International Journal of Osteoarchaeology最新文献

The Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata), a large flightless bird native to South America, held historical significance as a vital resource for Patagonian hunter–gatherer societies. Despite the species' cultural and ecological importance, the historical population dynamics of R. pennata remain poorly understood. Although present in the archaeological record, its abundance is not consistently documented and the reasons remain unclear. This study investigates the late Holocene population trends of R. pennata using ancient DNA analysis. By analyzing complete mitochondrial genome sequences from dated archaeological specimens, we reveal a significant population increase from 700 to 500 years Before Present (BP), followed by a period of relative stability from 500 to 300 years BP. Subsequently, a subtle decline in population size is observed, coinciding with the arrival of European settlers; however, due to considerable uncertainty in population estimates, definitive conclusions regarding this decline are challenging to make. Historical records indicate heightened rhea hunting during this period, coterminous with a decrease in the abundance of rhea eggshell fragments. It is suggested that climatic factors may have influenced these population dynamics, particularly favoring rhea population growth from 700 to 500 years BP. This study contributes to our understanding of the historical ecology and human-rhea interactions in Patagonia, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in reconstructing past population dynamics.

Animal domestication led to changes in the interaction between animals and humans, including new ways of exploitation, which could potentially leave lesions on the animals' bones. This study aims to examine changes in the prevalence of pathological manifestation following changes in human-animal interactions as a result their domestication. For this purpose, we studied 19,565 animal remains recovered from archaeological excavations, dated from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period to historical periods and assigned the pathologies into types. Of these, 60 animal remains presented pathological lesions. The suspected pathological cases were validated using a microscope, X-ray, and/or micro-CT scan. Lesions were divided into four categories: trauma, aging/musculoskeletal stress marks (MSM), periodontal diseases, and inflammatory processes. Then, our database was combined with previously published data to a total of 26,596 animal remains, out of which 128 demonstrated pathological lesions. We found that the prevalence of lesions in animals was higher in the historical periods compared with prehistoric periods. Moreover, based on a comparison between recent gazelles living in captivity and those living in the wild, we found that captivity resulted in the deterioration of the animals' health. We concluded that pathologies were more frequent in livestock in historic periods, in comparison with wild species and livestock from earlier periods. Such lesions were common not only in working livestock (cattle and donkeys) but also in non-working domesticates (caprines and chickens) and companion animals (dogs and cats). Variations in the pathological frequencies between these three categories may be attributed to differences in exploitation, including the intensification of farming and herding. Finally, this study provides a unique reference dataset for zooarchaeologists when studying ancient animal assemblages.

Cremation was a common behavior during the Early period in the Middle Cauca region of Colombia. Nevertheless, few bioarchaeological analyses have focused on understanding this phenomenon. Four funerary urns from the archaeological site Matecaña (Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia) were analyzed to understand the cremation mortuary practice during the Early period (1000 bc–600 ad). For this, the cremains went through an anatomical classification that led to establishing the minimal number of individuals with the landmark system, as well as reconstructing their biological profile and interpreting the macroscopic changes made by heat exposure, such as colorimetry, the degree of cremation, the presence of heat-induced changes, and the temperature that the incineration reached. The results indicated that the funerary cycle had three processes divided into 11 steps. During the first process, an individual's biological death led to rituals and a temporary deposition. After the skeletonization of the corpse, the second process was the cremation itself. The combustion of at least 28 individuals of different ages (fetuses, infants, and adults) was intense (400°C to over 600°C) and finalized in the third process with their burial in funerary urns. This funerary behavior reflects the long-term relationship between the living and the dead.

Archaeological bird remains from the Oregon coast provide important insight into local environments and the interactions between birds and people on the North American Pacific Coast. We contribute to this discussion with an analysis of bird remains from the Late Holocene Par-Tee site (35CLT20) in Seaside, Oregon. We sampled the Par-Tee avifaunal assemblage to near-redundancy, generating the largest sample from a single site on the Oregon Coast to date (N = 7204). The Par-Tee assemblage is dominated by nearshore or estuarine birds including scoters (Melanitta spp.) and Common Murres (Uria aalge), as well as pelagic Sooty Shearwaters (Ardenna grisea). Because of the large size of the sample, we identified unique species such as the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus), which are currently endangered and face conservation challenges. Although the Par-Tee avifaunal assemblage is diverse, site residents appear to have focused on acquiring the most accessible species in the nearshore habitat complemented by opportunistic pelagic hunting and/or scavenging of beached birds. Most birds appear to have been processed for dietary consumption, with possible preferential use of larger-winged birds for tool manufacture. These findings underscore the value and challenges of using legacy collections for evaluating past human–environmental interactions in coastal and other aquatic regions.

Intralimb proportions provide insights into growth, development, populations history, and adaptation across human groups. However, the conventional approach of calculating brachial and crural indices for individual skeletons and comparing assemblages using sample means is not feasible in commingled remains. This study aims to assess the reliability of an “aggregate method” based on the ratio of sample means of limb bone lengths as an alternative to conventionally calculated indices. We examined the correlation between the aggregate and conventional indices using data from ≥124 worldwide groups (≥2000 adults). The impact of sample size, commingling degree, and within-group variation on the correspondence between conventional and aggregate indices was further evaluated using simulated datasets. Reliability was measured using the absolute differences between the aggregate and “true” population mean indices and the proportion of simulations producing large errors (>0.02, the average within-group variation among observed populations). Strong correlations are observed between the aggregate and conventional indices across groups in the empirical dataset. Simulation analyses indicates that larger samples improve prediction reliability, while increased commingling and within-group variation reduce accuracy. The aggregate method is robust when upper limb samples contain >30 bones (lower limb >50), with more than half of the bones representing proximal and distal elements from the same individuals, and the standard deviation in the index is smaller than 0.02. With sufficient sample sizes, the “aggregate method” is a reliable alternative for estimating average intralimb proportions in commingled and poorly preserved skeletal assemblages, enhancing the research potential of such collections.

Sicilian protohistory was characterized by a progressive flow of indigenous populations towards the hills of the western Sicilian hinterland. Especially during the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age, the island's hinterland was marked by isolated settlements due to Siculi, Ausoni, Morgeti, and Elimi invasions and Phoenician and Greek colonization. In this scenario, Mokarta is an example of territorial autonomy and ethnic isolation (Sicanian) within an area of Elimi colonization. Its demise in the 11th century B.C.E, presumably at the hands of the Elimi, was rapid and violent as the settlement was suddenly abandoned following its destruction by fire. Symbolic of this event is an individual found at the entrance of a burned and collapsed hut who appears to have died from a cranial injury. This paper focuses on the osteological analysis of this skeleton, highlighting the perimortem injury, related to his death, and places the results within a forensic archeological context. The morphological pattern of the lesion is the result of a high-energy impact by a circular blunt object. The fracture, involving both the meningeal vessels and the brain, could have led to a fatal neurological trauma. The analysis of the cranial fracture and an anatomical evaluation of the affected area led us to conclude that the perimortem injury, inflicted on the right parietal, probably was the cause of death. The case proposed highlights how an integrated approach based on bioarcheology and forensic anthropology helps in interpreting an archeological scenario and formulating hypotheses about the circumstances of an individual's death.

This article aims to understand the impact of a condition causing multiple benign neoplasms on a historical individual, and increase understanding of disease processes using a paleopathological case. We present the case of an adult male from the Balizhuang site in Weifang City, Changle County, Shandong Province, China, dated by the burial artifacts to the Qing period (1644–1911 CE). The individual has multiple bony growths found on both long and flat bones, which were also observed radiographically. Imaging revealed that the lesions show continuity with the medullary cavity of the host bone. The individual also exhibited short stature, upper limb length asymmetry, and hip and ankle deformities. Conditions included in a differential diagnosis are myositis ossificans, parosteal osteosarcoma, and osteochondroma, with multiple osteochondromas (MO) being the most likely diagnosis. We also present historical texts suggesting the presence of osteochondromas in China. This may be the first case of adult MO reported in Chinese bioarcheology, helping to expand paleopathological data on benign tumors.

The petrous parts of temporal bones are considered to be the densest parts of the human skeleton. Because of their high biomechanical strength, these elements can be preserved well even exposed to destructive processes. It has been proved that these bones are very well preserved in cremation graves and thus can be used as the foundation for anthropological analyses of cremated remains. The aim of the study was to determine the degree of shrinkage of the petrous portion of temporal bone under the influence of high temperature during the cremation. In a modern crematorium in Prague (Czech Republic), an experiment was conducted by burning 15 human temporal bones and a fresh pig's heads with soft tissues. Nine measurements were collected from each bone before the burning process. Cremation was carried out under controlled conditions in a modern cremation oven—the process took 45 min, and the temperature reached 1000°C. All the bones were burned together to maintain the same experimental conditions. Measurements of the individual bones were then repeated, and the significance of the dimensional changes was assessed. The presented study pointed out the significant size's reduction at level to 14% for dry petrous parts of temporal bones, while the size of fresh bones changed to 28% of their mass depending on the examined feature. Furthermore, the results of comparative analyses revealed that the differences between burning of dry and fresh bones are insignificant.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease commonly identified in archaeological human remains. This condition primarily affects stress-bearing joints, which include the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). Comparing dental status and degenerative alterations of the TMJs of individuals is crucial for understanding the role of the former in increasing predisposition to temporomandibular OA. The combination of visual and radiologic observations allows for a more in-depth assessment of TMJ-OA in archaeological specimens. A comparative study between tooth wear and the extent of degenerative signs on mandibular condylar surfaces was conducted on individuals from two medieval cemeteries in central Europe (Früebergstrasse in Baar and Dalheim). OA, tooth wear, and AMTL were evaluated in 41 individuals comprising both adult specimens as well as those of a more advanced age. Condylar OA was diagnosed in 14 individuals (Baar, n = 7; Dalheim, n = 7). No specific sex predisposition for OA in TMJs was found in the study's sample. Tooth wear was more severe in individuals with condyles affected by OA than in individuals whose condyles showed no degenerative signs. Although dental occlusion could not be evaluated, tooth wear values seem to point to diverse mastication patterns when there is unilateral or bilateral manifestation of mandibular OA in the two medieval populations under study.