Author: Discentes

Osteoarchaeology and the Ancient World Scholar’s Toolkit

DiscentesResearch

Osteoarchaeology and the Ancient World Scholar’s Toolkit

by Adam Hope

Osteoarchaeology: What, Why, and How?

Osteoarchaeology uses bodily remains recovered in archaeological contexts to develop historical insights. The evidence base is the human skeleton, which, when complete, consists of 206 bones and either twenty “baby” or thirty-two “adult” teeth depending on age at death. The completeness of a skeleton hinges on various factors: naturally, burial is a must — meaning this approach is unsuitable for the study of societies which practice “sky burial,” such as pre-Islamic Iran or medieval Tibet — while looting and soil acidity determine the quantity and quality of surviving bone material. Upon detection, bone is excavated by careful troweling. Extensive records are then produced, detailing the anatomical features found, the stratigraphic level at which they were discovered, and features such as visible signs of damage or indicators of sex and age.

Indigenous and Megarian Relations in Megara Hyblaea

DiscentesResearch

Indigenous and Megarian Relations in Megara Hyblaea
Genevieve Meyers
Megara Hyblaea is often hailed as the Greek colonial archetype of the ideal relationship with indigenous populations. In many ways, this is true. Megara Hyblaea is one of the first examples of a Greek colony founded by invitation of the local people rather than established by force. There can be no doubt that colonists interacted peacefully with the indigenous Sicles. However, to champion Megara Hyblaea as one of the few prime examples of “good relations” with native people is misleading.