Histomorphological Discrimination between Human and Nonhuman Bones of Fragmentary Osteal Remains: Analyses of Burnt Bones from the Ancient Heian Site in the Northern Tohoku District, Japan

DOI Web Site Web Site 75 References
  • Sawada Junmei
    St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki
  • Nara Takashi
    The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Niigata
  • Nakajima Tomofumi
    Aomori Prefectural Archaeological Artifacts Research Center, Aomori
  • Saito Yasushi
    Aomori Prefectural Board of Education, Cultural Properties Protection Division, Aomori
  • Dodo Yukio
    Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai
  • Hirata Kazuaki
    St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 骨組織形態学的方法による骨小片の人獣鑑別：東北北部の平安時代遺跡から出土した焼骨の分析
  • ホネ ソシキ ケイタイガクテキ ホウホウ ニ ヨル ホネ ショウヘン ノ ジンジュウ カンベツ トウホク ホクブ ノ ヘイアン ジダイ イセキ カラ シュツド シタ ショウコツ ノ ブンセキ

Search this article

Abstract

Histomorphological investigation of fragmentary osteal remains is a useful technique for human and nonhuman animal bone identification. Several burnt bone fragments of the ancient Heian period were unearthed from the Asahiyama (2) site in Aomori Prefecture. The bone fragments were so small that species identification was impossible by gross anatomy alone. For the purpose of discrimination between human and nonhuman bones, microscopic observations and bone histomorphometry were performed for four samples of diaphyseal cross-sections of limb bones from the Asahiyama (2) site. Limb bones of humans, bear, horse, swine, sika deer, Japanese serow, and cattle were prepared for comparison. The results of histomorphometric analyses of human and nonhuman materials showed that the Haversian canal area (H.Ar) and the proportion of the Haversian canal area to the osteon area (H-On index) of humans were significantly larger than those of nonhumans, so these variables were efficient indicators for distinguishing human from nonhuman bones. In view of bone shrinkage by burning, three bone samples from the Asahiyama (2) site were considered to be human bones. The other sample was also similar to human bones, but the possibility of it being a horse bone could not be ruled out. The osteal remains were estimated to be cremated human bones, and as such indicated that the cremation custom existed in the Aomori district in the ancient Heian period.<br>

Journal

References(75)*help

See more

Related Projects

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top