Burial Style Research Articles

Geophysical and botanical monitoring of simulated graves in a tropical rainforest, Colombia, South America

In most Latin American countries there are significant numbers of missing people and forced disappearances, currently ~80,000 only in Colombia. Successful detection of shallow buried human remains by forensic search teams is currently difficult in varying terrain and climates. Within this research we built four simulated clandestine burial styles in tropical rainforests, as this is a common scenario and depositional environment encountered in Latin America, to gain knowledge of optimum forensic geophysics detection techniques. The results of geophysically monitoring these burials using ground penetrating radar, magnetic susceptibility, bulk ground conductivity and electrical resistivity are presented from one to forty three weeks post-burial. Radar survey results with both the 250MHz and 500MHz frequency antennae showed good detection of modern simulated burials on 2D profiles and horizontal time slices but poor detection on the other simulated graves. Magnetic susceptibility, bulk ground conductivity and electrical resistivity results were generally poor at detecting the simulated targets. Observations of botanical variations on the test site show rapid regrowth of Malvaceae and Petiveria alliacea vegetation over all burials that are common in these forests, which can make detection more difficult.

Long-term Geophysical Monitoring of Simulated Clandestine Graves using Electrical and Ground Penetrating Radar Methods: 4-6 Years After Burial.

This ongoing monitoring study provides forensic search teams with systematic geophysical data over simulated clandestine graves for comparison to active cases. Simulated "wrapped," "naked," and "control" burials were created. Multiple geophysical surveys were collected over 6 years, here showing data from 4 to 6 years after burial. Electrical resistivity (twin electrode and ERI), multifrequency GPR, grave and background soil water were collected. Resistivity surveys revealed that the naked burial had low-resistivity anomalies up to year four but then difficult to image, whereas the wrapped burial had consistent large high-resistivity anomalies. GPR 110- to 900-MHz frequency surveys showed that the wrapped burial could be detected throughout, but the naked burial was either not detectable or poorly resolved. 225-MHz frequency GPR data were optimal. Soil water analyses showed decreasing (years 4 to 5) to background (year 6) conductivity values. Results suggest both resistivity and GPR surveying if burial style unknown, with winter to spring surveys optimal and increasingly important as time increases.

Preliminary results of sequential monitoring of simulated clandestine graves in Colombia, South America, using ground penetrating radar and botany

In most Latin American countries there are significant numbers of missing people and forced disappearances, 68,000 alone currently in Colombia. Successful detection of shallow buried human remains by forensic search teams is difficult in varying terrain and climates. This research has created three simulated clandestine burial styles at two different depths commonly encountered in Latin America to gain knowledge of optimum forensic geophysics detection techniques. Repeated monitoring of the graves post-burial was undertaken by ground penetrating radar. Radar survey 2D profile results show reasonable detection of ½ clothed pig cadavers up to 19 weeks of burial, with decreasing confidence after this time. Simulated burials using skeletonized human remains were not able to be imaged after 19 weeks of burial, with beheaded and burnt human remains not being able to be detected throughout the survey period. Horizontal radar time slices showed good early results up to 19 weeks of burial as more area was covered and bi-directional surveys were collected, but these decreased in amplitude over time. Deeper burials were all harder to image than shallower ones. Analysis of excavated soil found soil moisture content almost double compared to those reported from temperate climate studies. Vegetation variations over the simulated graves were also noted which would provide promising indicators for grave detection.

Excavation of the Yuyang Tomb of the Western Han Dynasty at Wangchengpo, Changsha, Hunan

AbstractIn 1993, archaeologists carried out a rescue excavation to the Yuyang Tomb situated to the west of Xianjia Lake in Changsha City, Hunan. The graveyard covers an area of more than 1ha. Surrounding the main burial pit were three outer burial pits arranged to the east, west, and south into a triangular plan. The main body is a vertical rock pit tomb with a ramp passage and wooden coffins. It is in a 甲-shaped plan with a length of 37m, composed of an earth mound, a tomb passage, and a tomb chamber. The burial style was

Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Yayoi period human skeletal remains from the Doigahama site

We analyzed the mitochondrial DNA extracted from 14 human skeletal remains from the Doigahama site in Japan to clarify the genetic structure of the Doigahama Yayoi population and the relationship between burial style and kinship among individuals. The sequence types obtained in this study were compared with those of the modern Japanese, northern Kyushu Yayoi and ancient Chinese populations. We found that the northern Kyushu Yayoi populations belonged to the groups that include most of the modern Japanese population. In contrast, most of the Doigahama Yayoi population belonged to the group that includes a small number of the modern Japanese population. These results suggest that the Doigahama Yayoi population might have contributed less to the formation of the modern Japanese population than the northern Kyushu Yayoi populations. Moreover, when we examined the kinship between individuals in the Doigahama site, we found that the vicinal burial of adult skeletons indicated a maternal kinship, although that of juvenile skeletons did not. The vicinal burial style might have been influenced by many factors, such as paternal lineages, periods and geographical regions, as well as maternal lineages. In addition, skeletons considered to be those of shamans or leaders had the same sequence types. Their crucial social roles may have been inherited through maternal lineage.

Characteristics and genetic mechanism of deep-buried clastic eureservoir in China

Systematic researches to the clastic reservoirs in various types and various geological ages basins in China indicate that the present burial depth of deep buried clastic eureservoir ranges from 3000 to 6000 m, and its geological ages from Paleozoic, Mesozoic to Cenozoic. It mainly deposited in delta (including braid delta, fan delta, normal delta), river, also shore, shallow lake, gravity flow channel and turbidity fan facies. The quartzose sandstone is the main reservoir rock of deep-buried clastic eureservoir in the shore facies in Paleozoic, but the arenite and arkose sandstones are the main reservoir rock types in delta, river, shallow lake and gravity flow facies in Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The porosity of most of deep-buried clastic eureservoir is more than 10% and permeability more than 10×10−3 μm2. The formation of the deep-buried eureservoir was related to the paleotectonics, paleotemperature, sedimentary environment, the deep dissolution caused by organic acid or carbonic acid, burial style, the abnormal high pore fluid pressure, early hydrocarbon charging, gyprock sealing, hot convective fluid flow and the mode of sand-mud interbedded, etc. The paleotectonics controls the burial style of sandstones, and the paleotemperature controls the diagenesis process. The sedimentary environment is the precondition and foundation, the dissolution is the direct reason to generate the deep buried clastic eureservoir. The abnormal high pore fluid pressure, gyprock sealing, the mode of sand-mud interbedded, early hydrocarbon charging and the structure fractures were the assistant factors of generating the deep buried clastic eureservoir.

Mortuary practices in Bam after the earthquake

On 26 December 2003, an earthquake in Bam, south-eastern Iran, resulted in an estimated death toll of 40,000. This article suggests that post-disaster burial practices provide alternative avenues for research, notably the changes in burial styles, grave markers and other material culture associated with burials. This article is the result of ethnoarchaeological research conducted on eight cemeteries in Bam, at intervals of 2, 6 and 17 months after the earthquake. The cemeteries chosen span a time period of 200 years prior to the disaster to 17 months after it, in order to track a wide range of long-term patterns. The post-disaster burial patterns are compared with those patterns prior to the disaster. We hope to demonstrate that the patterns present can be used to interpret burial practices under conditions such as natural disasters in archaeological contexts.

Evidence of ancient DNA reveals the first European lineage in Iron Age Central China

Various studies on ancient DNA have attempted to reconstruct population movement in Asia, with much interest focused on determining the arrival of European lineages in ancient East Asia. Here, we discuss our analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of human remains excavated from the Yu Hong tomb in Taiyuan, China, dated 1400 years ago. The burial style of this tomb is characteristic of Central Asia at that time. Our analysis shows that Yu Hong belonged to the haplogroup U5, one of the oldest western Eurasian-specific haplogroups, while his wife can be classified as haplogroup G, the type prevalent in East Asia. Our findings show that this man with European lineage arrived in Taiyuan approximately 1400 years ago, and most probably married a local woman. Haplogroup U5 was the first west Eurasian-specific lineage to be found in the central part of ancient China, and Taiyuan may be the easternmost location of the discovered remains of European lineage in ancient China.

英国における自然葬地運動とその制度的枠組の発生および発展プロセス

There has been an ongoing increase in the number of the burial in the U.K. since 1993, where burial and nature reserve are both regarded as main objectives. The movement towards this type of burial has multiple origins, which includes each independent effort by citizens and a naturalist social worker for Do-It-Yourself burials, and by a cemetery officer for an eco-friendlier and more cost-effective burial style. These efforts were integrated into a single movement by a group of psychotherapists as part of its search for an un-institutional style of death, under the consideration for environmental issues. The rapid progress of the movement was possible partly because of the absence of the general laws that regulate the burial activities by private parties. The government has started to consider the potential of a nationwide standard for burials and cemeteries, which may legalize the natural burial grounds and improve the currently unregulated management of them in future. In such governmental efforts the accumulation of expertise and the codes of practice developed by the private institutions have been playing considerable roles. To establish sustainable management strategies to maintain the sites healthy as both burial grounds and woodland is considered to be the case in point.

Status and gender differences in diet at Mound 72, Cahokia, revealed by isotopic analysis of bone

Cahokia Mound 72 contains 272 human burials dating to the Lohmann and early Stirling phases (ca. 1050–1150 AD) of the Mississippian period. Substantial status- and gender-related differences in burial style are apparent. Some burials are associated with large quantities of prestigious grave goods, suggesting high status. Mass graves of young adult females with skeletal indicators of poor health suggest low status and nutritional stress. Nitrogen isotope ratios of bone collagen show that high status individuals ate much more animal protein, but carbon isotope ratios of collagen suggest these individuals ate only ca. 10% less maize than lower status individuals. Apatite carbon isotopes show low status females ate ca. 60% more maize than high status individuals, which confirms the large nitrogen isotope difference of females in mass graves. These results indicate high and low status individuals had significantly different diet compositions and nutritional qualities. The stable isotope evidence supports paleopathological data for status-related differences in health, and dental morphological data for presumed genetic differences in origin. These data also provide insights into the nutrition- and health-related dimension of regional hierarchical organization of settlements and social inequality of this complex chiefdom in the greater Cahokia region.

Thermal modeling of convergent and extensional tectonic settings for the development of low‐grade metamorphism in the Welsh Basin

The Lower Paleozoic Welsh Basin of the U.K. Caledonides shows a metamorphic transition from zeolite to low‐greenschist facies for which there are two radically opposing models of development. The traditional model is of a syntectonic metamorphism associated with crustal thickening during basin inversion and cleavage development. The alternative model links the metamorphism not to traditional ideas of crustal thickening but to thermal anomalies associated with the extensional development of a back arc basin. These two models are tested by applying quantitative thermal modeling to crustal thickening and crustal extension tectonic settings specific to the Welsh Basin. This basin has a unique and very well constrained record of its stratigraphic, sedimentological, and chronologic histories that is used here to provide the framework from which the dynamics of crustal evolution can be modeled. Crustal thickening models suggest that a higher‐pressure facies series with a pumpellyite‐actinolite to greenschist facies transition should be dominant. In contrast, extensional modeling suggests that a low‐pressure fades with a transition from prehnite‐pumpellyite to greenschist facies should be dominant. The thermal evolution of the extensional setting is more compatible with the lower‐pressure metamorphic series that is recorded in metabasites as well as pelitic rocks of the region. The metamorphic evolution is regarded as developing initially as a burial style, which is then over printed by fabric development while at or near peak P‐T conditions, thus giving an apparent syntectonic style of metamorphism.

The Sidney Burial: A Middle Plains Archaic Mortuary Site from Western Nebraska

The remains of a Middle Archaic (radiocarbon dated to 2288 - 2466 B. C.) young adult male and an infant of indeterminate sex were discovered eroding from a road cut near Sidney, Nebraska, and excavated. Associated cultural materials included amazonite pendants that suggest trade routes and (along with fragments of a perforated turtle carapace) represent the earliest regional examples of ornamentation in direct association with a burial. The funerary items and burial style tenuously link the Sidney Burial (25CN55) with the Oxbow Complex, best represented in the northern Plains

A genetic study of 2,000‐year‐old human remains from Japan using mitochondrial DNA sequences

We present nucleotide sequence data for mitochondrial DNA extracted from ancient human skeletons of the Yayoi era (ca. 2,000 BP) excavated from the Takuta-Nishibun site in northern Kyushu of Japan. Nucleotide sequence diversity showed that the Yayoi people of the Takuta-Nishibun site were not a genetically homegeneous population. This site shows a diversity in the burial style. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a statistically significant correlation between burial style and the genetic background of the Takuta-Nishibun individuals, and revealed no discrete clusterig patterns for the Yayoi individuals, for early modern Ainu, or for the Jomon people.

Homer and Late Minoan Crete

It is well known that Evans was not greatly interested in what happened in Crete after the devastation of the Knossian Palace, an event he placed at the very end of his Late Minoan II period. In his view, the Palace was not immediately re-occupied: some time after the catastrophe of 1400, it was inhabited by ‘squatters’, who repaired some of the damaged parts of the building but for the most part simply cleared away the rubbish deposited at the time of the destruction and lived in the Palace without substantially altering it. Evans believed that after the end of the Palatial period at Knossos the main vigour of the Minoan civilisation flowed into its Mycenaean branch and was responsible for the Achaean hegemony of the fourteenth and thirteenth centuries. However, the settlements at Knossos and elsewhere in Crete still preserved, though in a muted form, basic elements of the venerable native culture. The contents of the tombs in the Zapher Papoura cemetery, in use both before and after the great destruction, showed that the continuity of Minoan burial customs and pottery styles was not arrested. Evans nowhere tried to resolve the paradox which confronts anyone who takes his view of Late Minoan III Crete. On the one hand, we have the picture of a more or less impoverished country which had lost most of its importance, lying outside the main developments of the Mycenaean world and above all preserving its own culture at a time when the rest of the Aegean had been absorbed into a Mycenaean koine. On the other hand, both the Iliad and the Odyssey speak of a well-populated island of many cities which provides, under the leadership of Idomeneus, one of the largest of the Greek contingents before Troy; nothing in Homer suggests that Idomeneus is not as thoroughly ‘Achaean’ as Agamemnon himself.