrieval, drawing upon techniques developed in zooarchaeology and forensic science. Little is known about dead body treatment in the Mesolithic of Croatia (c. 10,000 BC to c. 6.000 BC). This paper presents the findings of taphonomic analysis of the Late Mesolithic human remains from the cave site of Vela Spila on the island of Korčula. It is suggested that at Vela Spila both secondary burial and inhumation were being practiced, and it is additionally argued that Late Mesolithic body treatment may in fact be more complex and variable than is often thought.
Key words: Mesolithic, burial, human remains, taphonomy, Croatia
Mesolithic Miscellany 20(1), 2009
The burial process, although very socially salient, is neglected in archaeological studies and no... more The burial process, although very socially salient, is neglected in archaeological studies and no rigorous analytical methodology has been developed. My MPhil research has explored burial processes in Mesolithic Croatia (c. 10,000 BC to c. 4,500 BC) by investigating the taphonomy of human remains. Taphonomic analysis of human remains examines the skeletal modifications that have occurred from the time of death until retrieval, drawing upon techniques developed in zooarchaeology and forensic science.
The burial process, although very socially salient, is neglected in archaeological studies. No ri... more The burial process, although very socially salient, is neglected in archaeological studies. No rigorous analytical methodology has been developed to study the process of burial, especially in relation to disarticulated human remains. It is important to understand the process of burial in the Mesolithic, as the true scope of the variation in burial rites is little understood. This thesis presents the results of taphonomic analysis of disarticulated, partially complete, and complete skeletons from the Early Mesolithic site of Pupićina, and the Late Mesolithic site of Vela Spila, Croatia, providing new insights into Mesolithic burial rites. This involved analysis of the skeletal modifications that occurred from the time of death until retrieval, drawing upon techniques developed in zooarchaeology and forensic science. This research highlights that, in order to understand human remains in the Mesolithic, traditional approaches to burial do not suffice. Instead, we must reconstruct taphonomic histories of human bones to gain deeper insight into Mesolithic body treatment and the social implications of this.
Talks by Rosalind Wallduck
At the beginning of the thirteenth century BC, with the Natufian culture, permanent settlements e... more At the beginning of the thirteenth century BC, with the Natufian culture, permanent settlements emerged in the Near East, together with a drastic increase in the number of burials. The latter have been discovered in the immediate vicinity of houses, or, alternatively, in the remains of abandoned structures. About 500 Natufian skeletons have been unearthed since 1928. In the last two decades, researchers have viewed these burials through the lens of archaeothanatology in the field as well as in laboratory work that combines osteological study and archive investigation. This type of approach has permitted retrieval of common cultural constants from site-specific observations in order to clarify the relationship between houses and burials and to refine understandings of social behaviours. Moreover, it reveals previously unknown aspects of burial treatment, including pre-and post-depositional handling. Within a synthetic framework, case studies will be presented in order to share methodological aspects and to chart developments in archaeothanatological applications.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Recent analyses of archaeological collections have suggested that the frequency, location and mic... more Recent analyses of archaeological collections have suggested that the frequency, location and micro-morphometric characteristics of cut marks produced when cleaning partially decayed bodies are significantly different from butchery of fresh bodies. The present study attempts to verify this hypothesis by performing incisions into pig body parts at different stages of decay, using different hand pressures and two different types of tool. Focus variation microscopy was used for metric evaluations of experimentally produced cut marks. The clearest metric correlation observed was that greater cutting strength produces wider and deeper cut marks. We also observed that in general, when using the same strength, wider and deeper cut marks are produced on bone with less meat due to the decay (i.e. reduction) of organic tissues. It was also observed that liquefying tissues affect the precision of incisions, causing tools to slip on decaying remains. Finally, no clear metric or morphological differences were observed between cut marks produced using unretouched flakes and unretouched blades.
PLoS ONE , 2017
Cut-marked and broken human bones are a recurrent feature of Magdalenian (~17–12,000 years BP, un... more Cut-marked and broken human bones are a recurrent feature of Magdalenian (~17–12,000 years BP, uncalibrated dates) European sites. Human remains at Gough’s Cave (UK) have been modified as part of a Magdalenian mortuary ritual that combined the intensive processing of entire corpses to extract edible tissues and the modification of skulls to produce skull-cups. A human radius from Gough’s Cave shows evidence of cut marks, percussion damage and human tooth marks, indicative of cannibalism, as well as a set of unusual zig-zagging incisions on the lateral side of the diaphysis. These latter incisions cannot be unambiguously associated with filleting of muscles. We compared the macro- and micro-morphological characteristics of these marks to over 300 filleting marks on human and non-human remains and to approximately 120 engraved incisions observed on two artefacts from Gough’s Cave. The new macro- and micro-morphometric analyses of the marks, as well as further comparisons with French Middle Magdalenian engraved artefacts, suggest that these modifications are the result of intentional engraving. The engraved motif comfortably fits within a Magdalenian pattern of design; what is exceptional in this case, however, is the choice of raw material (human bone) and the cannibalistic context in which it was produced. The sequence of the manipulations suggests that the engraving was a purposeful component of the cannibalistic practice, implying a complex ritualistic funerary behaviour that has never before been recognized for the Palaeolithic period.
Objectives: Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological s... more Objectives: Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological sites of known funerary rituals (one interpreted as cannibalism and three interpreted as funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay) were analyzed to ascertain whether macromorphological and micromorphological characteristics of cut marks can be used to distinguish cannibalistic from secondary burial practices. Material and methods: Four collections were analyzed: the Magdalenian assemblage from Gough's Cave (UK) and the Mesolithic-Neolithic bone samples from Lepenski Vir, Padina and Vlasac (Serbia). A total of 647 cut marks (345 on human and 302 on non-human remains) were imaged and measured using an optical surface measurement system, the Alicona InfiniteFocus, housed at the Natural History Museum (London, UK). Results: The frequency of cut marks at Gough's Cave exceeds 65%, while it is below 1% in the Serbian sites, and no human tooth marks and only one case of percussion damage have been observed on the three Serbian collections. The distribution of cut marks on human bones is comparable in the four assemblages. Cannibalized human remains, however, present a uniform cut mark distribution, which can be associated with disarticulation of persistent and labile articulations, and the scalping and filleting of muscles. For secondary burials where modification occurred after a period of decay, disarticulation marks are less common and the disarticulation of labile joints is rare. The micromorphometric analyses of cut marks on human and non-human remains suggest that cut marks produced when cleaning partially decayed bodies are significantly different from cut marks produced during butchery of fresh bodies. Conclusions: A distinction between cannibalism and secondary treatment of human bodies can be made based on frequency, distribution and micromorphometric characteristics of cut marks.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Aug 2016
Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological sites of know... more Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological sites of known funerary rituals (one interpreted as cannibalism and three interpreted as funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay) were analyzed to ascertain whether macromorphological and micromorphological characteristics of cut marks can be used to distinguish cannibalistic from secondary burial practices. Four collections were analyzed: the Magdalenian assemblage from Gough's Cave (UK) and the Mesolithic-Neolithic bone samples from Lepenski Vir, Padina and Vlasac (Serbia). A total of 647 cut marks (345 on human and 302 on non-human remains) were imaged and measured using an optical surface measurement system, the Alicona InfiniteFocus, housed at the Natural History Museum (London, UK). The frequency of cut marks at Gough's Cave exceeds 65%, while it is below 1% in the Serbian sites, and no human tooth marks and only one case of percussion damage have been observed on the three Serbian collections. The distribution of cut marks on human bones is comparable in the four assemblages. Cannibalized human remains, however, present a uniform cut mark distribution, which can be associated with disarticulation of persistent and labile articulations, and the scalping and filleting of muscles. For secondary burials where modification occurred after a period of decay, disarticulation marks are less common and the disarticulation of labile joints is rare. The micromorphometric analyses of cut marks on human and non-human remains suggest that cut marks produced when cleaning partially decayed bodies are significantly different from cut marks produced during butchery of fresh bodies. A distinction between cannibalism and secondary treatment of human bodies can be made based on frequency, distribution and micromorphometric characteristics of cut marks.
Post-mortem manipulations of the body were common at Mesolithic-Neolithic sites along the Danube ... more Post-mortem manipulations of the body were common at Mesolithic-Neolithic sites along the Danube River. During assessment of disarticulated human remains from Lepenski Vir, an unusual set of incisions (notches) were observed on the diaphysis of a human left radius along with a few cut-marks. Very few studies have attempted to distinguish clearly the characteristics of these modifications. All incisions were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope and a Focus Variation Microscope that generated measurable three-dimensional digital models. Our results indicate that, on the basis of their micromorphometric features, qualitative and quantitative distinctions can be made between cutmarks and notches, a methodology which can be applied to other engraved bones. Cut-marks, accidentally produced during flesh removal, were more irregular, longer, narrower and shallower than the notches. The notches, produced by a 'nick and slice' motion (pressure was applied to the bone, then the tool was pulled in one direction), were deliberately engraved. This engraved human bone is a rare example within a Prehistoric European context, possibly a form of notation, marking or counting a series of (important) events.
Post-mortem manipulations of the body were common at Mesolithic–Neolithic sites along the Danube ... more Post-mortem manipulations of the body were common at Mesolithic–Neolithic sites along the Danube River. During assessment of disarticulated human remains from Lepenski Vir, an unusual set of incisions (notches) were observed on the diaphysis of a human left radius along with a few cut-marks. Very few studies have attempted to distinguish clearly the characteristics of these modifications. All incisions were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope and a Focus Variation Microscope that generated measurable three-dimensional digital models. Our results indicate that, on the basis of their micro-morphometric features, qualitative and quantitative distinctions can be made between cut-marks and notches, a methodology which can be applied to other engraved bones. Cut-marks, accidentally produced during flesh removal, were more irregular, longer, narrower and shallower than the notches. The notches, produced by a ‘nick and slice’ motion (pressure was applied to the bone, then the tool was pulled in one direction), were deliberately engraved. This engraved human bone is a rare example within a Prehistoric European context, possibly a form of notation, marking or counting a series of (important) events.
Abstract: Resulting from both methodological and theoretical advances in funerary archaeology, di... more Abstract: Resulting from both methodological and theoretical advances in funerary archaeology, disarticulated human remains as becoming increasingly recognized as resulting from complex death-ways in European prehistory. In the Balkans and Greece, this coupled with more sophisticated archaeological investigations in last 15 years, has led to the discovery of further prehistoric sites with disarticulated human bone deposits. For instance, the Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolitic site of Alba Iulia-Lumea Nouă was recently discovered, containing a vast number of disarticulated human remains, unparalleled at contemporary European sites. Although remarkable, Lumea Nouă is not the only instance of prehistoric body disarticulation in the Balkans and Greece. In this article, the three authors have combined specialisms in physical anthropology, cultural studies and fragmentation research to investigate practice of dividing the body and burying disarticulated human bones. An overview of their latest research into disarticulated bone assemblages in the Danube Gorges (‘Iron Gates’) Mesolithic–Neolithic sites is presented along with new analysis of disarticulated human bones from Neolithic sites in Northern Greece, placing the Alba Iulia finds into their wider context
Keywords: Danube Gorges Mesolithic and Neolithic, Iron Gates, Greek Neolithic, Balkan Neolithic and Chalcolithic
Abstract Cut-marks are produced when a knife (of flint, metal etc.) strikes the surface of a b... more Abstract
Cut-marks are produced when a knife (of flint, metal etc.) strikes the surface of a bone. Cutmarked human remains are surprisingly common in prehistoric contexts. Ascertaining the interval between an organism’s death and the production of cut-marks often remains uncertain, relying on indirect evidence. New 3-Dimensional technology (the Alicona InfiniteFocus Microscope) enables micro-morphometric characteristics of cut-marks to be quantified. This paper presents research that aims to determine whether cut-marks on a fresh corpse leave different micro-morphometric traces than those occurring after a period of decomposition. Cut-marks on human and non-human remains from four prehistoric sites have been analysed: the British Upper Palaeolithic (~14,700 cal BP) site of Gough’s Cave, interpreted as cannibalism, and the Serbian Mesolithic-Neolithic sites (~9,500–5,500 BC) of Padina, Vlasac and Lepenski Vir interpreted as funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay. Results have shown that the micro-morphology of cut-marks on human and non-human remains at Gough’s Cave are similar and relate to specific butchery tasks. The micro-metrics, however, are different, probably due to differences in body size. At the three Serbian sites, both the micromorphology and micro-metrics of cut-marks on human and non-humans remains differ, suggesting that the human remains were not butchered or fresh when cut. This pilot study suggests that micro-morphometric characteristics of cut-marks can be used to infer past funerary behaviour, and it would be valuable to increase the size of this data-set
Wallduck, R. and Bello S.M. 2014. Extending Death-Ways: Post-Mortem Body Manipulations in the Mes... more Wallduck, R. and Bello S.M. 2014. Extending Death-Ways: Post-Mortem Body Manipulations in the Mesolithic-Neolithic Period of the Danube Gorges, Serbia. In Ö YILMAZ (Ed), 20th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists10-14 September 2014 Istanbul - Turkey: ABSTRACTS OF THE ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS. Archaeology & Art Publications Tur. San. ve Tic. Ltd Şt: Istanbul. 433-434.
Forensic anthropology is a vastly different field than that of 80 years-ago. The 'sexingup' of th... more Forensic anthropology is a vastly different field than that of 80 years-ago. The 'sexingup' of the role of forensic anthropologists by popular television shows such CSI and Bones, as well as the sombre, yet vital, role played by practitioners during the aftermaths of tragic events such as 9/11 and the tsunami in Japan, have thrust Forensic Anthropology into the public-eye. An increasing number of institutions throughout the world are providing academic qualifications in forensic anthropology at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, many with state-of-the-art research laboratories. The popularity of the sub-discipline, combined with the constant incorporation of cross-disciplinary elements such as taphonomy, postmortem intervals, DNA, and archaeology to name a few, has meant that A Companion to Forensic Anthropology joins an explosion of texts related to the field in the over the last few years. Books relating to forensic anthropology range in format from pragmatic manuals to the more sensationalist texts. A Companion to Forensic Anthropology falls towards the pragmatic end of these two categories: it is clearly intended as a supplement to text books on forensic anthropology, providing background information to numerous facets of the sub-discipline, provides details of up-to-date techniques-clearly referenced for further perusal-and utilises interesting and informative case-studies along the way. This is not to say, however, that this text is limited to students of forensic anthropology; as an archaeologist with a focus in anthropology and taphonomy, A Companion to Forensic Anthropology provides relevant cross-disciplinary references which may have slipped under the radar, as well as information about techniques beyond the remit of archaeology. It would also be useful to a subfield specialist wanting to brush-up on a less-familiar topic, providing the facts and rounding-up the current state of research.
e recent characterization of two archaic genomes (Neandertal and Denisovan) revealed that interb... more e recent characterization of two archaic genomes (Neandertal and Denisovan) revealed that interbreeding occurred between archaic and modern humans. e reconstruction of these ancient genomes now also allows investigation of the functional consequences for modern humans of this admixture, particularly for the rapidly-evolving, highly polymorphic Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules of the immune system. Virtual genotyping of the dra Denisovan and Neandertal genomes for the three classical HLA class I genes (HLA-A, -B and -C) identified archaic HLA class I haplotypes carrying functionally distinctive alleles that have introgressed into modern Eurasian and Oceanian populations. ese alleles, of which several encode unique or strong ligands for natural killer cell receptors, now represent at the HLA-A locus more than half the alleles of modern Eurasians and 66-95% of the alleles in Papua New Guinea. Of the 12 alleles characterized for the three HLA class I loci and two ancient genomes, 10 were identical to modern alleles but two, the Denisovan HLA-B alleles, had novel sequences. Using a recently released high coverage shotgun sequence of the Denisovan genome, we could precisely reconstruct the sequences of these two novel alleles by remapping all the reads specific of HLA-B against relevant modern HLA-B sequences. is reconstruction shows that the Denisovan HLA-B alleles contain no unique mutations but represent unique combinations of functionally important segments that render them distinct from all >2400 modern HLA-B alleles. e short segments of these 'recombinant' structures define functional epitopes that are rare or absent in Africa but very common in Oceania, representing 43-78% of the HLA-B allotypes in Papua New Guinea. us, this analysis of only a single Denisovan genome uncovered strong evidence that archaic admixture provided a significant source of HLA class I diversity for the subset of modern humans who first migrated out of Africa.
The treatment of the body during burial rituals has rightly occupied an important place in archae... more The treatment of the body during burial rituals has rightly occupied an important place in archaeology; however, there is a tendency for the focus to be the normative treatment of complete bodies, in which the use of funerary objects is the primary focus, and the practices involved in the burial process and the physicality of the body itself are of only secondary interest. The burial process is in fact very socially salient, and the study of this process can allow past attitudes towards the body to be better understood. In order to achieve this, the reconstruction of taphonomic histories of human remains is vital as it provides us with evidence of past funerary rites. This involves analysis of the skeletal modifications that occurred from the time of death until retrieval, drawing upon techniques developed in zooarchaeology and forensic science. Little is known about dead body treatment in the Mesolithic of Croatia (c. 10,000 BC to c. 6.000 BC). This paper presents the findings of taphonomic analysis of the Late Mesolithic human remains from the cave site of Vela Spila on the island of Korčula. It is suggested that at Vela Spila both secondary burial and inhumation were being practiced, and it is additionally argued that Late Mesolithic body treatment may in fact be more complex and variable than is often thought.
Key words: Mesolithic, burial, human remains, taphonomy, Croatia
Mesolithic Miscellany 20(1), 2009
The burial process, although very socially salient, is neglected in archaeological studies and no... more The burial process, although very socially salient, is neglected in archaeological studies and no rigorous analytical methodology has been developed. My MPhil research has explored burial processes in Mesolithic Croatia (c. 10,000 BC to c. 4,500 BC) by investigating the taphonomy of human remains. Taphonomic analysis of human remains examines the skeletal modifications that have occurred from the time of death until retrieval, drawing upon techniques developed in zooarchaeology and forensic science.
The burial process, although very socially salient, is neglected in archaeological studies. No ri... more The burial process, although very socially salient, is neglected in archaeological studies. No rigorous analytical methodology has been developed to study the process of burial, especially in relation to disarticulated human remains. It is important to understand the process of burial in the Mesolithic, as the true scope of the variation in burial rites is little understood. This thesis presents the results of taphonomic analysis of disarticulated, partially complete, and complete skeletons from the Early Mesolithic site of Pupićina, and the Late Mesolithic site of Vela Spila, Croatia, providing new insights into Mesolithic burial rites. This involved analysis of the skeletal modifications that occurred from the time of death until retrieval, drawing upon techniques developed in zooarchaeology and forensic science. This research highlights that, in order to understand human remains in the Mesolithic, traditional approaches to burial do not suffice. Instead, we must reconstruct taphonomic histories of human bones to gain deeper insight into Mesolithic body treatment and the social implications of this.
At the beginning of the thirteenth century BC, with the Natufian culture, permanent settlements e... more At the beginning of the thirteenth century BC, with the Natufian culture, permanent settlements emerged in the Near East, together with a drastic increase in the number of burials. The latter have been discovered in the immediate vicinity of houses, or, alternatively, in the remains of abandoned structures. About 500 Natufian skeletons have been unearthed since 1928. In the last two decades, researchers have viewed these burials through the lens of archaeothanatology in the field as well as in laboratory work that combines osteological study and archive investigation. This type of approach has permitted retrieval of common cultural constants from site-specific observations in order to clarify the relationship between houses and burials and to refine understandings of social behaviours. Moreover, it reveals previously unknown aspects of burial treatment, including pre-and post-depositional handling. Within a synthetic framework, case studies will be presented in order to share methodological aspects and to chart developments in archaeothanatological applications.
Situated along the bank of the Danube River in Serbia, the sites of Vlasac, Lepenski Vir, Padina ... more Situated along the bank of the Danube River in Serbia, the sites of Vlasac, Lepenski Vir, Padina and Hajdučka Vodenica are wellknown
for their unique architecture, sculptured boulders, and large intramural data set; with extensive archaeological sequences
documenting the period leading up to, and during, the transition to agriculture (c. 9,500–5,500 cal BC). Disarticulated human
bone deposits have ubiquitously been found alongside articulated inhumations and in a number of differing contexts (houses, pits,
graves, or scattered). ese deposits have only been subjected to traditional funerary archaeological approaches into either biological aspects of the skeleton (such as age, sex, and isotopes) or the burial context (e.g. Radovanović 1996), while the few suggestions
of funerary practices involving body disarticulation have not been combined with sufficient scientific rigour. is paper presents
the results of taphonomic analysis of disarticulated, fragmented and isolated human remains, in order to understand the constitution
of these assemblages and to reconstruct the post-mortem manipulation of bodies. Results indicate that funerary practices
were variable, and engagement with corpses was temporally extended. A number of human bones were furthermore intended to be visible during day-to-day life, one possibly as a decorative item.
References:Radovanović, I. 1996. e Iron Gates Mesolithic. International Monographs in Prehistory, Archaeological Series 11. Ann Arbour, Michigan.
This paper provides an introduction to my PhD research, which through the use of taphonomic analy... more This paper provides an introduction to my PhD research, which through the use of taphonomic analysis aims to reconstruct secondary burial practices from the Mesolithic (hunter-gatherers) through to the Neolithic (farmers) in the Danube Gorges, Serbia (c. 9,500–5,500 cal BC). The sites of Lepenski Vir, Vlasac, Padina and Hadjučka Vodenica provide extensive archaeological sequences documenting the phases immediately preceding, and during, the arrival of Neolithic material culture, as well as a large mortuary data set (c. 500 burials).
Traditionally in funerary archaeology, investigation into the funerary process is neglected and primacy has been given to complete (‘normative’) inhumations. However, the funerary rites that occur from the moment of death until the final deposition of a dead body are extremely socially salient; the choices made in order to deal with the inevitable aspects of decay and decomposition are culturally significant and are temporally extended. Additionally, burial practices in the past are various and diverse, and often human remains are found commingled, fragmented, and isolated in both funerary and habitiation contexts.
The Danube Gorges is not an exception to this, as fragmented and disarticulated remains are ubiquitous (and yet understudied) in both funerary and house contexts from Mesolithic and Neolithic sequences. Taphonomic analysis—the examination of skeletal modifications that have occurred (such as weathering, cut marks, burning) from the time of death until retrieval—allows the cultural formation processes (i.e. funerary rites) of a bone assemblage to be separated out from the natural (i.e. disturbance). Using this methodology, past funerary practices in the Danube Gorges can be interpreted and placed within a significant temporal framework (that of the shift to agriculture).
This paper presents the background to my PhD research, introduces examples of post-mortem modifications of the dead from preliminary analysis and provides some tentative explanations for secondary burial in the Danube Gorges Mesolithic and Neolithic.
The Archaeological Review from Cambridge is a bi-annual journal of archaeology. It is run on a no... more The Archaeological Review from Cambridge is a bi-annual journal of archaeology. It is run on a non-profit, voluntary basis by postgraduate research students at the University of Cambridge.