The Representation of Non-adult Skeletal Elements Recovered from British Archaeological Sites

Abstract

AbstractNon-adult skeletal remains are often cited as under-represented in the archaeological record. The most common reasons put forward for this are taphonomy, cultural beliefs and archaeological bias. It is well known that larger more robust bones survive the burial environment better than those which are less dense. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors have an effect on the preservation of human bone, many of which are thought to have a greater effect on non-adult bone than those of adults. This paper examines the representation of non-adult skeletal elements recovered from five archaeological sites from different geographical locations in the United Kingdom. The objective of the study was to compare and contrast the location, age of the non-adult and the frequency of the skeletal elements recovered. It was found that a clear preservation pattern exists at all sites, with the bones of the skull and limbs very well-represented, whereas the bones of the face, hands and feet were less represented.Keywords: CHILDREN'S SKELETONSBONE REPRESENTATION INDEXBONE PRESERVATIONBONE TYPESTAPHONOMY