ANTHROP 1AA3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Homicide, Tooth Loss, Pubic Arch
8 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Studying the Dead
What is Bioarchaeology?
- The study of the human skeleton in an
archaeological context
o Health
o Diet
o Habitual Activities
o Mobility
- Look for patterns within and between
populations
How do we look at health?
- Palaeopathology – study of health and
disease in past population
- Only those conditions that leave traces on
the skeleton
- Patterns of illness and disease – relate to
cultural aspects
o Sex
o Gender
o Age
o Status
o Time
Health – Nutritional Deficiencies
- Rickets: bending & fracture of bones caused
by lack of Vitamin D
o Caused by industrialization
o Second Epidemiological Transition
How Do we Look at Diet?
- Evidence on the teeth
o Tooth wear, abscess in a mandible,
dental calculus
- Dietary Change Over Time
o Increase in Caries caused by Maize
How do we look at Work? (e.g activity markers)
- Auditory Exostosis (bump in the ear canal)
o Caused by cold waters
- Squatting Facets (Habitual)
o Distal end of tibiae – extra facets
- Trauma
o Cut mark on vertebra (neck region)
o Blunt trauma to a skull
- Intentional Cultural Modifications
o Foot binding
o Trephination (ancient brain surgery)
o Mayan skull with dental inlays and
filing
Bioarchaeology
- Life in the past
- Patterns of diet
- Health
- Disease
- Explanatory Hypothesis
Process of Preservation
- Preservation affected by:
o Certain soils (sedimentary, volcanic
ash, sand)
o Chemical conditions (peat bogs)
o Climate Conditions (desert, water-
logged)
o Fossilization (fill, imprint)
Forensic Anthropology & Archaeology
- Process of Decomposition
o Breakdown & destruction of organic
tissues
o Autolysis – degeneration of body
tissues by digestive fluids
o Putrefaction – bacteria reproduce &
start to consume tissues, muscles,
etc....
- Factors Affecting Decomposition
o Most to lease important:
▪ Temperature
▪ Humidity
▪ Access by insects
▪ Burial & depth of burial (or
immersion in water)
▪ Carnivore & rodent activity
▪ Trauma
▪ Clothing
The Forensic Anthropologist
- PhD in Biological Anthropology
- Involved in research, recovery, and analysis
- Human remains that are:
o badly decomposed
o skeletonised
- Biological profile
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The study of the human skeleton in an archaeological context: health, diet, habitual activities, mobility. Look for patterns within and between populations. Palaeopathology study of health and disease in past population. Only those conditions that leave traces on the skeleton. Patterns of illness and disease relate to cultural aspects: sex, gender, age, status, time. Rickets: bending & fracture of bones caused by lack of vitamin d: caused by industrialization, second epidemiological transition. Evidence on the teeth: tooth wear, abscess in a mandible, dental calculus. Dietary change over time: increase in caries caused by maize. How do we look at work? (e. g activity markers) Auditory exostosis (bump in the ear canal: caused by cold waters. Squatting facets (habitual: distal end of tibiae extra facets. Trauma: cut mark on vertebra (neck region, blunt trauma to a skull. Intentional cultural modifications: foot binding, trephination (ancient brain surgery, mayan skull with dental inlays and filing.
