The use of long bone epiphyseal scars in the resolution of large-scale commingled assemblages A bone pit case study from a post-medieval cemetery in the Netherlands

Previous radiographic surveys have shown that, following complete fusion, the way epiphyseal scars obliterate hold a more or less interdependent relationship with chronological age that mainly takes place during the age period between adolescence and mid-twenties. Keeping this in mind, this study was undertaken to design a 'hybrid' plan of successive analysis to determine the extent to which the sequence in which epiphyseal scars obliterate, as enhanced by the addition of radiographic imaging, can be an enriching technique applied for sorting and quantifying commingled assemblages. The underlying goal was to test whether epiphyseal scars can be used as reliable age-at-death indicators and thus assist for detecting subadult remains commingled with accessory subadult or other adult elements. To evaluate this, selected long bones of the MB11S150V0248 largescale commingled bone pit found in the former 19th century Dutch cemetery of Middenbeemster were radiographed. Overall, the findings...Show morePrevious radiographic surveys have shown that, following complete fusion, the way epiphyseal scars obliterate hold a more or less interdependent relationship with chronological age that mainly takes place during the age period between adolescence and mid-twenties. Keeping this in mind, this study was undertaken to design a 'hybrid' plan of successive analysis to determine the extent to which the sequence in which epiphyseal scars obliterate, as enhanced by the addition of radiographic imaging, can be an enriching technique applied for sorting and quantifying commingled assemblages. The underlying goal was to test whether epiphyseal scars can be used as reliable age-at-death indicators and thus assist for detecting subadult remains commingled with accessory subadult or other adult elements. To evaluate this, selected long bones of the MB11S150V0248 largescale commingled bone pit found in the former 19th century Dutch cemetery of Middenbeemster were radiographed. Overall, the findings of this thesis suggest the supporting role of the epiphyseal scars in the sorting process of commingled remains. As analysis showed the maturity status of the humeral, ulnar and the femoral scars of the assemblage was consistent with chronological age and for this their usefulness as reliable age-at-death indicators was verified. The same consistency was also found to exist in the maturity status between the paired femora and the articulated femora and tibiae of the assemblage thus strengthening the degree of their produced by macroscopic and osteometric means associations. However, with a small sample size and the radii and tibiae displaying inconsistent with chronological age patterns of obliteration, caution must be applied, as the findings might not be representative enough. Further research on this topic needs to be undertaken before the association between the maturity status of epiphyseal scars and chronological age can be more clearly understood.Show less

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The use of long bone epiphyseal scars in the resolution of large-scale commingled assemblages A bone pit case study from a post-medieval cemetery in the Netherlands