Burial Research Articles

A new laboratory‐based method to experimentally induce diagenetic modifications in human bone tissue using archaeological gravesoils

AbstractThe conditions of the burial environment trigger microstructural modifications and physical‐chemical changes in the bone, such as chemical dissolution, increase of crystallinity, chemical exchanges, collagen degradation and changes in porosity, hence to reproduce these patterns is a challenging task. This work presents a new method to accelerate the diagenetic processes in the laboratory. Artificial aging is obtained by immersion at 80°C in “enriched” solutions derived from the leaching of gravesoils, maintaining the same pH, for 1 month, on modern bones collected from an autopsy. Two distinct solutions from two graves of the necropolis of Travo (IT) (7th–8th century AD) were adopted. The induced damage patterns, on the bone microstructure and the organo‐mineral fraction, have been compared with those observed on buried skeletal elements from the same graves, by providing a multi‐analytical approach (BSE‐SEM, EMPA, FT‐IR, MP‐AES). Bioapatite parameters, such as crystallinity index and Ca/P molar ratio, evolved similarly and, in some cases, reached the same values of buried bones. Conversely, in the absence of microbial activity, the organic fraction better survived the artificial aging. For the same reason, the porosity due to bioerosion was absent in the artificially aged samples, whereas the biological pores and the post‐mortem fractures exhibited the same histomorphology. It is believed that the opportunity of reproducing the diagenetic changes by replicating the chemical environment of the burial site at the laboratory scale is of great interest to forensic science and archaeology (e.g., to reconstruct the burial environment).

Dietary changes seen through the isotope analysis of the La Tène burial site of Prosmyky (Bohemia, 4th-3rd century BCE)

Dietary reconstruction using carbon and nitrogen isotopes has been applied to the La Tène population buried at Prosmyky, a large cemetery of the 4th-3rd centuries BCE in northwest Bohemia. The analysis of bone collagen from 55 individuals showed a diet that did not differ noticeably from other contemporary sites in the region. However, chronologically sensitive development in diet, with gradually increasing δ13C values, was present, signifying a growing reliance on millet for sustenance through the cemetery’s lifespan. Moreover, a rather unusual higher δ15N in individuals older than ca. 30 years of age was also observed. Possible explanations are examined, along with a comparison with other published data from the region, suggesting the influence of regionally based developments that might be linked with the societal shifts that led towards the Late La Tène period.

Disputes over Burial Mountains

This article examines legal decisions in lineage property disputes from the Korean Empire period (1897–1910) to the first two decades of the Japanese colonial rule to trace the effect of Japanese efforts to implement property rights reforms in colonial Korea. Lineage properties were heavily concentrated in the mountains in the form of communal burial sites; thus, to ease acceptance of colonial rule, such Japanese objectives as forest cultivation needed to accommodate long-established Korean practices of mountain burial. In addition, Japanese perceptions of Koreans as primitively collective in their property relations led to initial suppression of the rights of heirs over lineage property. The colonial court's subsequent gradual and uneven invocation of the principle of exclusive individual property rights became a source of both legal and physical conflicts. The case of how lineage property rights were reorganized in colonial Korea shows the compromised nature of the colonial property regime as it sought to balance traditional claims and modern concepts of property ownership, with long-term consequences for property rights in Korea.

S. Stefano al Monte Celio, Donnchad mac Briain and papal legates in Ireland, 1064–1203

AbstractIn 1064, Donnchad mac Briain, son of Brian Bóroma and deposed claimant to the kingship of Ireland, went on pilgrimage to Rome, where he was buried in the important basilica and martyr shrine of S. Stefano Rotondo on the Caelian Hill. More than a century later, in the transformative period 1176–1203 which followed the English conquest of Ireland, the papal legati a latere sent with full legatine authority and jurisdiction in Ireland appear to have been drawn exclusively from the church of S. Stefano. This article first considers the circumstances and symbolism of Donnchad's pilgrimage and burial, alongside its long-term impact on Hiberno-Papal relations and on the papacy's conceptions of Irish sovereignty in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. It also explores the careers and missions of the cardinal priests and papal legates of S. Stefano to the peripheries of Latin Christendom in the long twelfth century, including at least one legate in Ireland, Gerard, who has hitherto awaited formal identification. Based on the legatine evidence, it suggests that in the decades of the English invasion, the papacy began using the burial site of the heir to arguably the last effective king of Ireland as part of a conscious and consistent rhetorical strategy, allowing it to dispose matters of sovereignty in Ireland.

墓誌에 기록된 百濟遺民의 入唐관련 서술에 대한 검토

Research on the Baekje Refugees in Tang China has been conducted using their epitaph tablet text (墓誌) as important data. This is because the epitaph tablet text contains information on the deceased's funeral and burial site, official posts held, genealogy, family details, and the year of birth and death. However, the information recorded in the epitaph tablets had been chosen by the descendants of the deceased according to their needs. The descendants tried to emphasize the contents that could contribute to their successful careers, the solidarity of family members, and the status of a family, and reduce the contents that were not. Tang China used how much they contributed to its interests as an important criterion when giving office posts to the ruling class of other states surrendered. On the epitaph tablet text of a person who had wreaked damage on Tang China, like a Heukchi Sangji (黑齒常之), the background and process of his migration to Tang China was vaguely and briefly described, the achievements he had made by acting as a Tang’s official were emphasized. On the other hand, on the epitaph tablet text of a person who made a clear contribution to the conquest of Goguryeo by Tang China, like a Namsaeng (男生), the background and process of the deceased's migration to Tang China was described in detail. In this way, the Baekje Refugees tried to strengthen the political and social status of the family. So the figurative expressions referring to the confusion of domestic politics or Baekje's attitude against Tang China’s foreign policy were used to justify their surrender and show their loyalty to Tang China on the epitaph tablet text of Ye gun (禰軍), Ye Sikjin (禰寔進), Jin Beopja (陳法子), and Buyeo Yung (扶餘隆).

Taphonomy of human burials on beacon Island: archaeological observations informing forensic interpretations

ABSTRACT This paper demonstrates how the complex interaction of a number of intrinsic and extrinsic taphonomic factors have differentially affected the relative preservation of the skeletal remains recovered from Beacon Island. These include: local geology and hydrology; flora and fauna; human interactions; and burial type (e.g. body position and number). The latter function to demonstrate that contemporary burials dating to 1629 can present markedly divergent taphonomic ‘alterations’, even those buried within close proximity to one-another. It is evident that alterations can arise in a very short-time frame (months to a few years) and their recognition in a modern context is thus of forensic relevance. These are accordingly illustrated and described relative to their potential to inform forensic interpretations in a modern case-work context.

Searching for the Missing Graves of PoWs from the Second World War—an Example of Research Conducted in the Area of ⁣⁣Stalag VIII B (344) Lamsdorf

ABSTRACT The Site of National Remembrance in Łambinowice, Poland is a complex of former prisoner of war (PoW) and resettlement camps that operated near the village from the time of the Prussian-French War (1870–1871) through the First and Second World Wars, including the interwar period, until the liquidation of the labor camp established by the Polish communist authorities in 1945–1946. Since June 2022, The Central Museum of Prisoners of War has been carrying out a project, a key part of which is the integration of various archaeological research methods for mapping the material remains of the camps that have been preserved until the present day in the local, mostly forested, landscape. Among the most important research problems was the issue of unknown and unmarked PoW burial sites and mass graves. The applied research methodology allowed, among other things, the locating of 60 structures, which can currently be interpreted as the quarters of Italian PoWs interned in Stalag VIII B (344) Lamsdorf at the end of the Second World War. The excavations ended with the identification by name of the first two Italian soldiers.

Exploring pottery origin by composition and technique comparison: a case study at the Daqu burial site, Beijing, China

Scientific analysis of excavated pottery reveals critical archaeological insights, yet data on Han Dynasty pottery remains limited. This study focuses on pottery artifacts excavated from the Daqu burial site in Beijing, renowned for their polychrome decorations and size. Utilizing optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), this study examined five substrate samples sourced from fragments of pottery towers and ellipse-shaped dishes. All samples exhibited similar inclusions and the same firing atmosphere. The mineralogical analysis indicated that quartz and feldspar are predominant components, with minor constituents like chlorite and kaolinite observed in the coarse pottery of the ellipse-shaped dish. Minor mineral variations suggest differences in firing temperatures. The resemblance between low-value pottery cups and delicate polychrome towers suggests they were crafted locally. These findings advance our understanding of ceramic materials and techniques in late Eastern Han Dynasty Beijing, providing crucial insights for future studies on ancient Chinese economy and society.

METHODS OF KINSHIP ANALYSIS IN FOSSIL POPULATIONS

Introduction. Identifying kinship relationships from skeletal remains is among the various objectives of bioarchaeological studies. This article focuses on reviewing the methods used to analyze biological kinship in human fossil populations through non-metric traits. Methods. Since direct molecular-genetic analysis of kinship is often highly challenging due to the poor preservation of ancient DNA, special attention in such studies is given to nonmetric phenotypic traits. Results. Research with osteological samples that have been documented provides compelling evidence that the level of morphological similarity between individuals is directly related to their degree of biological kinship. In cases where the pedigrees of osteological materials are fully or partially known, phenotypic data can be effectively used in lieu of genetic information. Discussion. The methodology developed for kinship analysis depends on the internal spatial structure of the cemetery being studied. When analyzing small burial sites, the aim is to determine if the people buried there are close relatives. Various methods are used in these analyses, including different techniques for determining the likelihood of kinship, cluster analysis, and correlation coefficients. Identifying kinship is most promising in burial sites where archaeological or historical indicators of biological relationships are present. Kinship analysis in spatially structured cemeteries is aimed at identifying families or social groups. The analysis of uniformly distributed cemeteries focuses on identifying closely related individuals in large burials without clearly defined subgroups. This involves spatial correlation analysis, which tests for significant correlation between the matrix of spatial distances and the matrix of phenotypic distances; various counting methods to test for non-random clustering of traits; the nearest neighbor method; and a non-spatial block search procedure that simultaneously identifies presumed relatives and the traits that indicate the degree of their kinship. Conclusion. Many problems in establishing kinship can be overcome with the availability of skeletal material accompanied by verified genealogical data. Unfortunately, skeletal remains with preserved documentation are quite rare, limiting the opportunities to study the inheritance of non-metric traits and the morphological similarity of biologically related individuals.

The Evil Twin: Older Bronze Age Ceramic Typology of the Nordic Circle

Abstract This paper focuses on the Older Bronze Age pottery of the Nordic Circle, which has so far been given a wide berth in research. Due to the insufficient amount of published material, the study applied the classical and yet often frowned upon type classification and brought it into dialogue with multivariate statistical analyses. This represents then the first overview study of the Older Bronze Age ceramic material of Schleswig-Holstein and it is even more relevant, because it can can be helpful for later refinements and the classification of further material. In addition to the elaboration of ten vessel categories, which in turn could be subdivided into different numbers of types and type variants, the study makes clear how pottery production gains during the course of the Older Bronze Age in variety of form, size and expression. Links between this increasing complexity and the change in burial customs around 1300 BCE are also highlighted in relation to other changes in this period that have already been identified in the context of intensive transformation research in this region, so that the relevance of an examination of Older Bronze Age pottery becomes even clearer.

Patagonian partnerships: the extinct Dusicyon avus and its interaction with prehistoric human communities.

The southern Mendoza province, located in the northern region of Patagonia, was inhabited by hunter-gatherer groups until historic times. Previous archaeological studies have reported canid remains among faunal assemblages, which were assumed to be part of the human diet. However, the taxonomic identification and significance of these canids within human groups have raised questions. In this study, we used ancient DNA analysis, morphological examination and stable isotope analysis (δ13Ccol and δ15N) to re-evaluate the taxonomic assignment of a canid discovered at the Late Holocene burial site of Cañada Seca. Previous morphological identifications suggested that it belonged to the genus Lycalopex, but our results conclusively demonstrate that the individual belongs to the extinct fox species Dusicyon avus. This finding expands Dusicyon avus' known geographical distribution to Patagonia's northern extremity. Furthermore, statistical predictions based on genetic divergence undermine the hypothesis that hybridization between Canis and Dusicyon, facilitated by the introduction of domestic dogs, played a role in the extinction of Dusicyon species. On the other hand, our findings indicate that a Dusicyon avus individual shared a similar diet and was probably buried alongside humans, suggesting a close relationship between the two species during their lives and deaths.

Study on the Incense Burners Unearthed from the Tomb of Marquis of Haihun of the Han Dynasty: Focusing on Boshanxianglu with Phoenix and Tortoise Designs

This paper explores the stylistic features and artistic significance of the “Boshanxianglu with Phoenix and Tortoise Designs” unearthed from the recently discovered Han dynasty burial site (92~59 BCE) of Liu He, the Marquis of Haihun, located in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. It discusses the incense burner’s function, consumer group, and cultural context that contributed to its widespread adoption.Liu He, the grandson of Emperor Wu, held the titles of King of Changyi and Marquis of Haihun. He was also deposed as an emperor. The sixteen bronze incense burners found in his tomb are a testament to the prevalent beliefs in immortality and the aspirations of the royal family. The symbolism of the phoenix and tortoise on the “Boshanxianglu with Phoenix and Tortoise Designs” encapsulates the themes of longevity and immortality, hinting at a journey to the celestial realm. As Confucianism-based rationalism gained traction during the later Han dynasty, notions of ascension evolved, leading to a decline in the popularity of incense burners adorned with phoenix and tortoise motifs. This type of incense burner was discovered in upper-class males’ study chambers or reception areas, suggesting their predominant usage among men.In Nangnang, a Han commandery on the Korean Peninsula, various incense burners influenced by Chinese styles were used. The standout discovery of the “Boshanxianglu with Phoenix and Tortoise Designs” at the Sŏgamni No. 9 site, suggests a tailored approach to incense selection and usage based on individual preferences, purposes, and consumption habits within Nangnang society.

Non-metallic decorative inlays in La Tène jewellery - contribution of archaeometry to the understanding of production technologies

The study provides a detailed investigation into several representatives of La Tène jewellery. Primarily, it deals with non-metallic decorative inlays from the Late La Tène period, particularly with their application on a metal base. Unique artefacts have been selected for the study, all coming from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. A prime representative of the finds is a torc coming from a La Tène burial site in Prague (Czech Republic, Central Europe). In this geographical context, such finds are rather exceptional. The torc examined is remarkable both in terms of its origin and the production technology utilised, namely the application of decorative inlays made of red opaque glass. Available literature classifies this decorative element as an enamel technique. The highly specific type of red soda high-lead glass applied there was examined using LA-ICP-MS. Based on the trace elements detected, it can be established that the glass is most likely related to contemporary Egyptian production. Other items of the artefact set consist of two Münsingen brooches from Moravia and an exceptional brooch from Slovakia. The latter find was found to be decorated with coral (as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy). Besides identifying the materials of the decorations, we were also able to characterize the binder between individual decorative inlays and their metal base. The analysis of the binder has revealed the presence of birch tar (determined by FTIR and GC/MS). The results obtained expand the knowledge about the production technologies applied to the jewellery from the La Tène period.

The Early Iron Age elite grave from the Kapiteljska njiva barrow cemetery (Novo mesto, Slovenia): an approach to dental profiling through non-invasive and minimally-invasive techniques.

Kapiteljska njiva is a prehistoric cemetery located in the town of Novo mesto in southern Slovenia. There is a long history of archaeological research at this site, as the first investigations date back to the end of the 19th century. In 2004, an Early Iron Age barrow XVI was investigated. The oldest surviving grave in the barrow is the central grave, numbered XVI/34, which according to its position and the richness of the grave goods, belongs to a woman of higher status. Most likely, she was the first member or initiator of a family that continued to bury its dead in the barrow for the next 300 years. There were no preserved skeletal elements; however, in the head part of the grave, remains of human teeth, mostly the tooth crowns and the shells of enamel from the tooth crowns, were found among the scattered amber beads of a necklace. Moreover, these tooth remains are one of the few human biological materials (mostly fragments of skull and long limb bones) unearthed in this cemetery, reflecting the influence of acidic soil from the burial site. This study aimed to create a dental profile of the deceased in a similar way as during a forensic investigation. The remains were examined macroscopically and stereo-microscopically. The morphological traits were scored following the ASUDAS protocol. Ancestry was estimated by entering these scores into a beta version of the web-based application rASUDAS. Brothwell's system was used for age at death estimation from occlusal attrition. Identification of sex was based on the analysis of sex-specific amelogenin isoforms in dental enamel by nanoflow liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS). The present study reveals that the dental remains from Kapiteljska njiva belong to the permanent dentition of a single individual and that only the right upper central incisor and third molar are completely absent. The remains of teeth exhibit a simple external morphology, characterised by the absence of morphological dental traits, with a notable exception of the two-rooted left lower canine. The probability of assigning this individual to the Western Eurasian ancestry group is 98%. According to the degree of dentine exposure on the occlusal surfaces of molars, the estimated age range is 17-25 years. Another line of evidence comes from the observation that the first signs of approximal attrition are present in lower third molars but absent in the only preserved upper counterpart, indicating that the age at which the lower third molars entered into occlusion represents a proxy of the individual's age at death. Data on the chronology of the lower third molar development and eruption in present-day European populations from forensic literature (Brkić et al. 2011; Olze et al. 2008; Selmanagić et al. 2013) and The London Atlas confirm the above age-range estimate. Caution is, however, needed in the interpretation of results, because reference data are not based on the population of the individual's origin. Proteomic analysis classified the individual as a female, which is in line with the archaeological evidence. No pathological lesions or indicators of systemic stress were identified; however, the absence of approximal attrition facets in upper anterior teeth indicates interdental spacing. The results of dental profiling are discussed in the context of historical background, today's clinical knowledge, and epidemiological data.

Examination of archaeological bronze parts using micro-computed tomography and metallography

Abstract Archeological finds, such as old coins among which some show signs of corrosion, are, in general, unique pieces even though several copies exist of individual types. Subferrati, Roman coins with an iron core and a bronze coating, for instance, could be examined by conventional computed tomography (CT). The CT image allows an easy distinction of corrosion products, metallic iron, and the bronze so that appropriate sections could be selected from the images for metallography. The micro-CT technology even allows examining smaller archaeological objects to get an overview. The resolution of the micro-CT is a function of the object size and lies between 5 and 10 μm. The following metallographic examinations are intended to characterize the microstructure. Apart from these examinations, SEM analyses may also be performed on the sections. Different bronze pieces from cremation and inhumation burials were examined. Micro-CT provides a well recognizable contrast between corrosion products and the metallic bronze. If several similar objects exist, micro-CT examinations allow a decision to be made on which parts are suitable for metallographic analyses and which are not.

Cmentarz wojenny w Nadolicach Wielkich – trudne dziedzictwo?

The aim of the article is to examine from a cultural perspective the issue of German war cemeteries in Poland, which were established after 1989 in order to provide the hitherto scattered and devastated burial sites with legal protection.The author addresses the problem of difficult heritage, taking the cemetery in Nadolice Wielkie as an example. She charts the history of the earlier dismantling of German cemeteries, including those from the war, and presents the legal conditions for establishing new Germany necropolises. The second section of the article provides an overview of comments found online regarding the Nadolice cemetery: voices opposing the remembrance of criminals, argued with reports (already disproved) of the burial of members of certain units, as well as frequent opinions of a conciliatory nature. The author concludes by stating that although the spatial organisation of the cemetery is intended to encourage reflection on reconciliation and peace, little is known of its mission, which is linked to the cemetery’s absence in the media.

Preliminary site report of a stone jar burial in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

For nearly a century, questions have remained as to the purpose and age of the Plain of Jars in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Scholars have generally argued that these megaliths served a mortuary function, either as symbolic monuments or receptacles for the dead. However, due to a paucity of mortuary evidence associated with the jars, it has been difficult to conclusively argue either way. Aside from small amounts of cremated human bone fragments found within a limited number of jars, to date no substantive human burials have been found inside a stone jar across this vast megalithic landscape. Additionally, the stone jars are thought to date to the Southeast Asian Iron Age, between ca. 500 BCE-500 CE, with ritual activity continuing into the 13th century CE. This paper provides the first substantial evidence that the jars were used to contain the deceased for either primary or secondary burials during the 9th to 12th century CE.

Mykola Makarenko ir Mariupolio neolitinis kapinynas. Tragiškas ukrainiečio archeologo ir vietovės likimas

Mariupol Neolithic burial site, unique by its exclusive rich and diversiform inventory, was excavated by Ukrainian archaeologist and art critic Mykola Makarenko in 1930. The author of the excavations was executed by Soviet punitive authorities. The top-level and highly informative publication of the materials on the cemetery, made in 1933, was confiscated. Part of the burial inventory was taken to Russia. Anthropological materials were destroyed during World War II.The tragedy of Mariupol Cemetery continued in 2022. This was the year which became the tragedy in the history of Ukraine and inherently influenced the history of Europe. The Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian nature, and the Ukrainian culture suffered irretrievable losses. So did Ukrainian archaeology.Hundreds of archaeological sites in the war zone, in the zone of occupation and in the annexed territories were completely destroyed or irreparably damaged. Among them, there were the scant surviving artifacts from Mariupol Cemetery.This article is devoted to the history of excavations of Mariupol Burial Complex and the tragic fate of the collection of artifacts.

BERZIARAH KE MAKAM SYEKH YUSUF AL-MAKASSARI

The study investigates the implications of undertaking a pilgrimage to the tomb of Syekh Yusuf Al-Makassari, whose significant contributions have profoundly shaped Islamic thought and civilization. Following his passing, his burial site has become a crucial destination for pilgrims, leading to socio-economic effects on the surrounding community. Employing historical methodologies within a socio-economic framework, the research aims to elucidate the socio-economic conditions of the community surrounding Sheikh Yusuf Al-Makassari's tomb. Recognized as a pivotal figure and scholar in Indonesian history and beyond, Sheikh Yusuf's enduring influence is evident through the influx of pilgrims from diverse regions to his gravesite, highlighting his ongoing societal significance. The findings of this study reveal various social and economic aspects, including the financial status of the local population, employment opportunities, and microeconomic dynamics.

The Moving Mountain: Performance for Mauna a Wākea during the Protect Maunakea Movement

Abstract: Between the period of July 2019 and March 2020, Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) kia‘i (protectors or guardians) blocked the access road up to Mauna a Wākea, Hawai‘i’s tallest peak, to protest and prevent the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). This proposed development, spearheaded by a conglomerate of international scientific organizations, has become the catalyst for the latest movement for reestablishing Hawaiian sovereignty after a long history of appropriation, desecration, and broken promises. For Kānaka Maoli the construction poses a threat to their sacred land, burial sites, and the delicate ecology of the mountain. During these protests, kia‘i demonstrated and reconfirmed their relationship to Mauna a Wākea through the mediums of music and dance in the newly created Mauna Protocol Ceremony performed at the protest site on Hawai‘i Island, public performance venues, and online. Performing for the mountain at accessible locations allowed more people to view and interact with Mauna a Wākea without having to be on location. It is through the Hawaiian concepts of ‘ike (know by doing), kū (stand firm), and hulihia (overturn) that I illustrate how kia‘i effectively transform secular spaces into sacred ones through the act of performance.