In this chapter we demonstrate how 3D digital tools augment the archaeothanatological analysis, and by extension provide new ways of framing past experiences of death and burial. We illustrate our... Show moreIn this chapter we demonstrate how 3D digital tools augment the archaeothanatological analysis, and by extension provide new ways of framing past experiences of death and burial. We illustrate our findings with a Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (2500–1700 BC) archaeological case study from the site of Oostwoud-Tuithoorn, West-Frisia, the Netherlands, in which we integrate the outcomes of a traditional post-excavation archaeothanatological analysis with 3D digital reconstruction and simulation. Show less
Archaeological excavations of an enslaved African domestic area at the Spring Bay Flat plantation on the island of Saba, Dutch Caribbean, uncovered a small concentration of artefacts (shell, metal... Show moreArchaeological excavations of an enslaved African domestic area at the Spring Bay Flat plantation on the island of Saba, Dutch Caribbean, uncovered a small concentration of artefacts (shell, metal nails, animal bones and five human teeth) overlaid with a lock hinge, interpreted as a lockbox and its contents. Dental anthropological and multi‐isotope (strontium, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen) analyses of the teeth revealed that they belonged to a single individual who originated from Africa and survived a period of pronounced nutritional stress as a juvenile. The results provide rare insights into the life history of an individual who probably experienced enslavement, (forced) migration from Africa and adaptation to plantation life in the colonial‐era Caribbean. Show less
Leiden. Op een veld in Texas worden elke dag honderd lijken bestudeerd voor politieonderzoek en de wetenschap. Het klinkt als een macabere werkplek, maar de Leidse archeologe Hayley Mickleburgh ... Show moreLeiden. Op een veld in Texas worden elke dag honderd lijken bestudeerd voor politieonderzoek en de wetenschap. Het klinkt als een macabere werkplek, maar de Leidse archeologe Hayley Mickleburgh (31) mikt op een beurs om hier nog jaren onderzoek te verrichten. ‘Er is niks griezeligs aan.’ Show less
Human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts in the Dutch Caribbean and the rest of the region are curated in a variety of facilities such as museums and the premises of heritage... Show moreHuman skeletal remains from archaeological contexts in the Dutch Caribbean and the rest of the region are curated in a variety of facilities such as museums and the premises of heritage organizations, history and archaeology interest groups or in some cases private collections. These curating facilities deal with various challenges regarding the care for human remains, but in many cases a lack of sufficient resources affects the conservation of the human remains that have been under long-term curation. This chapter discusses some of the ways in which storage conditions and documentation of human skeletal remains in the region may cost-effectively be improved. Legislation and guidelines pertaining to the treatment of archaeological human remains in other parts of the world provide a potential framework for the development of conservation strategies for human skeletal remains under (long-term) curation in both the Dutch Caribbean, where legislation and guidelines for Dutch archaeology have recently been introduced, and the Caribbean region as a whole. While conservation of human remains is in the interest of all stakeholders, this chapter emphasizes the strengthening of ties between visiting researchers and curators in order to effectively make use of the available expertise and maintain conservation with very few resources. A model for the post-recovery treatment of archaeological human remains based on museum guidelines recently developed in Europe and shared responsibility between visiting researchers and curators is proposed. Show less
Reading the Dental Record investigates human foodways, health and disease, and certain (gender-related) craft activities in the pre-Columbian Caribbean archipelago, through integrated analyses of... Show moreReading the Dental Record investigates human foodways, health and disease, and certain (gender-related) craft activities in the pre-Columbian Caribbean archipelago, through integrated analyses of patterns of dental wear and pathology in a large number of skeletal remains from the region. Individuals, communities, and regional populations were physically affected by their foodways and cultural practices, leaving permanent traces on the teeth. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, which combines archaeological, bioarchaeological, ethnohistoric, and ethnographic data, as well as evidence from clinical dentistry this study has brought to light hitherto unexplored aspects of lifeways and cultural practices in the pre-Columbian Caribbean. Show less
The Caribbean archaeological record requires immediate attention and protection. Development and natural forces have impacted archaeological sites, destroying or severely damaging them. The... Show moreThe Caribbean archaeological record requires immediate attention and protection. Development and natural forces have impacted archaeological sites, destroying or severely damaging them. The precolumbian site of Lavoutte, located in northern Saint Lucia, has been known as a major Late Ceramic Age (A.D. 1000–1500) settlement since the 1960s, but it has been damaged over the past decades by both natural and human processes. Multidisciplinary field and laboratory methodologies were implemented during a rescue project at the site from 2009 to 2010. This paper presents the results of collaborative efforts between local and international organizations. The first goal was to demonstrate the importance of protection and rescue of endangered archaeological sites. Secondly, we aimed to show that by adopting a multidisciplinary approach including artifact analysis, bioarchaeology, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and geochemistry, severely damaged sites can be of significant informational value. Show less
