- Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Burned Bones, Bioanthropological Method, Human Evolution, Cremation, and 26 moreHeat-induced changes, Forensic Anthropology, Bioarchaeology, Burial Practices (Archaeology), Mortuary archaeology, Taphonomy, Burial Customs, Culture, Ritual, Tradition, Physical Anthropology, Paleopathology, Funerary Archaeology, Human Osteology, Neolithic Archaeology, Neolithic, Neolithic & Chalcolithic Archaeology, Mesolithic/Neolithic, Iron Age, Iron Age Iberian Peninsula (Archaeology), Osteoarchaeology, Bioanthropology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Funerary Practices, Archaeology of death and burial, and Death and Burial (Archaeology)edit
- I am a researcher at CIAS, CEF and LARC (DGPC/INBIO). I have a special interest in Forensic Anthropology, Human Oste... moreI am a researcher at CIAS, CEF and LARC (DGPC/INBIO).
I have a special interest in Forensic Anthropology, Human Osteology, Bioanthropological Methodology and Funerary Anthropology with a special focus on ancient cremations and burned bones. I am currently coordintaing the HOT Project (http://hotresearch.wix.com/main). Our main objectives are to improve our understanding of heat-induced changes to bone and teeth and to improve analytical methods that are specific to burned skeletal remains.edit
OBJECTIVES Heat exposure can lead to apparently random osteometric changes that hinder the application of metric methods used for biological profiling. The impracticality of using objective and burn-specific osteometric methods reduces... more
OBJECTIVES Heat exposure can lead to apparently random osteometric changes that hinder the application of metric methods used for biological profiling. The impracticality of using objective and burn-specific osteometric methods reduces the chances of establishing the biological profiles of unknown individuals based on their skeletal remains. We investigated the potential of chemometry analysis based on infrared spectroscopy to predict the amount of heat-induced osteometric changes and how this reflected into sex estimation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Bones from 41 identified adult skeletons (24 females and 17 males with ages between 62 and 90 years old) were experimentally burnt to maximum temperatures ranging from 450°C to 1,100°C (attained after 65 to 240 min). Measurements were taken both before and after each experiment and powder samples were analyzed through FTIR-ATR. Correlations among heat-induced metric changes and chemometric indices (crystallinity index; B-type carbonates; carbonate [A + B] to carbonate B ratio; hydroxyl to phosphate ratio; 630 cm-1 , 1450 cm-1 , 3572 cm-1 , and 3642 cm-1 ) were tested. Significant variables were used to build regression models to predict heat-induced metric change which were then tested on an independent set of samples. Agreement in sex estimation between the pre- and post-burnt samples was also evaluated. RESULTS All indices were significantly correlated to heat-induced metric changes (α = .01) and the highest correlations were obtained for the 630 cm-1 , 3572 cm-1 , and crystallinity index. We confirmed that regression models based on chemometrics obtained from infrared spectra through FTIR-ATR are better at estimating heat-induced metric changes affecting bone and at sexing remains than other osteometric methods such as those based on correction factors or on metric references specific to calcined bones. DISCUSSION Regression models avoid the subjectivity associated with the application of other methods. While the latter can be applied only to calcined bones, which is difficult to assess sometimes, regression models can be applied to all bones regardless of their condition. Also, regression models have the advantage of allowing to infer about heat-induced metric change on a case-by-case basis.
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The practice of cremation is often interpreted as an alternative to inhumation, taking place shortly after an individual's death. However, cremation could be a final stage in complex mortuary practices, with previous steps that are... more
The practice of cremation is often interpreted as an alternative to inhumation, taking place shortly after an individual's death. However, cremation could be a final stage in complex mortuary practices, with previous steps that are obscured due to the heating process. This project reports on experimental scoping research on a set of experimentally heated femoral fragments from modern and archaeological collections of the University of Coimbra. Sixteen recent femur samples from eight individuals, as well as five femur samples from an archaeological skeleton from the medieval-modern cemetery found at the Hospital de Santo António (Porto), were included in this research. Samples presented five different conditions: unburnt, and burnt at maximum temperatures of 300°C, 500°C, 700°C and 900°C. Each sample was prepared to allow observation using binocular transmitted light microscopes with ×10, ×25 and ×40 magnifications. Results indicated that, if burial led to bioerosion, this will r...
Research Interests: Geography, Archaeology, Experimental Archaeology, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Science, and 11 moreBioarchaeology, Histology, Survey (Archaeological Method & Theory), Taphonomy, Bioerosion, Forensic Taphonomy, Human Taphonomy, Cremation, Forensic Osteology, Bioarcheology, and Forensic Osteoarchaeology
The estimation of the maximum temperature affecting skeletal remains was previously attempted via infrared techniques. However, fossilization may cause changes in the composition of bones that replicate those from burned bones. We... more
The estimation of the maximum temperature affecting skeletal remains was previously attempted via infrared techniques. However, fossilization may cause changes in the composition of bones that replicate those from burned bones. We presently investigated the potential of three OH/P indices (intensity ratios of characteristic infrared bands for OH and phosphate groups, respectively) to identify bones burned at high temperatures (>800 °C) and to discriminate between fossil and burned archeological bones, using vibrational spectroscopy: combined inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and FTIR-ATR. The INS analyses were performed on two unburned samples and 14 burned samples of human femur and humerus. FTIR-ATR focused on three different samples: (i) modern bones comprising 638 unburned and 623 experimentally burned (400-1000 °C) samples; (ii) archeological cremated human skeletal remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages comprising 25 samples; and (iii) fossil remains of the Reptilia class f...
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Metric features are often the only preserved sexually dimorphic features to allow sex estimation in burned human remains, but this is complicated by heat-induced dimensional changes. The potential of odontometry for sex estimation was... more
Metric features are often the only preserved sexually dimorphic features to allow sex estimation in burned human remains, but this is complicated by heat-induced dimensional changes. The potential of odontometry for sex estimation was investigated. A sample of permanent lower second pre-molars from 20 males and 20 females was experimentally burned at 900°C to assess heat-induced changes in the sexual dimorphism of seven dimensions of the cementum-enamel junction and the root. Four of them, cementum-enamel junction perimeter; mesiodistal, buccolingual and perimeter at the mid-root level, were investigated for the first time. Also, five measurements combining some of the isolated standard measurements were investigated. Additionally, 10 permanent upper central incisors and 10 permanent lower first molars were experimentally burned at 400°C and 700° C to document heat-induced dimensional changes and serve as comparison with the 900°C sample. Results showed that most of the standard mea...
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The analysis of burned bone stumbles on the problems raised by the heatinduced changes that seriously interfere with the methods adopted by biological anthropologists. These changes especially affect the structure of bone leading to... more
The analysis of burned bone stumbles on the problems raised by the heatinduced changes that seriously interfere with the methods adopted by biological anthropologists. These changes especially affect the structure of bone leading to fragmentation, dimensional modification, warping and fracturing. As a result, quantitative analysis based on measurements and weighing are usually overlooked due to uncertainties regarding their ability to correctly process burned skeletal remains. Although some pioneering research on this issue has been carried out in the Past, this remained sporadic and with little application from bioanthropologists. In addition, a significant part of that research was either developed on rather small samples of human bones or on samples of faunal bones. Also, some other investigation was carried out by extrapolating from the results obtained on unburned skeletons, which is an inadequate indirect approach. The present research tackled these problems by analysing prese...
After the publication of the first article in 2014, 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection, housed in the Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, has been growing.... more
After the publication of the first article in 2014, 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection, housed in the Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Department of Life Sciences at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, has been growing. Currently, the collection is composed of 302 complete adult skeletons of both sexes, which means that in 5 years it has doubled. The collection consists mostly of elderly individuals, with only 12.25% of the individuals aged less than 61 years old. All individuals are Portuguese nationals who died between 1982 and 2012. Ninety individuals exhibit prostheses, other medical devices and signs of surgical procedures. Moreover, a sub-collection of experimentally burned skeletons is under development, and currently includes 56 individuals (18.54% of the collection). The 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection constitutes a fundamental tool for forensic anthropology research, including the development and validation studies of methods that focus on elderly individuals, as can be ascertained by the numerous scientific publications and academic scholarship that have been produced in previous years.
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Editorial Vou tirar já isto do caminho: sou antropólogo. Apesar do meu trabalho actual se focar exclusivamente em antropologia biológica, a minha formação de raíz é mais abrangente. Tirei a licenciatura na Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e... more
Editorial Vou tirar já isto do caminho: sou antropólogo. Apesar do meu trabalho actual se focar exclusivamente em antropologia biológica, a minha formação de raíz é mais abrangente. Tirei a licenciatura na Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, cujo currículo, apesar de incluir algumas (poucas) cadeiras ligadas à antropologia biológica, está essencialmente vocacionado para a antropologia social e cultural. Obviamente, poderei ser acusado de indiscreta parcialidade, porém não hesito em afirmar que toda e qualquer comunidade, beneficiaria do ensino universal da antropologia, tornando-a mais tolerante e auto-crítica. Conhecer " o outro " de forma aprofundada, e não apenas através dos noticiários, confere-nos uma capacidade inigualável de aceitar a diferença como elemento básico e inescapável da condição humana. A variabilidade e flexibilidade culturais que nos caracterizam estão estreitamente ligadas ao nosso sucesso enquanto espécie, uma das mais bem-sucedidas do planeta. Se assim não fosse, o Homo sapiens nunca teria saído de África, espalhando-se pelos quatro cantos do mundo, pois o seu kit cultural pouco sentido faria em outras paragens tão distintas como a selva amazónica ou o ártico. Podemos criticar, discordar, repudiar e mesmo punir as manifestações culturais do " outro " mas, e agora num sentido intencionalmente biológico, não há dúvida que a diversidade cultural nos trouxe mais benefícios do que desvantagens e isso é demonstrável de forma muito simples: a nossa espécie ainda não se extinguiu. Creio ser seguro afirmar que ninguém mais que o/a antropólogo/a social e cultural, criticamente ciente dos seus próprios preconceitos, mas alegadamente capaz de se abstrair deles, está equipado para resgatar e trazer à luz as motivações profundas que estão subjacentes ao quadro sócio-cultural de determinada comunidade. Ninguém como ele/ela domina melhor os conceitos de " relativismo cultural " , " diferença " e o " outro ". Esses ensinamentos acompanham-me até hoje e fá-lo-ão previsivelmente sempre, independentemente de qual venha a ser a minha ocupação no futuro. Aliás, a antropologia biológica utiliza uma abordagem biocultural para a qual, no meu caso pessoal, muito contribui a minha formação de base. Esclarecido este ponto, foco-me então no verdadeiro motivo deste editorial, que pretende ser um ponto de situação após o último concurso de bolsas de doutoramento da Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). Eu sei, é um grande salto, mas peço-vos alguma paciência, há-de fazer sentido. Uma vez mais, foi geral o desapontamento entre a comunidade de antropólogos biológicos ao depararem-se com a razia que o painel de avaliação fez aos candidatos provenientes desta área científica. Todos sabemos que a actividade científica não vive os seus melhores dias em Portugal, e que insuficiências ao nível do financiamento público têm afectado de forma transversal todas as áreas do saber. Porém, não posso deixar de estranhar que, no mesmo painel de avaliação, as taxas de sucesso de atribuição de bolsa aos candidatos tenham sido tão díspares. Houve 31 candidatos, 23 deles da área da antropologia social e cultural e oito da área da antropologia biológica. Cerca de 43,5% dos alunos provenientes da antropologia social e cultural (10 em 23) obtiveram bolsa enquanto isso
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Algumas metodologias convencionais para a estimativa da idade à morte são frequentemente pouco aplicáveis a restos esqueléticos sujeitos a alterações térmico induzidas e urge por isso encontrar alternativas viáveis. A dentina e o cimento... more
Algumas metodologias convencionais para a estimativa da idade à morte são frequentemente pouco aplicáveis a restos esqueléticos sujeitos a alterações térmico induzidas e urge por isso encontrar alternativas viáveis. A dentina e o cimento dentários apresentam boa resistência às altas temperaturas, tendo assim, em teoria, potencial para servirem de base a novas metodologias mais ajustadas a este tipo de restos humanos. O objetivo deste trabalho consistiu em averiguar a existência de uma correlação estatisticamente significativa entre a espessura relativa de cimento em função da espessura da dentina na zona da raiz e a idade cronológica em dentes submetidos a tratamento térmico a 400oC e a 900oC numa mufla elétrica. Para tal, uma amostra de 20 dentes pertencentes a 9 mulheres e 11 homens portugueses de idade conhecida (33-88 anos), doados através de consultórios dentários após consentimento informado, foram observados microscopicamente de forma a medir as espessuras da dentina e cimento. Não se observaram associações estatisticamente significativas entre a proporção dos tecidos avaliados e a idade conhecida. Este resultado pode advir de dois cenários possíveis: i) nenhuma correlação entre as duas variáveis era pré-existente à queima; ou ii) as alterações térmico-induzidas terão afetado negativamente essa eventual correlação pré-existente. Ainda assim, foi possível observar uma maior espessura relativa de cimento no sexo masculino em comparação com a do sexo feminino. Embora sem utilidade para a estimativa da idade à morte, este trabalho suscita a possibilidade de investigação futura sobre o potencial dos tecidos dentários para a diagnose do sexo em dentes queimados. No entanto, a espessura relativa parece estar dependente da idade e isso pode ser um obstáculo para o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia baseada nesse critério visto que esse parâmetro é muitas vezes desconhecido.
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A escavação arqueológica de emergência realizada em 2008, no Largo da Igreja de Sarilhos Grandes (Montijo), no âmbito de uma empreitada do Grupo Águas de Portugal (SIMARSUL), permitiu identificar, no adro da Igreja de São Jorge, vinte e... more
A escavação arqueológica de emergência realizada em 2008, no Largo da Igreja de Sarilhos Grandes (Montijo), no âmbito de uma empreitada do Grupo Águas de Portugal (SIMARSUL), permitiu identificar, no adro da Igreja de São Jorge, vinte e três enterramentos e seis ossários.
No decurso da escavação arqueológica a equipa de antropologia realizou a recolha de amostras de sedimento com o objetivo de submetê-los a uma análise paleoparasitológica, paleopatológica e de paleodieta. Essas análises permitiram identificar nos enterramentos nº8, 9, 13 e 22 parasitas que ainda não haviam sido encontrados em material arqueológico na Europa, bem como vestígios alimentares como amido de batata e arroz. Em curso encontra-se a pesquisa das paleodietas por análises de isótopos e do cálculo dentário.
As análises isotópicas de δ13C e δ15N desenvolvidas em quatro indivíduos sugerem uma dieta principalmente de origem terrestre, com uma contribuição variável de proteínas animais procedentes de organismos marinhos (entre 30% e 43% do carbono presente no colagénio).
As datações por AMS de alguns dos indivíduos corroboram a hipótese da população de Sarilhos Grandes ter estado em contato ou mesmo ter participado diretamente nas primeiras expedições ao continente americano. Sarilhos Grandes foi nos alvores da Modernidade e em época Moderna uma povoação vocacionada para o mar. São reconhecidas referências para a participação de montijences nas primeiras expedições na América do Sul. Os resultados da datação e da paleodieta indiciam que o consumo de batata foi introduzido em Portugal em data mais antiga do que estava documentado até agora. A análise em curso do tártaro dentário fornecerá novos dados que contribuirão para um melhor entendimento desta hipótese.
No decurso da escavação arqueológica a equipa de antropologia realizou a recolha de amostras de sedimento com o objetivo de submetê-los a uma análise paleoparasitológica, paleopatológica e de paleodieta. Essas análises permitiram identificar nos enterramentos nº8, 9, 13 e 22 parasitas que ainda não haviam sido encontrados em material arqueológico na Europa, bem como vestígios alimentares como amido de batata e arroz. Em curso encontra-se a pesquisa das paleodietas por análises de isótopos e do cálculo dentário.
As análises isotópicas de δ13C e δ15N desenvolvidas em quatro indivíduos sugerem uma dieta principalmente de origem terrestre, com uma contribuição variável de proteínas animais procedentes de organismos marinhos (entre 30% e 43% do carbono presente no colagénio).
As datações por AMS de alguns dos indivíduos corroboram a hipótese da população de Sarilhos Grandes ter estado em contato ou mesmo ter participado diretamente nas primeiras expedições ao continente americano. Sarilhos Grandes foi nos alvores da Modernidade e em época Moderna uma povoação vocacionada para o mar. São reconhecidas referências para a participação de montijences nas primeiras expedições na América do Sul. Os resultados da datação e da paleodieta indiciam que o consumo de batata foi introduzido em Portugal em data mais antiga do que estava documentado até agora. A análise em curso do tártaro dentário fornecerá novos dados que contribuirão para um melhor entendimento desta hipótese.
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RESUMO Os bioantropólogos são frequentemente solicitados para analisar vestígios humanos queimados, recuperados tanto de contextos arqueológicos como forenses. Os dentes estão entre as peças esqueléticas que melhor resistem à fragmentação... more
RESUMO Os bioantropólogos são frequentemente solicitados para analisar vestígios humanos queimados, recuperados tanto de contextos arqueológicos como forenses. Os dentes estão entre as peças esqueléticas que melhor resistem à fragmentação e podem, por isso, ser vitais para a compreensão do contexto e das condições da queima. O objetivo deste trabalho é documentar as alterações térmico-induzidas em dentes humanos experimentalmente expostos a diferentes temperaturas (400°C, 700°C e 900°C), nomeadamente as que se referem à cor, às fraturas e à massa. Entre os dentes cedidos por pacientes de clínicas dentárias após extração médica, foram selecionadas três subamostras de dentes permanentes: 10 incisivos centrais superiores, 10
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The study of bioarchaeological evidence associated with burials is essential for achieving a global perspective on cremation as a funerary practice, its chronological and geographical distribution, as well as its inner socio-cultural and... more
The study of bioarchaeological evidence associated with burials is essential for achieving a global perspective on cremation as a funerary practice, its chronological and geographical distribution, as well as its inner socio-cultural and technological diversity. However, for that purpose, similar and consistent analyses must be adopted by bioarchaeologists to enable intra- and inter-sites comparisons. The 1995–2015 literature encompassing 84 geographically representative articles concerning bioarchaeological studies of burned human skeletal remains is reviewed herein. The objective was to assess methodological variability. Information concerning colour, fragmentation, skeleton completeness, ‘skeletal region’ representation, non-human funerary assemblage, pre-burning condition of the remains, minimum number of individuals, biological profile, trauma and pathologies was considered. The results demonstrate that certain methods were used by almost all researchers. That was the case for colour description (91 %), skeleton completeness (91 %), minimum number of individuals (96 %), age-at-death (100 %) and sex of the individuals (95 %). Researchers are much more divided about the implementation of the remaining methods. Methodological choices also vary. The asymmetries in the selection of the analyses that are undertaken can lead to different interpretations and conclusions of the contexts under study. This may prevent consistent comparisons within the same site and between different sites. We emphasize the need for bioarchaeologists to discuss and standardize analytical procedures for studying cremated remains.
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We have critically investigated the ATR-IR spectroscopy data behavior of burned human teeth as opposed to the generally observed behavior in human bones that were subjected to heat treatment, whether deliberate or accidental. It is shown... more
We have critically investigated the ATR-IR spectroscopy data behavior of burned human teeth as opposed to the generally observed behavior in human bones that were subjected to heat treatment, whether deliberate or accidental. It is shown that the deterioration of the crystallinity index (CI) behavior sometimes observed in bones subjected to high temperature appears to be of higher frequency in the case of bioapatite from teeth. This occurs because the formation of the í µí»½-tricalcium phosphate (í µí»½-TCP) phase, otherwise known as whitlockite, clearly ascertained by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns collected on the same powdered specimens investigated by ATR-IR. These results point to the need of combining more than one physicochemical technique even if apparently well suitable, in order to verify whether the assumed conditions assessed by spectroscopy are fully maintained in the specimens after temperature and/or mechanical processing.
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In the year of 2015, the Group of Studies in Human evolution (GEEvH) completed ten years of existence. Since its foundation, GEEvH's has played an important role in the difficult task of communicating science in Portugal in the field of... more
In the year of 2015, the Group of Studies in Human evolution (GEEvH) completed ten years of existence. Since its foundation, GEEvH's has played an important role in the difficult task of communicating science in Portugal in the field of human evolution. In this paper, an overview of the main activities developed by GEEvH in the last decade as well as upcoming goals, will be provided. This approach will be framed by a short theoretical introduction to Charles Darwin's
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The study of the Bom Santo Cave (central Portugal), a Neolithic cemetery, indicates a complex social, palaeoeconomic, and population scenario. With isotope, aDNA, and provenance, analyses of raw materials coupled with stylistic... more
The study of the Bom Santo Cave (central Portugal), a Neolithic cemetery, indicates a complex social, palaeoeconomic, and population scenario. With isotope, aDNA, and provenance, analyses of raw materials coupled with stylistic variability of material culture items and palaeogeographical data, light is shed on the territory and social organization of a population dated to 3800–3400 cal BC, i.e. the Middle Neolithic. Results indicate an itinerant farming, segmentary society, where exogamic practices
were the norm. Its lifeway may be that of the earliest megalithic builders of the region, but further research is needed to correctly evaluate the degree of this community’s participation in such a phenomenon.
were the norm. Its lifeway may be that of the earliest megalithic builders of the region, but further research is needed to correctly evaluate the degree of this community’s participation in such a phenomenon.
Research Interests: Stable Isotope Analysis, Pottery (Archaeology), Material Culture Studies, Neolithic Archaeology, Use Wear Analysis, and 11 moreLithic Technology, Ancient DNA (Archaeology), Ancient DNA Research, Provenance studies of archaeological material, Strontium Isotope Analysis, Megalithism, Cave and Karst Studies, Human Mobility, Strontium, carbon and oxygen isotope analysis, Funeray Practices, and Ancient DNA of Human Populations
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The dental structures are considered the most resistant material of the human body, even under extreme conditions such as high temperatures and, therefore, are valuable to Biological Anthropology, both in forensic and archaeological... more
The dental structures are considered the most resistant material of the human body, even under extreme conditions such as high temperatures and, therefore, are valuable to Biological Anthropology, both in forensic and archaeological contexts. Nevertheless, the understanding of heat-induced dental changes, essential to infer biological data in unidentified individuals, remains somewhat reduced. Hence, the present study, undertaken as part of the ResearcH PrOject of the CEI/XXI Burned SkeleTons (HOT), is an attempt to extend the research field and to endeavor an alternative method to assess age-at-death. The main objective is to evaluate the viability of counting the tooth cementum lines at two different temperatures (400oC and 900oC). Thus, freshly extracted permanent teeth from individuals of known age and sex were collected in dental institutes. To investigate age-at-death, a sample composed of 60 monoradicular teeth, 23 upper and 21 lower incisors, 8 upper and 8 lower canines (from 30 women and 22 men, ages from 22 to 88 years), were burned at 400oC and 900oC. Although more research is needed, preliminary results suggest that cementum incremental lines are still discernible and countable in teeth burned at 400oC, and visible at 900oC. Therefore, this approach seems promising and may complement other existing techniques towards the positive identification from burned human remains, ensuring maximum data recovery.
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O presente estudo de caso apresenta o perfil biológico e paleopatológico de um indivíduo do sexo masculino e de meia-idade que viveu presumivelmente no século XVI d.C. O seu esqueleto foi exumado em 1994, durante as obras de renovação do... more
O presente estudo de caso apresenta o perfil biológico e paleopatológico de um indivíduo do sexo masculino e de meia-idade que viveu presumivelmente no século XVI d.C. O seu esqueleto foi exumado em 1994, durante as obras de renovação do sistema de canalização da Fábrica dos Pasteis de Belém (Lisboa). Consiste num enterramento isolado e afastado do solo religioso - uma prática incomum para a época. Em particular, a análise paleopatológica identificou desequilíbrios homeostáticos em diferentes períodos da sua vida e diversas deformações ósseas como spina bífida occulta, escoliose, assimetria no ângulo de torção dos colos femorais e hallux valgus. As duas últimas condições são raramente mencionadas na literatura antropológica e este caso serve, por isso, para chamar a atenção dos bioantropólogos para a sua existência.
The potential of the petrous bone for sex estimation has been recurrently investigated in the past because it is very resilient and therefore tends to preserve rather well. The sexual dimorphism of the lateral angle of the internal... more
The potential of the petrous bone for sex estimation has been recurrently investigated in the past because it is very resilient and therefore tends to preserve rather well. The sexual dimorphism of the lateral angle of the internal auditory canal was investigated in two samples of cremated Portuguese individuals in order to assess its usefulness for sex estimation in burned remains. These comprised the cremated petrous bones from fleshed cadavers (N = 54) and from dry and disarticulated bones (N = 36). Although differences between males and females were more patent in the sample of skeletons, none presented a very significant sexual dimorphism, thus precluding any attempt of sex estimation. This may have been the result of a difficult application of the method and of a differential impact of heat-induced warping which is known to be less frequent in cremains from dry skeletons. Results suggest that the lateral angle method cannot be applied to burned human skeletal remains.
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The purpose of this study is to characterize and contextualize the new collection of identified skeletons housed in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. The 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection,... more
The purpose of this study is to characterize and contextualize the new collection of identified skeletons housed in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Coimbra,
Portugal. The 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection, which is still being enlarged, is currently composed of 159 complete adult skeletons (age at death range: 29 to 99 years) of both sexes. The skeletons consist almost exclusively of Portuguese nationals who died between 1995 and 2008. The state of preservation is good and more detailed antemortem information is presently being collected.
This collection constitutes a fundamental tool for forensic anthropology research, including development and validation studies of skeletal aging and sexing methods that target
elderly adults. Moreover, this collection can also be used in conjunction with the other reference collections housed in the University of Coimbra to investigate secular trends in skeletal development and aging, among others.
Portugal. The 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection, which is still being enlarged, is currently composed of 159 complete adult skeletons (age at death range: 29 to 99 years) of both sexes. The skeletons consist almost exclusively of Portuguese nationals who died between 1995 and 2008. The state of preservation is good and more detailed antemortem information is presently being collected.
This collection constitutes a fundamental tool for forensic anthropology research, including development and validation studies of skeletal aging and sexing methods that target
elderly adults. Moreover, this collection can also be used in conjunction with the other reference collections housed in the University of Coimbra to investigate secular trends in skeletal development and aging, among others.
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Physical secular changes in the human skeleton may interfere with the reliability of metric methods so these should be monitored from time to time to make sure that they are still up to date. In this research, sex estimation methods... more
Physical secular changes in the human skeleton may interfere with the reliability of metric methods so these should be monitored from time to time to make sure that they are still up to date. In this research, sex estimation methods conventionally applied to the Portuguese population and developed on a collection from the 19th and early 20th centuries were tested in a sample of recently deceased individuals (N = 82) with the same ancestry composed of skeletons exhumed from the civil cemetery of Prado do Repouso (Porto). Referenced sex discriminating cut-off points were applied to the latter and the percentage of correct classification resulting from this procedure was calculated.
A positive secular trend was found for the dimensions of most features that were investigated with clear implications for metric sex estimation. In comparison with the published values, the correct classification rates obtained on the modern sample were smaller in most cases. In particular, the results indicated that the use of established references for tarsal bones to sex estimate recent individuals is unadvisable. Therefore, new metric references developed on modern individuals are needed for the evaluation of remains from recent forensic contexts. Alternatively, when those are not available, more conservative interpretations of the results obtained through the application of outdated references are required when applied to modern individuals.
A positive secular trend was found for the dimensions of most features that were investigated with clear implications for metric sex estimation. In comparison with the published values, the correct classification rates obtained on the modern sample were smaller in most cases. In particular, the results indicated that the use of established references for tarsal bones to sex estimate recent individuals is unadvisable. Therefore, new metric references developed on modern individuals are needed for the evaluation of remains from recent forensic contexts. Alternatively, when those are not available, more conservative interpretations of the results obtained through the application of outdated references are required when applied to modern individuals.
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The determination of the original condition of human remains prior to burning is critical since it may facilitate the reconstruction of circumstances surrounding death in forensic cases. Although the use of heat-induced bone changes is... more
The determination of the original condition of human remains prior to burning is critical since it may facilitate the reconstruction of circumstances surrounding death in forensic cases. Although the use of heat-induced bone changes is not a completely reliable proxy for determining pre-burning conditions, it is not completely devoid of potential, as we can observe a clear difference in the occurrence of such features between the fleshed and dry bones. In order to quantify this difference and determine its true value for forensic research, the frequencies of heat-induced warping and thumbnail fractures were documented on modern cremations of cadavers from recently deceased individuals and from the cremations of skeletons previously inhumed. The effect of age, sex, time span from death to cremation, duration and temperature of combustion on those frequencies was statistically investigated. Results demonstrated that the heat-induced features were significantly more frequent in the sample of cadavers. In addition, warping was determined to be the most useful indicator of the pre-burning condition of human remains. Temperature of combustion was the only variable having a significant effect on the frequency of both features, suggesting that fluctuation of temperature, along with collagen preservation and recrystallization of the inorganic phase, is paramount for their occurrence. Both warping and thumbnail fractures may eventually be used for the estimation of the pre-burning condition of human remains in lack of other indicators, but their reliability is far from absolute. Ideally, such inference must be supported by other data such as skeletal representation, objects or defleshing marks on the bones.
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A escavação arqueológica na necrópole da Abóbada decorreu no âmbito do Projecto ESTELA. Tinha como objectivo a caracterização do local de proveniência da chamada “Estela do Guerreiro”, com escrita do Sudoeste, identificada em 1972. O... more
A escavação arqueológica na necrópole da Abóbada decorreu no âmbito do Projecto ESTELA. Tinha como objectivo a caracterização do local de proveniência da chamada “Estela do Guerreiro”, com escrita do Sudoeste, identificada em 1972. O resultado dos trabalhos aí desenvolvidos entre 2010 e 2011
permitiram reunir um conjunto de informação quanto à cronologia, tipo de estruturas funerárias e documentar os respetivos rituais funerários. Apesar da sua afectação pela lavra mecânica, foi possível registar a presença de dois monumentos funerários pétreos quadrangulares e de diversos covachos em fossa simples com deposição secundária das cremações. Os restos humanos apresentam-se completamente calcinados e a sua fragmentação é muito elevada. Com uma única clara excepção, foram depositados diretamente no solo sem recurso a urna e as evidências sugerem que a cremação se terá provavelmente dado pouco tempo após a morte, com os tecidos moles ainda presentes.
The archaeological excavacion in the necropolis of Abóbada is included in the ESTELA project. Its main objective was to know the procedence site of the called “warrior stela”, the most famous south portuguese Pre-Roman inscribed stone. The result of the works developed between 2010 and 2011 had allowed to congregate a set of information about the chronology, type of funerary structures and funerary recording with its corresponding ritual. Although the bad preservation, it was observed the presence of two quadrangular burial monuments and diverse holes in simple fossa with secondary deposition of the cremations. The human remains are completely calcined and breaked. They had been
deposited directly in the ground without any urn (with just one exception) and the evidences suggest that the cremation could have be done little time after the death.
permitiram reunir um conjunto de informação quanto à cronologia, tipo de estruturas funerárias e documentar os respetivos rituais funerários. Apesar da sua afectação pela lavra mecânica, foi possível registar a presença de dois monumentos funerários pétreos quadrangulares e de diversos covachos em fossa simples com deposição secundária das cremações. Os restos humanos apresentam-se completamente calcinados e a sua fragmentação é muito elevada. Com uma única clara excepção, foram depositados diretamente no solo sem recurso a urna e as evidências sugerem que a cremação se terá provavelmente dado pouco tempo após a morte, com os tecidos moles ainda presentes.
The archaeological excavacion in the necropolis of Abóbada is included in the ESTELA project. Its main objective was to know the procedence site of the called “warrior stela”, the most famous south portuguese Pre-Roman inscribed stone. The result of the works developed between 2010 and 2011 had allowed to congregate a set of information about the chronology, type of funerary structures and funerary recording with its corresponding ritual. Although the bad preservation, it was observed the presence of two quadrangular burial monuments and diverse holes in simple fossa with secondary deposition of the cremations. The human remains are completely calcined and breaked. They had been
deposited directly in the ground without any urn (with just one exception) and the evidences suggest that the cremation could have be done little time after the death.
Research Interests:
"Sex determination of human burned skeletal remains is extremely hard to achieve because of heatrelated fragmentation, warping and dimensional changes. In particular, the latter is impeditive of osteometric analyses that are based on... more
"Sex determination of human burned skeletal remains is extremely hard to achieve because of heatrelated fragmentation, warping and dimensional changes. In particular, the latter is impeditive of
osteometric analyses that are based on references developed on unburned bones. New osteometric references were thus obtained which allow for more reliable sex determinations.
The calcined remains of cremated Portuguese individuals were examined and specific standard measurements of the humerus, femur, talus and calcaneus were recorded. This allowed for the compilation of new sex discriminating osteometric references which were then tested on independent samples with good results. Both the use of simple section points and of logistic regression equations provided successful sex classification scores.
These references may now be used for the sex determination of burned skeletons. Its reliability is highest for contemporary Portuguese remains but nonetheless these results have important repercussion for forensic research. More conservative use of these references may also prove valuable for other populations as well as for archaeological research."
osteometric analyses that are based on references developed on unburned bones. New osteometric references were thus obtained which allow for more reliable sex determinations.
The calcined remains of cremated Portuguese individuals were examined and specific standard measurements of the humerus, femur, talus and calcaneus were recorded. This allowed for the compilation of new sex discriminating osteometric references which were then tested on independent samples with good results. Both the use of simple section points and of logistic regression equations provided successful sex classification scores.
These references may now be used for the sex determination of burned skeletons. Its reliability is highest for contemporary Portuguese remains but nonetheless these results have important repercussion for forensic research. More conservative use of these references may also prove valuable for other populations as well as for archaeological research."
Research Interests:
Weight is often one of the few recoverable data when analyzing human cremains but references are still rare, especially for European populations. Mean weights for skeletal remains were thus documented for Portuguese modern cremations of... more
Weight is often one of the few recoverable data when analyzing human cremains but references are still rare, especially for European populations. Mean weights for skeletal remains were thus documented for Portuguese modern cremations of both recently deceased individuals and dry skeletons, and the effect of age, sex, and the intensity of combustion was investigated using both multivariate and univariate statistics. The cremains from fresh cadavers were significantly heavier than the ones from dry skeletons regardless of sex and age cohort (p < 0.001 to p = 0.003). As expected, males were heavier than females and age had a powerful effect in female skeletal weight. The effect of the intensity of combustion in cremains weight was unclear. These weight references may, in some cases, help estimating the minimum number of individuals, the completeness of the skeletal assemblage, and the sex of an unknown individual.
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The interdisciplinary research of burned bones is focused in this paper by presenting and discussing some methods that can assist the bioanthropologist in the analysis of this kind of remains. In particular, some techniques based on the... more
The interdisciplinary research of burned bones is focused in this paper by presenting and discussing some methods that can assist the bioanthropologist in the analysis of this kind of remains. In particular, some techniques based on the histological structure of bone and on its molecular composition allow new ways of identifying burned human bone and of determining some aspects of the biological and ontological profile of an individual. A brief summary of those techniques is thus here presented.
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The analysis of burned bone stumbles on the problems raised by the heatinduced changes that seriously interfere with the methods adopted by biological anthropologists. These changes especially affect the structure of bone leading to... more
The analysis of burned bone stumbles on the problems raised by the heatinduced changes that seriously interfere with the methods adopted by biological anthropologists. These changes especially affect the structure of bone leading to fragmentation, dimensional modification, warping and fracturing. As a result, quantitative analysis based on measurements and weighing are usually overlooked due to uncertainties regarding their ability to correctly process burned skeletal remains. Although some pioneering research on this issue has been carried out in the Past, this remained sporadic and with little application from bioanthropologists. In addition, a significant part of that research was either developed on rather small samples of human bones or on samples of faunal bones. Also, some other investigation was carried out by extrapolating from the results obtained on unburned skeletons, which is an inadequate indirect approach. The present research tackled these problems by analysing present-day cremations on a modern crematorium in order to investigate three distinct issues. The first one regarded the relevance of heat-induced warping and thumbnail fracturing for the determination of the pre-cremation condition of the human remains. Secondly, the implication of heat-related dimensional change on sexual dimorphism and consequent sex determination from calcined bones was addressed. Finally, the value of postcremation skeletal weights for bioarchaeological interpretation of funerary contexts was also investigated. This was done by examining human skeletons both prior and after cremation on two different cremation samples: one composed of recently dead cadavers
submitted to cremation; and another one composed of dry skeletons recently exhumed.
The research demonstrated that, although heat-induced warping and thumbnail fracturing is much more typical of cremations on fleshed cadavers, these features are also present on the burned remains of defleshed skeletons. Therefore, the occurrence of these features is probably related to the preservation of collagen-apatite bonds which play an important role on the mechanical strength of bone. As for sexual dimorphism, the results revealed that it is not significantly affected by heat and that such differences between females and males can be useful to classify unknown individuals according to sex based on the univariate metric analysis of calcined bones. Therefore, sex determination of this kind of material needs not to rely exclusively on the examination of morphological traits which requires a multivariate approach. At last, logistic regression coefficients that are able to estimate the expected proportion of the specific skeletal regions present on funerary assemblages were developed. This was carried out in order to assist on the interpretation of the course of action adopted during the recovery of the skeletal remains from the pyre and their consequent deposition in the grave. Such method was proven to be more dependable than previous ones based on weight references from unburned skeletons. This research demonstrated that, although heat-induced bone changes can indeed be very extensive, their analytical potential is not completely wiped out. Nonetheless, such analysis needs to be based on references that are specific to burned bone to allow for reliable insights. As a result, additional research is needed to better equip bioanthropologists with new analytical techniques more suitable for the investigation of burned human skeletal remains.
submitted to cremation; and another one composed of dry skeletons recently exhumed.
The research demonstrated that, although heat-induced warping and thumbnail fracturing is much more typical of cremations on fleshed cadavers, these features are also present on the burned remains of defleshed skeletons. Therefore, the occurrence of these features is probably related to the preservation of collagen-apatite bonds which play an important role on the mechanical strength of bone. As for sexual dimorphism, the results revealed that it is not significantly affected by heat and that such differences between females and males can be useful to classify unknown individuals according to sex based on the univariate metric analysis of calcined bones. Therefore, sex determination of this kind of material needs not to rely exclusively on the examination of morphological traits which requires a multivariate approach. At last, logistic regression coefficients that are able to estimate the expected proportion of the specific skeletal regions present on funerary assemblages were developed. This was carried out in order to assist on the interpretation of the course of action adopted during the recovery of the skeletal remains from the pyre and their consequent deposition in the grave. Such method was proven to be more dependable than previous ones based on weight references from unburned skeletons. This research demonstrated that, although heat-induced bone changes can indeed be very extensive, their analytical potential is not completely wiped out. Nonetheless, such analysis needs to be based on references that are specific to burned bone to allow for reliable insights. As a result, additional research is needed to better equip bioanthropologists with new analytical techniques more suitable for the investigation of burned human skeletal remains.
Research Interests:
Bones submitted to heat experience structural and chromatic modifications. In particular, heat-induced bone warping and thumbnail fractures have been linked to the burning of fleshed and green bones – where the soft tissues have been... more
Bones submitted to heat experience structural and chromatic modifications. In particular, heat-induced bone warping and thumbnail fractures have been linked to the burning of fleshed and green bones – where the soft tissues have been removed from the bones soon after death – in contrast to dry bones. Those have been suggested as indicators of the state of the individual before being burned thus allowing inferences about the funerary behaviour of archaeological populations. A large sample of 61 skeletons submitted to cremation has been examined for the presence of both of these heat-induced features. Although uncommon, bone warping and thumbnail fractures were present in some of the skeletons demonstrating that its presence is not restricted to the burning of non-dried bones as generally believed. Rather than being an indicator of the presence of bones with soft tissues, bone warping seems to be more of an indicator of the preservation of collagen–apatite links which can be maintained on dry bones with low collagen deterioration. In addition, our results also do not confirm thumbnail fractures as an exclusive sign of the burning of bones with soft tissues. As a result, these heat-induced changes should be used with caution when trying to infer about the pre-burning state of an individual.
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The influence of heat-induced shrinkage on the osteometric sexual dimorphism of human skeletons is still poorly known. In order to investigate this issue, a sample composed of 84 Portuguese individuals cremated at a modern crematorium was... more
The influence of heat-induced shrinkage on the osteometric sexual dimorphism of human skeletons is still poorly known. In order to investigate this issue, a sample composed of 84 Portuguese individuals cremated at a modern crematorium was examined using standard measurements from the femur, the talus and the calcaneus. In addition, sex determination of the sample was attempted by using osteometric standards developed from the Coimbra collection of identified skeletons. This was carried out to assess the extent of the effect of heat-induced shrinkage on the correct classification of known-sex skeletons while using standards developed on unburned skeletons.
Results demonstrated that sexual dimorphism was still observable in the sample of calcined bones despite shrinkage. However, the application of conventional osteometric standards was unsuccessful. As expected, shrinkage caused most females to be correctly classified according to sex, but the sex allocation of males was very poor for all standard measurements.
The results were obtained on a small sample but suggest that univariate metric techniques specifically developed for calcined bones may be valuable for sex determination. This would bring new methodological possibilities for biological anthropology and would enlarge the set of techniques regarding sex determination of burned skeletal remains.
Results demonstrated that sexual dimorphism was still observable in the sample of calcined bones despite shrinkage. However, the application of conventional osteometric standards was unsuccessful. As expected, shrinkage caused most females to be correctly classified according to sex, but the sex allocation of males was very poor for all standard measurements.
The results were obtained on a small sample but suggest that univariate metric techniques specifically developed for calcined bones may be valuable for sex determination. This would bring new methodological possibilities for biological anthropology and would enlarge the set of techniques regarding sex determination of burned skeletal remains.
Research Interests:
Excavations of a Roman cemetery at Encosta de Sant’Ana in Lisbon uncovered a small number of cremation burials. information about cremation practices during this particular period comes mostly from the writings of classical authors such... more
Excavations of a Roman cemetery at Encosta de Sant’Ana in Lisbon uncovered a small number of cremation burials. information about cremation practices during this particular period comes mostly from the writings of classical authors such as Pliny or Cicero. Opportunities to confirm their descriptions in Portugal by direct observation in the archaeological record have been rare. Therefore, the burials from Encosta de Sant’Ana offer the chance to add new knowledge to the picture obtained from faunal and human remains and the material culture itself. A bioarchaeological approach was adopted in order to infer the funerary behaviour of the inhabitants of Olisipo, Roman Lisbon, through their burned skeletal remains. In addition, a new frame of reference was developed to assist in the analysis of bone weight of the urned cremations.
These allowed the reconstruction of funerary rituals and cremation practices.
These allowed the reconstruction of funerary rituals and cremation practices.
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The objective of HOT is to improve our understanding of heat-induced changes to bone and teeth and to improve analytical methods that are specific to burned skeletal remains. In order to do that, skeletons from the CEI/XXI collection are... more
The objective of HOT is to improve our understanding of heat-induced changes to bone and teeth and to improve analytical methods that are specific to burned skeletal remains. In order to do that, skeletons from the CEI/XXI collection are being partially burned under laboratorial conditions. Check our site to know more.
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O estudo multidisciplinar dos restos humanos esqueletizados da gruta-necrópole do Algar do Bom Santo, na Serra de Montejunto, indicou uma população muito heterogénea no que respeita à sua dieta (nove em quinze indivíduos mostraram uma... more
O estudo multidisciplinar dos restos humanos esqueletizados da gruta-necrópole do Algar do Bom Santo, na Serra de Montejunto, indicou uma população muito heterogénea no que respeita à sua dieta (nove em quinze indivíduos mostraram uma componente aquática superior a 20%), mobilidade (onze de catorze indivíduos são não locais, tendo vivido em territórios de geologia mais antiga que a Baixa Estremadura) e genética (em nove indivíduos identificaram-se oito haplogrupos mitocondriais distintos). O modelo interpretativo construído sugere que o território socioeconómico (Carvalho et al. 2016) e a paisagem funerária e cultual (Carvalho s.d.) desta comunidade do Neolítico médio abarcavam o então vasto estuário do Tejo, os seus afluentes (principalmente o Rio Sorraia), e as áreas graníticas da região de Mora / Pavia.
Por outro lado, a análise arqueotanatológica das duas salas escavadas até ao momento revelou práticas funerárias distintas: na Sala A apenas foram identificadas deposições secundárias, e na Sala B detetaram-se tanto deposições primárias como secundárias. Não se encontraram evidências sugestivas da eventual utilização das duas salas na chaîne opératoire de uma única prática funerária. As oferendas fúnebres encontram-se quase exclusivamente na Sala A, excetuando os utensílios em pedra polida, que se distribuem homogeneamente por ambas as salas. Aparentemente, este padrão espacial reflete a coexistência de distintas práticas funerárias, em que a Sala A se integra num processo que implicou a exumação, transporte (o “encadeamento”, sensu Chapman 2000?) e redeposição de restos humanos entre sectores da gruta ou, mais expressivamente, entre necrópoles do território acima definido (Gonçalves et al. 2016). Nesta última hipótese podem estar envolvidas outras grutas estremenhas e megálitos da região de Mora / Pavia, numa dinâmica de práticas funerárias mais alargada (na sua expressão geográfica) e complexa (nos seus rituais) do que normalmente equacionado, e nas quais a possibilidade de segmentação deliberada de esqueletos humanos deve ser investigada.
Por outro lado, a análise arqueotanatológica das duas salas escavadas até ao momento revelou práticas funerárias distintas: na Sala A apenas foram identificadas deposições secundárias, e na Sala B detetaram-se tanto deposições primárias como secundárias. Não se encontraram evidências sugestivas da eventual utilização das duas salas na chaîne opératoire de uma única prática funerária. As oferendas fúnebres encontram-se quase exclusivamente na Sala A, excetuando os utensílios em pedra polida, que se distribuem homogeneamente por ambas as salas. Aparentemente, este padrão espacial reflete a coexistência de distintas práticas funerárias, em que a Sala A se integra num processo que implicou a exumação, transporte (o “encadeamento”, sensu Chapman 2000?) e redeposição de restos humanos entre sectores da gruta ou, mais expressivamente, entre necrópoles do território acima definido (Gonçalves et al. 2016). Nesta última hipótese podem estar envolvidas outras grutas estremenhas e megálitos da região de Mora / Pavia, numa dinâmica de práticas funerárias mais alargada (na sua expressão geográfica) e complexa (nos seus rituais) do que normalmente equacionado, e nas quais a possibilidade de segmentação deliberada de esqueletos humanos deve ser investigada.
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A necrópole do Largo da Igreja (Sarilhos Grandes, Montijo): evidências bioarqueológicas de contato entre Portugal e o Novo Mundo