Suspect graveyard burial (South Armagh, N. Ireland): Combined search, forensic anthropology and radiocarbon dating (original) (raw)
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Journal of forensic and legal medicine, 2012
The case under analysis refers to the remains of a young adult female found in a shallow grave during the construction work of a hospital in Northern Portugal. The forensic interest of the finding could not be ruled out since distinguishing features pointing to an archaeological grave were lacking. For example, absence of archaeological artefacts could not establish its forensic significance with certainty, together with the absence of modern objects, such as remnants of clothing or personal objects. In addition, although the remains were badly preserved, the condition may not have resulted from a long postdepositional period, but instead could be explained by the geology of the site and the presence of plant roots. The radiocarbon analysis of the remains was meant to establish the death of the individual to before or after the mid-1950s, from comparison with bomb-curve content values. A value of 0.9789 AE 0.0044 for F 14 C (pmC ¼ 97.19 AE 0.44% Modern or D 14 C ¼ À28.1 AE 4.4&) was obtained, which placed the death of the individual in the pre-mod-1950s period. This report illustrates the use of radiocarbon analysis in establishing whether the human remains are contemporary or not and describes evidence for what appears to be an historic clandestine grave.
Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica, 2020
The dating of skeletal remains in archaeology is difficult, especially at findings without burial equipment. In this case, apart from literary and iconographic sources, anthropological and palaeopathological analyses, the radiocarbon dating method can also be used. We present an example where we used this procedure in the dating of the skeletal remains of an anonymous recent mass grave, found in the cellars of one of the houses in Brno (Czech Republic). On the basis of an assessment of the archaeological and anthropological context, in combination with radiocarbon dating, it could be concluded that the found skeletal remains were most likely of soldiers who died in the provisional military hospital as a result of injury or infection after the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. An alternative hypothesis, that they are the remains of soldiers who died in the Battle of Hradec Králové in 1866, was excluded by radiocarbon dating.
Radiocarbon dating human remains from Navan Fort, Co. Armagh
Journal of Irish Archaeology, 2023
This article presents a series of new radiocarbon dates aimed at resolving long-standing issues concerning the development of the complex of Navan Fort, Co. Armagh, and its wider context. These include radiocarbon dates for human remains from excavations at Site A and Site B and from the area of the quarry adjacent to Navan Fort. Iron Age, early medieval and post-medieval dates from these remains complicate previous assessments of the site and its development but add important new data for Navan and its long-term evolution. In particular, evidence for a funerary dimension to the immediate environs of Navan Fort now seems apparent, while further post-medieval activity within the enclosure of Navan Fort extends the chronology of the complex well into the second millennium AD. A date from a human clavicle recovered during excavations suggests the possibility of formal deposition on the cairn of Site B during the Iron Age and supports the suggestion that the cairn was a focus of activities for a considerable period prior to the construction of its turf mound. Together these dates add nuance to our understanding of the complex and its long-term development, but also raise many new issues concerning its medieval and later role.
Radiocarbon Analysis of Modern Skeletal Remains to Determine Year of Birth and Death—A Case Study
Radiocarbon, 2015
To aid in the development of a biological profile for human remains found in Collyhurst (Manchester, England), we undertook radiocarbon analysis of tooth enamel, tooth collagen, and bone collagen on behalf of the Greater Manchester Police. On the basis of the analyses of the teeth, we concluded that the person was born between 1950 and 1954, while on the basis of our analyses of cortical and trabecular bone we estimated the year of death to be between 1969 and 1974. This would make the maximum age range around 15 to 24 yr. Analyses of the dentition and other skeletal parameters can eliminate the younger part of the range, so an age of around 18 to 24 yr at death would seem most likely. The δ13C and δ15N values for the bone collagen were higher than would be expected for someone subsisting on a purely terrestrial diet, implying some consumption of marine resources, which could lead to reduced 14C activities. Taking any potential marine effect into account could reduce this age range ...
Radiocarbon Dating Cremated Bone: A Case Study Comparing Laboratory Methods
Radiocarbon, 2019
ABSTRACTRadiocarbon (14C) results on cremated bone are frequently published in high-ranking journals, but 14C laboratories employ different pretreatment methods as they have divergent perceptions of what sources of contaminants might be present. We found pretreatment protocols to vary significantly between three laboratories (Brussels [RICH], Kiel [KIA], and Groningen [CIO]), which all have a long history of dating cremated bone. We present a case study of 6 sets of replicate dates, to compare laboratory pretreatment protocols, and a further 16 sets of inter-laboratory replicate measurements, which compare specific steps of the conversion and measuring process. The 14C results showed dates to be reproducible between the laboratories and consistent with the expected archaeological chronology. We found that differences in pretreatment, conversion to CO2 and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurement to have no measurable influence on the majority of obtained results, suggesting t...
INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS OF RADIOCARBON DATING OF HUMAN REMAINS FROM NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
2016
This report relates to radiocarbon dating of a sample from a human skeleton encountered during an excavation at Nottingham Castle in 1978 and further investigated in 2016. The sample was submitted to the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, in May 2016, for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating. The radiocarbon dating aimed to verify or refute the belief that the individual was a casualty of the English Civil War. Prior to the radiocarbon dating it had been speculated that the individual may have been one of two men described in Memoirs of The Life of Colonel Hutchinson, written by Lucy Hutchinson, one of whom died during, and the second shortly after, a siege at Nottingham Castle in September 1643. This work was undertaken independent of an archaeological excavation in June 2016 to recover the remainder of the skeletal remains, although this work will complement the results of the excavation and contribute towards a larger research project to understand the burial, the individual and their role within the castle. During the excavations in 1978 and 2016 no conclusive dating evidence was found within the grave and therefore radiocarbon dating is considered the best means of dating the human remains. The results of the radiocarbon dating are complicated by the presence of a high marine/freshwater fish component in the individual’s diet. Such a diet impacts upon the proportions of nitrogen and oxygen within the isotopes and distorts the calibration of the date range. Initially the radiocarbon dating indicated the individual was not a Civil War casualty, having been buried before the outbreak of war. The results offered a timeframe of between 1445 and 1630 calAD (with 95.4% probability) with a higher likelihood (66.8% probability) that the individual was buried between 1445 and 1523 calAD and a 28.6% probability of burial between 1572 and 1630. However, making allowances for the effect of the diet, a revised calculation indicated the burial dated to between 1483 and 1647 (with 95.4% probability) with a higher likelihood (68.2% probability) that the individual was buried between 1520 and 1637 calAD. In conjunction with the known history of the castle, which was largely unoccupied in the early 17th century, save for victims of what was described as plague who lived in caves cut into the Castle Rock, until the Civil War, the burial would appear to be of very late medieval/early post-medieval date. Research into the diets and burial practices of soldiers during the Civil War also suggests it is unlikely the individual died during that period of conflict. Although an association with the Civil War cannot be ruled out, on statistical grounds the date of burial is weighted towards the late 15th/16th century. A circumstantial argument can be presented, on the basis of known documentary sources, to support this. It is hoped that detailed research of the available documentary evidence may shed further light upon the date and context of the burial.
In October 1992 dwing reclamation work on farmland a number of human burials were discovered near Mount Nugent, Co. Cavan. The site consisted of a low rise, approximately 2m above the surrounding surface and approximately 20m in diameter at the top. The bones were recovered at a depth of 0.15-0.2m when the bulldozer driver dug into the centre of the mound.
International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2014
A review of information that can be provided from measurements made on natural and anthropogenic radionuclide activities in human skeletal remains has been undertaken to establish what reliable information of forensic anthropological use can be obtained regarding years of birth and death (and hence post-mortem interval (PMI)). Of the anthropogenic radionuclides that have entered the environment, radiocarbon (14 C) can currently be used to generate the most useful and reliable information. Measurements on single bones can indicate whether or not the person died during the nuclear era, while recent research suggests that measurements on trabecular bone may, depending on the chronological age of the remains, provide estimates of year of death and hence PMI. Additionally, 14 C measurements made on different components of single teeth or on teeth formed at different times can provide estimates of year of birth to within 1-2 years of the true year. Of the other anthropogenic radionuclides, 90 Sr shows some promise but there are problems of (1) variations in activities between individuals, (2) relatively large analytical uncertainties and (3) diagenetic contamination. With respect to natural series radionuclides, it is concluded that there is no convincing evidence that 210 Pb dating can be used in a rigorous, quantitative fashion to establish a PMI. Similarly, for daughter/parent pairs such as 210 Po/ 210 Pb (from the 238 U decay series) and 228 Th/ 228 Ra (from the 232 Th decay series), the combination of analytical uncertainty and uncertainty in activity ratios at the point of death inevitably results in major uncertainty in any estimate of PMI. However, observation of the disequilibrium between these two daughter/parent pairs 41 could potentially be used in a qualitative way to support other 42 forensic evidence. Q1 43 44 48 at death is particularly important as an accurate assessment 49 will enable certain people to be eliminated from any missing 50 persons enquiry while conversely, it may serve to highlight 51 others that could require additional investigation. When deal-52 ing with the remains of juveniles, conventional determination 53 of age at death can achieve the levels of accuracy required by 54 the forensic anthropologist [1, 2]. However, age determination 55 of adult remains is significantly less accurate, particularly in 56 the post 40-year age range where the anthropologist is often 57 only able to make limited statements such as 'mature adult' 58 [3]. In adults, many procedures involving the examination of a 59 range of skeletal characteristics have been proposed but un-60 fortunately, most suffer from methodological bias and com-61 plex variability in the skeletal ageing process [4]. Even the 62 best skeletal-based methods are often limited to the identifi-63 cation of broad age groupings [5]. In addition, time between 64 death and discovery (post-mortem interval or PMI) can also be 65 important in any investigation of human remains. There are a 66 number of established techniques for estimating this but most 67 are for relatively short-term intervals. Limitations in accuracy 68 increase with increasing PMI and estimates based on bone 69 morphology are strongly influenced by site factors throughout 70 the PMI [6].