Bioarchaeology and Behavior: The People of the Ancient Near East

227 Pages·2012·4.1 MB·English

by  Megan A. Perry

Bioarchaeology and Behavior
Bioarchaeological Interpretations of the Human Past:
Local, Regional, and Global Perspectives
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola
Detailed map of Cyprus
TURKEY
Domuztepe
St. George’s Hill
Polis
Kalavassos
Alassa
See detailed map Maroni
SYRIA
Nicosia
MediterraneanCYPBReUirSutLEBANON Damascus EuphratesRiverTigrisRiver Baghdad IRAN
Sea El WWad
JerKTueesl bAaavleeeirvvvmaELDeaadd SeeaJJordan RiveerrBaAbm emdhaJn-ODDRhDraAN IRAQ Kish
A
R
EGYPT S
I Faynan
KUWAAIITT Persian
SAUDI ARABIA Gulf
N
Red Sea
0 250 500 km
Bioarchaeology
and Behavior
The People of the Ancient Near East
Edited by Megan A. Perry
Foreword by Clark Spencer Larsen
University Press of Florida
Gainesville · Tallahassee · Tampa · Boca Raton
Pensacola · Orlando · Miami · Jacksonville · Ft. Myers · Sarasota
Copyright 2012 by Megan A. Perry
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America. This book is printed on Glatfelter Natures Book,
a paper certified under the standards of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). It is a
recycled stock that contains 30 percent post-consumer waste and is acid-free.
This book may be available in an electronic edition.
Frontispiece: Map of the sites reported on in this volume.
17 16 15 14 13 12 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cataloging-in-publication data is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-0-8130-4229-9
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State University
System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University,
Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University,
New College of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University
of North Florida, University of South Florida, and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
Dedicated to one of the pioneers of Near Eastern bioarchaeology,
Donald Ortner (1939–2012)

Contents
List of Figures / ix
List of Tables / xi
Foreword / xiii
Introduction / 1
Megan A. Perry and Jane E. Buikstra
1. On the Tail End of Variation in Late Neolithic Burial Practices:
Halaf Feasting and Cannibalism at Domuztepe, Southeastern
Anatolia / 8
Suellen C. Gauld, James S. Oliver, Sarah Whitcher Kansa, and Elizabeth
Carter
2. An Exploration of Infant Burial Practices at the Site of Kish,
Iraq / 35
Christina Torres-Rouff and William J. Pestle
3. The Burial Customs of Early Christian Cyprus: A Bioarchaeological
Approach / 60
Sherry C. Fox, Ioanna Moutafi, Eleni Anna Prevedorou, and Despo Pilides
4. A Bioarchaeological Perspective on the Burials and Basilicas of
Medieval Polis, Cyprus / 80
Brenda J. Baker and Amy Papalexandrou
5. Condemned to Metallum? Illuminating Life at the Byzantine
Mining Camp at Phaeno in Jordan / 115
Megan A. Perry, Drew S. Coleman, David L. Dettman,
and Abdel Halim al-Shiyab
6. Food for Thought: Isotopic Evidence for Dietary and Weaning
Practices in a Byzantine Urban Monastery in Jerusalem / 138
Lesley A. Gregoricka and Susan G. Sheridan
7. Buccal Dental Microwear as an Indicator of Dietary Habits of the
Natufian People of El-Wad and El-Kebarah / 165
Mohammad Alrousan and Alejandro Pérez-Pérez
8. Daily Activity and Lower Limb Modification at Bab edh-Dhra᾿,
Jordan, in the Early Bronze Age / 180
Jaime M. Ullinger, Susan G. Sheridan, and Donald J. Ortner
List of Contributors / 203
Index / 207
Figures
1.1. Location of Domuztepe / 10
1.2. Contour map of Domuztepe showing major areas of excavation / 11
1.3. F1143 skull burial in situ / 17
1.4. F1143 skull burial reconstruction showing blunt force trauma / 17
1.5. Blunt force trauma on right side of cranium 2626.1 / 21
1.6. Internal vault release of cranium 2626.1 / 21
1.7. Butchery damage in the Death Pit human assemblage: percussion
scars on proximal femur shaft fragment (2632.2) / 22
1.8. Cut marks on the sciatic notch of innominate (pelvis) fragment
(3134.0.5) / 23
1.9. Pot polish on fractured end of femur fragment (2650.0.49) / 24
1.10. Shallow tooth marks accompanied by depressed fractures on 1st
metacarpal (2629.9.2) / 25
2.1. Map of Kish / 39
2.2. FM192464 infant skeleton / 45
2.3. Neo-Babylonian infant burial in bowl / 46
4.1. Plan of Polis / 81
4.2. Aerial view of the E.F2 excavation area / 85
4.3. Cist tomb in the E.F2 cemetery / 86
4.4. Aerial view of partially excavated E.G0 basilica / 88
4.5. Burial 34 in the E.G0 narthex / 91
4.6. Burial 34A / 92
4.7. Burial 37 in the E.G0 basilica / 95
4.8. Trauma in an older man from E.G0:g11 Tomb 1 / 106