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Bioarchaeological Practice and the Curation of Human Skeletal Remains in a Greek Context: The Phaleron Cemetery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2019

Eleni-Anna Prevedorou Open the ORCID record for Eleni-Anna Prevedorou [Opens in a new window]  and
Jane E. Buikstra
Eleni-Anna Prevedorou*
Affiliation:
Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Science, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, and Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281
Jane E. Buikstra
Affiliation:
Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281
*
([email protected], corresponding author)
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Abstract

Human skeletal remains constitute remarkably informative finds, both biologically and socioculturally. Their recovery, preservation, conservation, storage, and analysis are complex issues that need to be addressed within any given biocultural context. Given the country's geography and the long history of human occupation, Greek field archaeology is intense and ongoing, with both rescue and systematic excavations. Human burials are thus frequently encountered in excavations throughout Greece, resulting in the accumulation of osteological material. Some of the common challenges of bioarchaeological research in Greece consist of insufficient time, funding, and documentation in the field; unmet conservation needs and lack of storage space; as well as the long time-gap between excavation and analysis. Here, we give a brief overview of excavation, curation, and bioarchaeological practice within a Greek archaeological framework. We focus on the newly launched Phaleron Bioarchaeological Project on a vast necropolis from the wider Athens region in order to present our methodological approach. Finally, we consider the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in managing large-scale bioarchaeological projects and serving long-term heritage preservation goals.

Los restos humanos tal vez son la clase de material arqueológico más delicada, tanto por razones biológicas como culturales. Su recuperación, preservación, conservación e análisis presentan retos en cualquier contexto biocultural. Dada su geografía y la larga duración de la presencia humana en el país, la arqueología de campo en Grecia es intensiva, con excavaciones sistemáticas o de rescate durante todo el año. Sepulcros, cementerios y restos humanos son encontrados con frecuencia, resultando en la acumulación de material osteológico. Problemas comunes incluyen la falta de tiempo y fondos, la documentación insuficiente en el campo, la carencia de materiales y espacio adecuados para la conservación y el largo intervalo de tiempo entre excavación y análisis. En este trabajo presentamos un breve resumen de los procesos de excavación, preservación, conservación y prácticas de análisis bioarqueológico en Grecia. Nos enfocamos en un nuevo proyecto en la vasta necrópolis de Phaleron, presentando ejemplos y enfoques metodológicos. Finalmente, consideramos el papel que desempeñan los proyectos colaborativos y las instituciones sin fines de lucro como el Laboratorio Wiener de la Escuela Americana de Estudios Clásicos de Atenas en el asesoramiento y manejo de colecciones bioarqueológicas de gran escala para alcanzar las metas de preservación a largo plazo en Grecia.

Keywords

curationconservationbioarchaeologyGreeceancient Athensarchaic and classical antiquitycuraciónconservaciónbioarqueologíaGreciaantigua AtenasAntigüedad Arcaica y Clásica
Type
How to Series
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 7 , Special Issue 1: The Practice and Ethics of Skeletal Conservation , February 2019 , pp. 60 - 67
Copyright
Copyright 2019 © Society for American Archaeology 

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Footnotes

Out of respect for diverse cultural traditions, sensitive photographs of human remains generally are not accepted for publication in any SAA journals, however some waivers of this policy are allowed by the editorial policies, when other alternatives to photography are not effective. Articles in Advances in Archaeological Practice 7(1), a theme issue on The Practice and Ethics of Skeletal Conservation, discuss the need for sensitive and ethical care of human skeletons as they are excavated, documented, conserved, and curated by archaeological projects conducted around the world. Selected images of human skeletons are published here to support education about the best treatments for these human ancestors. No images of Native American or First Nation ancestors are published in this issue. Prior to publication, figures in these manuscripts were carefully reviewed by the Society for American Archaeology president and president-elect.

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