Burnt Bones Research Articles

Cremated Burial at the Trypillia Culture Fortified Settlement Myrohoshcha 15

Among Trypillian culture subject matter issues, the settlement structures of the late stage C-II are of great importance. Recent discovery of such settlements within Volyn Upland allows providing full comparisons of geographically large groups and multi-vector analysis. During the excavation of the Trypillian settlement Mirohoshcha 15 (Dubenskyi district, Rivne region) by A. Bardetskyi and D. Verteletskyi in 2017 a segment of the defensive moat was investigated. In its northern part, a cremation burial was found, which was at a depth of 1.75 m. As a result of geomagnetic surveys conducted by M. Pshybyla, the presence of an annular moat was confirmed. Cremated bones were located between the parts of two bowls stacked on top of each other, and in the immediate vicinity of them. One of the bowls is hemispherical, with a dark gray burnt surface of moderate preservation. The diameter of the rim is 43—45 cm, the wall thickness is from 1.0 to 1.2 cm, with a significant admixture of chamotte of medium granulation in the molding material (Fig. 6). A fragment of another bowl has a light orange surface of good preservation, the diameter of the rim is 40—43 cm, the wall thickness is 0.7—1.2 cm, with a similar molding material technology. Similar vessels are found at the monuments of Volyn Upland, and are also known in the interfluve of the Dniester and the Prut rivers and are typical for the Kasperovtsy-Gordinesti group: Polivanov Iar, Zveniachin-Karier, Tsviklivtsi, Gordinesti. The date of 4450 ± 35 BP was established by radiocarbon dating of the animal bone fragment, the calibrated value is 3337—2939 BC (OxCal v.4.2.3). This Trypillian burial is unique, its complete analogies haven’t been known yet. According to the anthropological examination, the burned bone remains (more than 1639 fragments) belonged to an adult person. Their total weight is 477 g. These fragments represent almost all parts of the human skeleton, which were buried in a mixed state. The color of the burned bones varies from shades of gray to white, which indicates the effect of different temperatures on various parts of the skeleton. In the head area, the burning temperature was 500—700 degrees, and in the location of the limbs and trunk it ranged from 600 to 900 degrees. The fragments studied indicate the small size and general grace of the bones of the skull and limbs. Presumably the burial belonged to a woman. No pronounced signs of senile and pathological changes or injuries were revealed on her bones. The age of a cremated woman is determined within the limits of adultus-maturus (25—45 years). Among the filling materials, not burnt faunal bone remains were also found, which are obviously traces of funeral feast or sacrifices of domestic animals.

Customs, rites, and sacrifices relating to a mortuary complex in Late Bronze Age Mongolia (Tsatsyn Ereg, Arkhangai)

Deer stone and khirigsuur complexes are monuments that are characteristic of the Late Bronze Age (1200-700 BC) of the steppes of central and northern Mongolia. The khirigsuurs are made up of a large central mound around which are distributed peripheral structures: mounds and circles of stones. The peripheral mounds cover heads, vertebrae and phalanges of horses. At the centre of the circles of stones, the deposits consist of the burnt bones of caprines. This article discusses the ingredients that will allow us to better understand the gestures performed as part of the activities around the ritual monuments at Tsatsyn Ereg (Mongolia). The presence in certain mounds of a cranium and mandibles belonging to two different individuals reveals that the explanation for the horse deposits is more complicated than a simple action of in situ sacrifice. Analysis of age at death reveals that elderly animals are numerous. Males form a strong majority. The analysis of the almost 12 000 calcined remains recovered from the circles reveals that teeth and feet of caprines are disproportionately represented. The paper links the circles of stones that delimit the fireplaces with the action of purification. For the khirigsuur B10, the analysis of the alignment of the mounds and the stone circles and the orientation of the horses gives the impression of a herd of horses taking or pulling the deceased towards the rising sun. The communal aspect of the activities conducted around these large tombs is evident. We perceive all of the complexity of the deer stone and khirigsuur (DSK) phenomenon, which is simultaneously social and religious.

Cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix proteins resist the burning of bones

Due the proteins from bone remains are highly resistant to pass of time and environmental conditions, they could tell us about the events that probably happened in the past. In the forensic and physical anthropology context, burnt bone remains are one of the most common pieces of recovered evidence and, generally, they are associated with funerary practices, criminal scenes or massive catastrophic events. In the present study, bone pieces of pigs were calcined at different calcination temperatures, and proteins were searched using biochemical, immunochemical and ultrastructure visualization under these experimentally conditions. For this purpose, it was successfully developed a non-demineralizing protein extraction method from burnt bone remains and the use of specific antibodies permitted the identification of different extracellular matrix and intracellular proteins. While collagen proteins type I and IV were identified and detected under middle and high calcination temperatures (300°C and 600°C); cytoskeletal proteins as actin, tubulin and, the microtubule associated protein Tau, were found under calcination process, even up high calcination temperatures. Under ultrastructural analysis, fibrous materials with a classical disposition of collagens were observed even at high calcination temperatures of the burnt bone remains. The protein identification and characterization in burnt bones as performed in present studies, is clearly demonstrating that using specific strategies for protein characterizations it is possible to found protein biomarkers in burnt bone remains and this strategy could be useful for forensic and anthropological purposes.

Vitrified wood charcoal and burnt bones from the pre-Hispanic site of Chasogo (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain)

Anthracological analyses from the highlands of Tenerife, known as Las Cañadas del Teide, are still very scarce and little is known about the diversity of human practices in this area. Thanks to accurate archaeological fieldwork at Chasogo, an indigenous site located at almost 2000 m a.s.l., it has been possible to recover a large amount of vitrified wood charcoal fragments and burnt faunal remains from a specific structure. Previous experimental work aimed at increasing our understanding of the phenomenon of vitrification has not reached the refractive rates observed in many charcoal assemblages from archaeological contexts such as Chasogo. Wood charcoal analysis indicates the predominance of the Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) suggesting a closer location of extensive pine forests during the pre-Hispanic period. The combination of spatial analyses of the anthracological and faunal remains from the structure studied are presented here, contributing to the discussion regarding the possible causes of vitrification and suggesting some working hypotheses for future analyses, i.e. a prior biological degradation (the state of the wood used) and the combustion of high proportions of resin and/or fresh bones (sudden changes in the combustion conditions). These results suggest that it is essential to integrate the anthracological remains and their micromorphological signatures into the general archaeological discussion in order to understand the nature and human use of this pre-Hispanic structure.

Funerary customs of Golasecca Culture

Both M. Primas in 1970 and the Author in 1988 argued that within the Golasecca culture three cultural facies were recognizable: Como, Golasecca, Sopraceneri including Mesolcina. On the basis of the available data then it could be said that in the first two facies the exclusive funerary rite was cremation, while to the north of the Monte Ceneri gradually passed from cremation to biritualism and finally to inhumation as an exclusive funeral rite. Recently the thesis was presented that in the Golasecca facies also inhumation tombs were present. According to Gambari, two pit tombs of the necropolis of Pombia, the t. 12/1995 and the t. 15/1995, would be interpreted as childhood or adolescence inhumation graves. In the complete absence of skeletal remains, the hypothesis was formulated solely on the basis of the pit size, which was not exceptional. According to Grassi and Mangani four pit tombs of the necropolis of Monsorino di Golasecca would always be inhumations exclusively on the basis of the pit size. The Author rejects these interpretations as unfounded. First of all, in the absence of skeletal remains due to the strong acidity of the soil, two hypotheses can be taken into consideration: the inhumation or the rite of spreading the burnt bones on the bottom of the tomb. The analysis of the grave goods indicates as likely the second hypothesis. For example in the tomb 12/1995 there is a fragment of a broken and bent pin. De-functionalization in accordance with ritual norms is characteristic of cremation tombs. In the necropolis of Pombia two tombs, the 4/1995 and the 7/1995, have a size comparable to those considered to be inhumations, but burnt bones were discovered in them, thus confirming the ritual of spreading the ashes on the bottom of the tomb. In the tomb 39 of Monsorino a beaker with a globular body and distinct neck has the ribbon handle removed with a clean cut both to the upper and lower attachment, according to a ritual norm typical of the Golasecca culture when a pot is used as a container for the burnt bones, also in the same grave the metal objects have been discovered towards one end of the pit, but if it were an inhumation tomb the bronze belt-plate should be in the center of the pit. Grassi, Mangani and Voltolini argue that the grave of the Tripod from Sesto Calende-Bellaria would have been an inhumation burial, relying on the position of the objects, moreover they believe that the tomb would have had a bottom entirely covered with wooden planks and also a covering of wooden planks and it would never have been subject to violation with removal of the slab cover and part of the grave-goods. The author presents the excavation data, some of which are still unpublished, which clearly demonstrate the violation of the tomb and the unreliability of the reconstruction proposed by Grassi, Mangani and Voltolini. Since no rest of the skeleton has been preserved, one must think of its complete dissolution due to the nature of the soil, too acidic, but this fact is denied by the preservation of animal bones in one of the cups. Furthermore, in the NE corner of the tomb the body of a small leech fibula was found, devoid of spring, and catch-plate, all deformed by thermal effect, evidently coming from the funerary pyre. The arrangement of the materials is incompatible with the hypothesis of an inhumation, in particular an iron spit was found mixed with the chains of the long pendant / breastplate. Grassi, Mangani and Voltolini believe that the incontrovertible proof of the existence of inhumation burials in the facies of Golasecca and Como are two tombs from the small necropolis of Urago d’Oglio, dated to the second half of the fifth century and attributed to the Golasecca culture. This thesis is the result of a series of macroscopic typological classification, dating and cultural background mistakes. In fact, four cremation graves can be dated to the end of the sixth century, while two inhumations date back to the La Tene B (fourth century BC) and must be attributed to the Cisalpine Gauls.

Archeozoology and taphonomy of bird remains from Grotta di Castelcivita (Salerno, Italy) and clues for human-bird interactions

Grotta di Castelcivita (Campania, Southern Italy) is a cave-site containing a key archaeological sequence for the study of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Southern Italy. A Late Mousterian occupation, whose modelled dates span from 47.6 to 41.1 ka cal BP, is followed by layers bearing evidence of the Uluzzian techno-complex, which underlie an articulated Protoaurignacian sequence. The prehistoric deposit is sealed by volcanic sediments attributed to the Campanian Ignimbrite (dated to 39.85 ± 0.14 ka BP), which represent a terminus ante quem for the Palaeolithic occupation of the cave. We present here the study of the avifauna collected during the excavations carried out at Castelcivita by the University of Siena in the years 1975–88. The examined sample is composed of 631 specimens, out of which 486 have been identified according to species, genus, family or order. Bird remains belong to 36 species and at least to 175 individuals. In the Late Mousterian the abundance of species adapted to open environments indicates a cool-temperate climate; water birds, and wood and forest birds are present as well. During the Uluzzian a shift towards colder climatic conditions is testified by the increase in steppe grassland species. In the Protoaurignacian the presence of birds of open and dry environments is more marked, even if climate seems to shift toward milder conditions at the end of this phase. Taphonomic analyses have provided significant evidence for the exploitation of birds by humans across the whole sequence. Clues of human activity on bird remains are attested both in the Mousterian and, more rarely, in the Protoaurignacian by traces, possibly indicating the intentional removal of feathers (in the Mousterian) and other kinds of carcass manipulation. The Uluzzian sample is the richest in human modifications. Some of them are related to an interest for feathers (on Pyrrhocorax graculus, Falco subbuteo and an Accipitriformes of large size). Other modifications (fresh bone fractures, burnt bones, peeling, arrachement) testify to carcass treatments of Galliformes, Anseriformes, Columbiformes, Charadriiformes and Passeriformes. In the Protoaurignacian traces due to anthropogenic activity are rare and there is an increase in bone modifications caused by carnivores. Results allow us to assume that at Castelcivita humans consistently hunted birds for several purposes and exploited (especially during the Uluzzian) some species to acquire an exclusive and ethnographically well-documented resource such as feathers.

Underground transfer of carbonised organic residues to lithics during preliminary fire experiments: implications for archaeology

Using fire experiments, we investigate claims that black organic residues on lithics found in Stone Age sites are markers for heat treatment of rocks in the embers of aboveground wood fires. We buried sedges overlain with lithics and bone to replicate plant bedding sometimes found in archaeological sites. Small fires were lit over the material buried under a mixture of coarse- and medium-grained sand. Black carbonised residues formed on several lithics that were in direct contact with buried sedges that burned below the fire. FTIR, Raman and preliminary GC–MS measurements were made on dried and burnt sedge, burnt bone, and on a prominent black residue that formed on one quartz piece that had been in contact with buried fresh sedge when it was heated. Importantly, we were able to confirm the spontaneous and accidental transfer of organic compounds to lithics buried and heated underground in the presence of plant material. This means that carbonised organic residues are not useful markers for determining whether heat treatment of rocks took place above or below ground. Our preliminary experiments imply that further work should be done to investigate the causes of the residues formed on lithics underground.

Middle Stone Age humans in high-altitude Africa

Paleoanthropology Recent archaeological research has produced evidence of the earliest human occupation of high-altitude habitats in the Andes and the Tibetan Plateau. Ossendorf et al. now present the oldest evidence of human settlement and adaptation to areas above 4000-meter elevation in Africa (see the Perspective by Aldenderfer). Their excavations at a rock shelter in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia reveal obsidian artifacts and faunal remains, including abundant burnt bones, mostly of giant mole-rats. The findings reveal the environmental conditions and show how Late Pleistocene humans adapted to the harsh environments of these glaciated high-altitude African landscapes. Science , this issue p. [583][1]; see also p. [541][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aaw8942 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aay2334

Middle Stone Age foragers resided in high elevations of the glaciated Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Studies of early human settlement in alpine environments provide insights into human physiological, genetic, and cultural adaptation potentials. Although Late and even Middle Pleistocene human presence has been recently documented on the Tibetan Plateau, little is known regarding the nature and context of early persistent human settlement in high elevations. Here, we report the earliest evidence of a prehistoric high-altitude residential site. Located in Africa's largest alpine ecosystem, the repeated occupation of Fincha Habera rock shelter is dated to 47 to 31 thousand years ago. The available resources in cold and glaciated environments included the exploitation of an endemic rodent as a key food source, and this played a pivotal role in facilitating the occupation of this site by Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers.

Non-invasive reflection FTIR characterization of archaeological burnt bones: Reference database and case studies

Abstract To better understand and interpret archaeological bone remains, knowledge of thermally induced changes that can be a consequence of cooking or mortuary practices in past cultures are of extreme importance. Due to the high value of the remains, the methods that require no sampling or no sample manipulation should deserve special attention. For that purpose non-invasive spectroscopic analytical research has been carried out on experimentally heated bones to examine their chemical composition, which may represent a starting point for understanding the conservation status of heated bones and the effects of temperature on the detected chemical changes. Total reflection FTIR spectra collected on experimentally heated bones were due to competition of specular and diffuse reflectance phenomena distorted. In the lower spectral region, where specular reflection prevails, the Kramers–Kronig (KK) operation was applied. Derivative-like bands were successfully corrected with the KK operation. However, the most significant band of νs (PO43−) was inverted by the reststrahlen effect in almost all reflection spectra wherein the KK operation fails. Signals in the spectral region of overtones, combination bands, and OH stretching vibrations were enhanced due to domination of volume reflection and represent additional information about chemical composition and changes that occur during the processes of thermal bone degradation. The created reference database contains crucial information about the chemical composition of heated bones and can represent an important tool for non-invasive characterisation of excavated bone materials. Vibrational characterization of heated bones by means of total reflection FTIR spectroscopy with the KK operation was verified for the first time on cremated human remains excavated from three Slovenian archaeological sites of different chronological age and cultural context.

The preburning condition of Chalcolithic cremated human remains from the Perdigões enclosures (Portugal)

AbstractThe Iberian Chalcolithic displayed a remarkable variety of funerary practices, which has been related to interpopulation differences, intrapopulation social‐cultural differences, and complex multistage funerary rituals. Perdigões, a Chalcolithic set of ditched enclosures, reflects such diversity including a wide array of funerary practices. Among those practices is cremation, which, despite relatively rare, is represented in different structures in Perdigões. One of these structures (Pit 40) presents an unparalleled high minimum number of individuals (n = 240), contrasting with nearby and coeval structures. In this study, we analyse heat‐induced bone changes and other archaeothanatological variables to tentatively assess the preburning condition of the human remains. The results of Pit 40 are also compared with other comparable contexts to assess if this unique context presents further funerary differences relative to those other contexts in, for example, body processing. Our results suggest preferential cremation of fleshed human remains, but burning of at least a minority of skeletonised remains and deposition of possibly unburned remains also likely occurred. Body processing appears to be comparable with that of the cremation contexts of Perdigões but contrasts with that of another nearby context (Dolmen of Olival da Pega 2b) in which burned bones were also found.

Stone Age fishing strategies in a dynamic river landscape: Evidence from Veksa 3, Northwest Russia

The role of fishing in Stone Age hunter-gatherer societies of the European forest zone has been gaining importance as a research question over the last years. In order to better understand temporal developments in the role of fishing, changing strategies and their connection to environmental conditions, the study of multi-period stratified site holds good potential for working out a sound empirical basis. Multidisciplinary investigations at the site of Veksa 3 in northwestern Russia have substantially increased our understanding on the development of subsistence strategies of Stone and Early Metal Age populations in this region and on the changing role fishing played in this. For the Early Neolithic period (ca. mid-6th to early 5th mill. cal BC) evidence was gained from seasonal settlement remains within floodplain sediments at the bank of the river Vologda. Fish remains within the settlement structures represent kitchen remains (burnt bones) and processing debris (fish scales) with the dominant species being pike and cyprinids. The only evidence for fishing techniques are bone fish hooks which typologically are linked to Late Mesolithic practices in Northwest Russia. Isotopic analyses of ceramic food crusts attest to an increasing importance of pottery vessels in fish processing from the Early to the Middle Neolithic. For the Late Neolithic and the Early Metal Age period, almost one thousand years of intense regular use of the shallow water area east of the modern Veksa mouth for fishing with stationary constructions is attested to by rich waterlogged in situ remains. The wooden constructions encompass thousands of archaeological timbers, many of them upstanding posts with pointed ends, and several lath screens representing fich fences and fish traps, six of which have been excavated. Radiocarbon datings place the constructions within a time frame between the second half of the 4th and the third quarter of the 3rd millennium cal BC. They are associated with the lacustrine, shallow water phase identified in the palaeoenvironmental studies before the regime at this place changed to a fluvial character.

Establishment of sexual origin of bones exposed to high temperatures in the forensic identification of the victims

The objective of the paper was to describe the experience of the authors of the experimental study of burned bones with the purpose of determining the sex of bone remains exposed to high temperature during the identification of the deceased.Material and methods. All long tubular bones of people aged 20 (that is, after the closure of growth zones) to 92 years were selected as the material for experimental studies.Conclusions. The conducted research has shown the possibility of establishing the sex of long tubular bones by individual fragments or characteristics based on a five-interval estimation of the numerical values of the selected characteristics. The precision solution to the problem increases with the use of several characteristics of one bone.

The origin of smectite in the soil of the Kruger 2 archaeological site, Brompton (Québec), Canada

AbstractKruger 2 is unique among Late Paleoindian sites of eastern Canada because of the presence of a potential hearth (feature #1) characterized by a concentration of blackened fire‐cracked rock and burnt bone embedded in a thick Ae horizon. Comparative mineralogical analysis (X‐ray diffraction) of Ae samples collected inside and outside the feature reveal the absence of calcite and apatite, two minerals commonly found in ashes, and the presence of smectite in the Ae inside feature #1. Smectite genesis is attributed to the weathering of mica and chlorite under geochemical conditions (high base cations, Si and pH; low Al) that are unique in time and space. We hypothesize that these conditions were created by the dissolution, 10,000 years ago, of a layer of hearth ashes resting on an incipient soil. Results confirm the intense weathering of mica and chlorite. We also show that ash dissolution could generate the conditions for smectite formation in the presence of altered mica and chlorite, allowing the development of a chronology explaining this finding. The data largely support our hypothesis and constitute a strong basis for future investigations on the links between hearth ash weathering and smectite genesis in acidic soils.

A zoomorphic sickle terminal from the Natufian site of Wadi Hammeh 27 in Jordan

ABSTRACTExcavations at the Natufian site of Wadi Hammeh 27 in Jordan undertaken in 2014 led to the discovery of several new portable art pieces, including the representation of an ungulate mammal (RN 140226), probably intended as a gazelle, carved in the round from bone. The small object was extensively damaged by fire and had become separated at its neck from longer pieces of fragmented, burnt bone lying distally to it. This configuration and the style of the animal head leads us to interpret the piece as the decorated terminal of a bone sickle haft. The piece is unusual in that is it is one of the few figurative Natufian art pieces with incised geometric decoration added to its surface. Its finding extends the distribution of the ‘gazelle-headed’ sickle haft from Mount Carmel, where three well-known examples were unearthed in the early twentieth century, to the northern Jordan Valley. The piece adds to the limited repertoire of zoomorphically rendered Natufian artefacts associated with plant gathering and processing.

The comparison of DNA extraction techniques in human bone and tooth samples exposed to high heat

In the identification of forensic cases, it is critical to obtain information to identify the victimÂ’s identity from burnt bone and tooth remains. When bone and tooth are burned, both their physical and chemical properties change significantly, which prevents anthropological evaluations and successful DNA profiling for identification purposes. Heat causes difficulties in the identification techniques in which bones and teeth are used, depending on the degree of heat exposure. For this reason, with the changes occurring in bone and tooth during combustion, it is necessary to evaluate the results of observation and analysis, and to be used the information obtained in a certain order. It is very difficult to extract DNA from the samples obtained from fire, explosion, motor vehicle and aircraft accidents and other traumatic events by traditional methods. The only biological material available to determine the typing and the identification of missing persons or unknown remains in different situations, such as mass fatality events, wars or socio-political events, is often only human remains. Effective DNA extraction procedures are critical steps in successful DNA analysis of skeletal remains. Due to variations in DNA and heterogeneity within the bone, unfortunately, the only reliable method for obtaining DNA from overly degraded specimens such as burnt bones and teeth in the literature, is still not available. In the study, present extraction methods are compared and as a result it was suggested that phenol-chloroform and Qiagen DNA Mini Kit could be used in routine with a newly developed modified procedure in order to increase efficiency and efficiency in forensic genetic identification.

Rapport fra utgravning: "Fosslund" (g.nr. 16/1), Sør-Varanger k., Finnmark

Excavation report. Excavation of house-pit at "Fosslund" in Pasvik River Valley 2000, as part of PhD project. Trench through wall and floor, uncovering a fire-pit with clay (some possibly from vessels) and burnt bones and quartz. Some quartz scrapers and flakes in floor area. Radiocarbon dated to 405–205 BC and 200–35 BC.Related publication:Skandfer, M. 2012. " Change and Recollection: House Structures and Social Identification in Finnmark, Artic Norway 2400 BC - AD 300." In Damm, Charlotte and Saarikiivi, Janne (eds.): Networks, Interaction and Emerging Identities in Fennoscandia and Beyond. Papers from the Conference held in Tromsø, Norway, October 13-16 2009. Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura / Finno-Ugrian Society 2012 pp. 155-176 (2017-06-12)Related reports:http://doi.org/10.7557/7.4334http://doi.org/10.7557/7.4311http://doi.org/10.7557/7.4314http://doi.org/10.7557/7.4313

Combustion features from short-lived intermittent occupation at a 1300-year-old Coast Salish rock shelter, British Columbia: The microstratigraphic data

Short-lived occupation sites are the most common component of the archaeological record at the regional scale level, but are often underrepresented due to their low amount of cultural material and greater visibility of larger sites. Small ephemeral sites can however provide unique information regarding land and resource use, travel routes, harvesting practices, group size, food processing, ceremonial activities and chronology of occupation, especially in pre-urban societies. One of the most prominent proxies for short-lived occupation is combustion features, defined as accumulations of ash, burnt bones, heat-altered sediments and stone tools. These features provide insights into behavioral evolution, food consumption, settlement patterns and foraging strategies, and the preservation of the archaeological record. To obtain this information, a microscopic level of investigation is required in order to address the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of combustion features. We deployed such kind of microarchaeological approach to the study of combustion features at the DjRr-4 rock shelter along the Indian River, British Columbia, settled by Coast Salish peoples at least 1300 years ago. Using a combination of micromorphology of sediments, phytolith and diatom analysis, paleobotany, zooarchaeology, lithic analysis and radiocarbon dating, we were able to show that the shelter was used intermittently over short time spans as a base camp for hunting, likely as a station along a trail that connected the coast to interior regions. Our results are consistent with chronological data for the region and with the adoption of bow and arrow by Coast Salish peoples.

Determination of body length (height) in identifying an individual by scorched bone remains

On a significant experimental material, mathematically, a working formula and its coefficients for determining the length of the body for long tubular bones and their individual fragments of individual skeletons in females, males and in cases of undetermined sex, regardless of the degree of burning of bone tissue, is obtained. It is recommended that the results be used in the identification process for burned bone remnants. INTRODUCTION. When detecting bone remnants in fires or finding a large number of bone remnants in the cells of explosions, fires, etc., forensic examinations are appointed for the purpose of identifying dead persons. Identification in most of these cases is carried out mainly on a group basis, among which the definition of the height of the deceased person is also important. The principle of determination of height (body length) is based on the detection of the regular ratio of individual long bone tubes with body length [1, 2], or determination of the length of individual bones by their fragments, and according to their parameters, the length of the body was determined [ 3-5 ]. Based on the research conducted, the equations and tables recommended for use are compiled. GOAL. Development of the technique of studying the long tubular bones of the skeleton to determine the body length (height) of the deceased person for burned bone remnants. MATERIAL AND METHODS OF THE STUDY. The material of our experimental researches was selected long tubular bones of skeletons of people who died from traumatic causes in Zaporizhzhya region in the period from 1974 to 2002 and transferred to the department of forensic medicine after forensic investigation and the expiration of the specified shelf life. A total of 600 bones, 300 males and females have been studied. Conclusion. Our proposed method of studying burnt long tubular bones in order to determine the body length of a dead and dismembered person, allows us to solve this issue regardless of the degree of inflammation, by any of these characteristics of long tubular bones, or a combination thereof. The proposed method and the resulting formula allows determining the length of the body of the deceased person, also by native dry bones or their fragments

Uncovering the chemical secrets of burned bones

By examining burned bones, anthropologists can gather clues about how an ancient culture dealt with its dead or cooked its meat. In a new study, researchers report that Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy can not only differentiate bone burned in a fire from unburned bone, but can also distinguish between burned bone and fossilized bone (Anal. Chem. 2018, DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02868). David Goncalves of Portugal’s Directorate General for Cultural Heritage and colleagues applied their FTIR-based method on modern human bone samples burned experimentally at various temperatures, cremated human remains from Bronze and Iron Age burial sites, and fossilized bones of ancient reptiles. They found that a characteristic hydroxyl peak reliably identified bone burned at temperatures above 700 oC—indicative of direct exposure to fire—in both modern and ancient bone samples. Fossilized bone, by comparison, rarely showed the hydroxyl signal. Knowing the burn temperature of a bone sample provides informa...