Scientific+Analysis+Human+Remains

Chapter Overview

  • Title: The Scientific Analysis of Human Remains from the British Museum Collection: Research Potential and Examples from the Nile Valley

  • Authors: Daniel Antoine and Janet Ambers

Introduction

  • The British Museum has nine curatorial departments managing its collections and a Department of Conservation and Scientific Research housing laboratory facilities.

  • Collaboration between British Museum scientists and curatorial staff promotes the understanding of collections, cultures, and periods.

  • This chapter explores scientific investigation of human remains in museums, emphasizing fresh approaches and methods benefitting research and understanding of past cultures.

  • Discussion includes the availability of the British Museum collection to researchers and examples of current research in the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan.

The Need for Scientific Analysis

  • Extensive research projects on human remains enhance understanding of past cultures, human biology, and ancient diseases (Part Three).

  • Significance of scientific investigation of archaeological human remains is documented in literature:

    • English Heritage and Church of England (2005)

    • Bekvalac et al. (2006)

    • Mays (2003)

  • Biological information can derive from:

    • Skeletal remains (Buikstra and Ubelaker 1994; Brickley and McKinley 2004; Roberts 2009)

    • Mummified remains

    • Singular teeth (Hillson 1996; Antoine et al. 2009)

  • Analysis goes beyond age-at-death and biological sex to include:

    • Child growth and development

    • Biological affinities among populations

    • Dietary habits

    • Ancient diseases or trauma (Larsen 1997; Roberts 2009; Roberts and Manchester 2005; Waldron 2008)

  • Guidance from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport emphasizes that many human remains hold potential for expanding knowledge of humanity through research.

Case Study: Jebel Sahaba

  • Examination of skeletal remains from Jebel Sahaba reveals insights into early inhabitants of the middle Nile valley and their biological affinities (Irish 2005; Crevecoeur 2012).

  • Located near the Second Nile Cataract, it is associated with several projects and excavated by Fred Wendorf (1965-6) during the UNESCO Aswan High Dam Salvage Project.

  • The assemblage was donated to the British Museum in 2001, contributing to the Wendorf Collection.

  • Skeletal remains show signs of violent death; Jebel Sahaba is one of the earliest known burial sites, evidencing collective violence (Anderson 1968; Wendorf 1968; Judd 2007; Antoine et al. 2013).

  • Original