Bioarchaeology

Question 1

Why do we study human remains

Answer 1

They are a unique way to learn and understand the biology and behaviour of past humans
They aren’t valueless as they aid in political things and our spiritual world

Question 2

Defn of ethics

Answer 2

Principles (of human conduct) that govern human behaviour

Question 3

Why does ethics matter in archaeology

Answer 3

Human remains need to be treated with dignity and respect too

Question 4

Prestwich

Answer 4

• initial location : Cobern street 1994 later 2003
  -rescue excavation : Alan morris
  -demographics of buried: 2000+ ppl who did not belong to the DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH in 18th
  -artefacts: buried with English coin over eye

Question 5

Pot burials

Answer 5

Demographics: infants
Location : homestead
Artefact? None
Symbolism and ritual of life and death

Question 6

Defn of bioarchaeology

Answer 6

Archaeology of human skeletal remains

Question 7

Defn demographics

Answer 7

Quantify human pop traits

Question 8

Sex determination as a demographic (sex vs gender; Defn sex; when can sex be determined and from which skeletal elements)

Answer 8

Sex and gender = gender: how you identify yourself socially
Sex: how you are identified biologically
Sex Is determined ONLY AFTER PUBERTY from skull and pelvis (sciatic notch; pelvis rim; subpubic angle)

Question 9

Age estimation as a demographic (4 parts used to determine age)

Answer 9

Dentition (wear and pattern)
Cranial sutures
Epiphyseal closures
Surface of pubic symphysis & auricular surface of pelvis

Question 10

Why is the sternal end of a rib NOT COMMONLY used to determine age in archaeology and what parts are looked at

Answer 10

Hard to preserve & pos identification of the fourth rib

Pit depth and shape & rim wall and how it’s configured

Question 11

What is stature estimation (as a demographic)

Answer 11

Trying to measure one’s actual height using skeletal dimensions

Question 12

Ways to estimate stature

Answer 12

1. Measure all bones that contribute to one’s stature , + them, correct soft tissue that’s missing
2. Take the measurements of a complete bone and use the regression formula

Question 13

Defn ancestry/morphological variation

Answer 13

Physical difference in human pop

Question 14

Why is the term race problematic

Answer 14

-too simple 4 complexities of ancestry
-too closely associated to colonialism and bigotry (ppls opinions)

Question 15

What does ancestry relate to (SHSHS)

Answer 15

Skin colour
Hair texture
Stature and other post cranial morphometrics(features)
How susceptible one is to certain diseases
Skull morphology

Question 16

4 ancestry groups

Answer 16

Caucasoid
African
Asian
Australoid

Question 17

Since ancestry is defined on discrete morphology…Name 3 discrete morphologies that relate to ancestry

Answer 17

Nasal aperture form
Orbit shape
Alveolar prognathism

Question 18

What else is ancestry defined on

Answer 18

Metric assessment of size and shape

Question 19

Arguments against ancestry and what’s its based on

Answer 19

Polytypic physician traits
Skull morphology doesn’t relate to skin colour
Race is political
Skin colour doesn’t relate to ancestry at all

Question 20

Body shape and ancestry

Answer 20

Desert ppl = tall (cooling) and thin
North latitude ppl= short (conserve heat)
Isolated ppl eg Khoi san = steatopygia (fat ass)
Asian (epicanthic fold aka china eyes (slanty eyes))

Question 21

What did agro pastoralism do on pop demographics

Answer 21

Change in diet , health, anatomy
Increased disease , trauma and deficiencies , avg height

Question 22

Disease related to ancestry and those that ARE NOT RELATED

Answer 22

Lactose intolerance
Sickle cell anemia

NOT RELATED = steatopygia and epicanthic fold

Question 23

Dental pathology and why it’s useful in archaeology

Answer 23

Caries caused by excess carbs (sugar)
It can be used to tell us the diet of the person