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Funerary taphonomy: An overview of goals and methods

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Knüsel, CJ 

Abstract

Funerary taphonomy has come of age as an important field in osteoarchaeology. Its goal is to reconstruct funerary practices by using taphonomic evidence, including both evidence recorded during excavation (particularly the context and state of articulation of human remains) and evidence observable in subsequent laboratory analysis (such as element representation and traces of burning, animal modification, cut-marks, and fragmentation). This article – intended as a systematic introduction to the field – gives an overview of funerary taphonomy. It first discusses the goals and theoretical questions, and then reviews the wide range of methods available to archaeologists using human remains to investigate funerary behaviour. It finishes with a review of how taphonomists have approached particular issues, such as single burials, commingled multiple depositions, cannibalism, and the cultural reuse of human skeletal parts.

Description

Keywords

4301 Archaeology, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology

Journal Title

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2352-409X

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier BV