May 24, 2021 Book Open Access

Efthymia Nikita

Citation Style Language JSON Export

{
  "publisher": "The Cyprus Institute", 
  "DOI": "10.5281/zenodo.4782968", 
  "ISBN": "978-9963-2858-7-7", 
  "title": "AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF BURNED HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS", 
  "issued": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2021, 
        5, 
        24
      ]
    ]
  }, 
  "abstract": "<p>This document is the fourth in a series of guides aimed at promoting best practice in different aspects of archaeological<br>\nscience, produced by members of the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center<br>\n(STARC) of The Cyprus Institute. The current document was largely developed in the context of two projects: People<br>\nin Motion and Promised. The implementation of People in Motion involved the laboratory study of a large commingled<br>\nand partially burned skeletal assemblage from Byzantine Amathus, Cyprus, which came to light in the context<br>\nof excavations led by the Cypriot Department of Antiquities. Osteological work on this assemblage was co-funded<br>\nby the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation<br>\nFoundation (EXCELLENCE/1216/0023). In addition, Promised aims at promoting archaeological sciences in the<br>\nEastern Mediterranean, with funding from the European Union&rsquo;s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme<br>\nunder grant agreement No 811068.</p>\n\n<p><br>\nThe study of burned skeletal remains is particularly challenging due to the extensive alteration of the bones, manifesting<br>\nas warping, discoloration, shrinkage, and fracturing. These macroscopic changes express underlying structural and<br>\nchemical alterations. As a result, the application of traditional osteological methods (morphological, metric, chemical,<br>\nmolecular, histological and others) is largely inhibited or should be extremely cautious. Nonetheless, the study of<br>\nburned skeletal assemblages can offer unique insights to funerary practices and technologies, as well as the manipulation<br>\nof dead bodies. In line with the above, the aim of this guide is to cover various aspects of the study of burned<br>\nskeletal assemblages. It should be seen as a supplement to the &lsquo;Basic guidelines for the excavation and study of human<br>\nskeletal remains; STARC Guide no. 1 &rsquo; and the &lsquo;Excavation and study of commingled human skeletal remains; STARC Guide<br>\nno. 2&rsquo;. The current guide is meant to serve only as a general outline and the described field and lab-based methods<br>\nshould be modified depending on the context and characteristics of each assemblage under study.</p>\n\n<p><br>\nA number of excellent volumes have been published in the past years, compiling experimental and case studies on the<br>\nretrieval and examination of burned skeletal remains in archaeological and forensic contexts (Fairgrieve 2008; Schmidt<br>\nand Symes 2015; Symes et al. 2012; Thompson 2015). Much of the information presented here has been drawn from<br>\nthese resources, as well as from other publications and the author&rsquo;s professional experience. References are given<br>\nthroughout the current document but the aim is by no means to provide an exhaustive account of the literature.</p>\n\n<p><br>\nThis document is an open resource and it is anticipated to be updated at regular intervals. I would greatly appreciate<br>\nany feedback and recommendations for future improvement</p>", 
  "author": [
    {
      "family": "Efthymia Nikita"
    }
  ], 
  "publisher_place": "Nicosia, Cyprus", 
  "type": "book", 
  "id": "4782968"
}