| Entry: | The last few days have been interesting in TPC in Allison's recently opened trench, where at first one individual in the topsoil layer popped up as F. 3931, and as it was removed it became apparent that we had many more individuals within this (most likely) Neolithic burial feature. As the number of individuals keeps increasing as we extend the borders of our very unclear cut (which we may not find until we get further below the topsoil), the sequence of events in this particular burial feature become slightly more clear. As of yet, we have for sure 4 individuals (and maybe a fifth), the first of which has already been removed (Sk. 20162). There are 3 skulls/individuals left in situ - 2 adults and 1 juvenile - revealed now. The main concern I have is this - how far do we really need to extend this feature, since we cannot see a defined cut? I worry that we may miss an association of elements, though right now I'm fairly certain we have most all of the feature exposed except for a small corner. Though, every time I think I'm certain of something, we find more bones leading us just that much farther outside our "cut".
As this is my first Neolithic burial to get to work on (as I have only done the later extended burials with one individual in a feature), I am enjoying the challenge of the task to define the burial sequence and associate individuals, but it also brings with it frustrations with the disarticulated bones that "float" in the grave fill or are just completely disarticulated from their anatomical location - especially in this multiple individual context. I've always thought while excavating human burials that if we're going to remove them from their resting place, we should at least do it with diginity and respect. Associating the elements with 1 individual (though a standard in physical anthropology procedure) I think falls into this category of ethics, and I feel ultimately responsible for making sure as much of the individual can be reassociated out of these "floating" contexts within earlier burials of the feature.
Anyhow, we will be lifting the defined thorax/upper limbs and skull of Sk. 20166 tomorrow, and I hope the next skull/skeleton just below/next to Sk. 20166 becomes clearer as we this. |
