An investigation into the placement of disarticulated human remains into shell middens during prehistory
The aim of this thesis was to critically evaluate the evidence for disarticulated human remains in shell middens, using sites in northwest Europe dating to the Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic as case studies. Traditionally, disarticulated remains placed in shell middens have been overlooked and assumed to be the result of burial disturbance with little in-depth analysis to the plausibility of this as an interpretation. The research considers whether it is possible to determine that the remains occurred through disturbance to inhumations, and to assess to what extent it is possible to reconstruct the processes of deposition of disarticulated remains. A new methodology has been developed with specific emphasis on identifying what taphonomic processes may have led to commingled human remains to be found at shell midden sites. Six hypothetical bone profile diagrams are presented, based on differing taphonomic processes known to affect burial remains. These hypothetical diagrams then provide comparative models to assess the evidence presented in the case studies. Three case studies located on the coast of western Scotland; Cnoc Coig, An Corran and Carding Mill Bay, demonstrate that it is likely that the placement
Hellewell, Emily Rebecca
An investigation into the placement of disarticulated human remains into shell middens during prehistory. The aim of this thesis was to critically evaluate the evidence for disarticulated human remains in shell middens, using sites in northwest Europe dating to the Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic as case studies. Traditionally, disarticulated remains placed in shell middens have been overlooked and assumed to be the result of burial disturbance with little in-depth analysis to the plausibility of this as an interpretation. The research considers whether it is possible to determine that the remains occurred through disturbance to inhumations, and to assess to what extent it is possible to reconstruct the processes of deposition of disarticulated remains. A new methodology has been developed with specific emphasis on identifying what taphonomic processes may have led to commingled human remains to be found at shell midden sites. Six hypothetical bone profile diagrams are presented, based on differing taphonomic processes known to affect burial remains. These hypothetical diagrams then provide comparative models to assess the evidence presented in the case studies. Three case studies located on the coast of western Scotland; Cnoc Coig, An Corran and Carding Mill Bay, demonstrate that it is likely that the placement
investigation placement disarticulate human_remain shell_midden prehistory aim critically evaluate evidence disarticulate human_remain shell_midden use site northwest_europe date late_mesolithic neolithic case_study traditionally disarticulate remains place shell_midden overlook assumed burial disturbance little depth_analysis plausibility interpretation considers_whether possible_determine remain occurred disturbance inhumation assess_extent possible_reconstruct process deposition disarticulate remains new develop specific emphasis identify taphonomic_process may_lead human_remain find shell_midden site hypothetical bone profile diagram present base differ taphonomic_process know affect burial remain hypothetical diagram provide comparative model assess evidence_present case_study three_case_study locate coast western_scotland mill likely placement