Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 9.4
Three unmarked upper thoracic vertebrae are morphologically and taphonomically compatible
with the numbered vertebrae, matching the description in the field notes of three vertebrae falling away from the
block of ten that were numbered.
numbered consecutively according to position” (1896-47 Accession file). These ten numbered
vertebrae were housed in a separate plastic bag in the drawer with all of the other vertebrae,
along with three more thoracic vertebrae that reassociate perfectly to the ten numbered verte-
brae to form a contiguous column. See
Figure 9.4
. This further supports the contention that
these numbered vertebrae are the ten that Pepper found with the pelvis in Room 32, from
which “other vertebrae (3) fell when the man was removing the surface dirt and these too
were probably in place” (
ibid.
).
Unfortunately, none of the pelvic bones or sacra in this skeletal assemblage seem to bear
any markings to indicate that they were from Room 32, but in the process of reassociation,
a sacrum and pelvis in Catalog Number H/3658 were found to reassociate to the numbered
vertebrae with perfect morphological integrity. The lumbosacral joint is highly specific, so
a good fit between these elements is a very strong indication that these bones represent
a single individual. The sacroiliac joint is also a highly specific joint for reassociation, and
this joint is likewise strongly indicative that these bones represent a single individual. In
this case, the surfaces of both pelves and the sacrum are also coated in adhesive, unlike
any other bones in the assemblage, further confirming that these bones belong together.
These bones are also consistent in their relative lack of arthritic changes and the excellent
overall cortical quality.
Condition of Remains: Documenting Scavenger Modification, Leading
to Additional Reassociation of Remains
These pelvic bones revealed a small amount of surface damage consistent with carnivore
chewing. A pair of femora and tibiae that are consistent with the overall age, rugosity, robus-
ticity, and cortical condition of this vertebral column and pelvis were also found among the
commingled remains of H/3658. Like the pelvic bones, these lower limb bones exhibit
damage consistent with having been chewed extensively by carnivores, including puncture
marks, tooth furrowing, and tooth scoring (
White, 1992; Haglund, 1997
). No other femora of
