Orkney's first farmers : reconstructing biographies from osteological analysis to gain insights into life and society in a Neolithic community on the edge of Atlantic Europe
There has been historical failure to exploit skeletal data in archaeological syntheses of the Neolithic, compounded by poor or cursory osteological reports. This project aimed to discover what Neolithic Orcadian life was like, arguing from skeletal evidence. Orkney's exceptional site preservation and large skeletal collections present opportunities for detailed analysis. The Orkney environment presented identifiable constraints to Neolithic lifeways. Isbister chambered cairn produced the largest assemblage of human remains from any single British Neolithic site. This was examined alongside other Neolithic collections to discover evidence for, and develop models of Neolithic life. The demographic structure indicates that twice as many adult males were deposited as females. Few young infants were in the assemblage but disproportionately many older children and young adults. Stable light isotope analysis suggested age and sex-related dietary differences with a predominantly terrestrial protein source. Pathological conditions included scurvy, multiple myeloma and osteoarthritis. Trauma and non-specific lesions were common and affected all age and sex groups. Prevalences of pathological conditions seemed high and
Lawrence, David Michael
Neolithic ; Society ; Disease ; Diet ; Trauma ; Belief ; Activity ; Osteology ; Agriculture ; Violence ; Orkney ; Human skeletal remains
Orkney's first farmers : reconstructing biographies from osteological analysis to gain insights into life and society in a Neolithic community on the edge of Atlantic Europe. There has been historical failure to exploit skeletal data in archaeological syntheses of the Neolithic, compounded by poor or cursory osteological reports. This project aimed to discover what Neolithic Orcadian life was like, arguing from skeletal evidence. Orkney's exceptional site preservation and large skeletal collections present opportunities for detailed analysis. The Orkney environment presented identifiable constraints to Neolithic lifeways. Isbister chambered cairn produced the largest assemblage of human remains from any single British Neolithic site. This was examined alongside other Neolithic collections to discover evidence for, and develop models of Neolithic life. The demographic structure indicates that twice as many adult males were deposited as females. Few young infants were in the assemblage but disproportionately many older children and young adults. Stable light isotope analysis suggested age and sex-related dietary differences with a predominantly terrestrial protein source. Pathological conditions included scurvy, multiple myeloma and osteoarthritis. Trauma and non-specific lesions were common and affected all age and sex groups. Prevalences of pathological conditions seemed high and
orkney first farmer reconstruct biography osteological_analysis gain_insight life society neolithic_community edge atlantic europe historical failure exploit skeletal data archaeological synthesis neolithic compound poor cursory osteological report project_aim discover neolithic orcadian life like argue skeletal evidence orkney exceptional site preservation large skeletal_collection present_opportunity detail_analysis orkney environment present identifiable constraint neolithic lifeways chamber cairn produce_large assemblage human_remain single british_neolithic site examine alongside neolithic collection discover evidence develop_model neolithic life demographic structure indicate twice many adult male deposit female young infant assemblage disproportionately many old_child young_adult stable light isotope_analysis suggest age_sex related dietary difference predominantly terrestrial protein source pathological condition include multiple osteoarthritis trauma non specific lesion common affect age_sex group pathological condition seem high