Mortuary Archaeology & Bioarchaeology Flashcards
1
Q
Treatments of the Dead
A
- buried underground (scaffold, water burials)
- cremation or mummification
- how is the body treated
- what is in the grave
- positioning of the body
2
Q
Rituals of Death
A
- are rites of passage
- the individual who died and their community are transformed at time of death
- relationships are reformed (between people, and between people and the universe)
3
Q
Ontario System for Discovered Remains
A
- illegal to excavate burials of any age without an archaeological license
- excavations only occur in the context of Burial Site Investigations that have been ordered by the Registrar of Burials OR when cemeteries must be moved
- we no longer undertake excavations of cemeteries “for scientific purposes”
4
Q
Burial Site Investigations (BSI)
A
occur when human bone is accidentally uncovered and it is necessary to find out more to make an informed decision about what should happen to the ancestor
5
Q
Determining age at Death
A
structures related to growth develop at similar ages
ex. loss of incisors (front teeth) occurs at about 6 years of age for human children
6
Q
Age at Death (Teeth)
A
- dental eruption
- closure of the roots
- layers of cementum on the roots
- growth lines on enamel
7
Q
Age at Death (Bones)
A
fusion of the epiphyses (cap at end of bone) on the long bones
8
Q
Bone Microstructures: Histology
A
- circular structures (osteons) change over the course of life
- more of them
- extend to the end of the bone
9
Q
Determining Sex
A
- pelvis wider in females
- male bones are larger, more significant muscle markings than females
- teeth is most reliable than skeletons when determining sex of children
10
Q
Palaeopathology
A
- study of ancient diseases from ancient bones
- long-term disease can leave marks on bone
- dental disease can be an indication of diet
11
Q
Ancient DNA (aDNA)
A
- analysis is different than for modern DNA
- can be used to investigate questions such as migrations and genetic diversity within populations
12
Q
Stable Isotope Analysis
A
can determine what people ate from DNA
13
Q
Harris Lines
A
indicate disease or malnutrition on bones
