- Queen's University Belfast, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Faculty Memberadd
The Society for the Study of Childhood in the Past (SSCIP), in conjunction with Oxbow, publishes Childhood in the Past. This journal provides a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, international forum for the publication of research into all... more
The Society for the Study of Childhood in the Past (SSCIP), in conjunction with Oxbow, publishes Childhood in the Past. This journal provides a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, international forum for the publication of research into all aspects of children and childhood in the past, which transcends conventional intellectual, disciplinary, geographical and chronological boundaries. The editor welcomes offers of papers from any field of study which can further knowledge and understanding of the nature and experience of childhood in the past.
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<p>For comparison this has been converted to phosphate equivalent values (18Op) using Chenery <i>et al</i> (2012) [<a... more
<p>For comparison this has been converted to phosphate equivalent values (18Op) using Chenery <i>et al</i> (2012) [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0209495#pone.0209495.ref052" target="_blank">52</a>] from which drinking water (dw) equivalent values have been calculated according to Longinelli (1984) [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0209495#pone.0209495.ref055" target="_blank">55</a>] and Daux <i>et al</i> (2008) [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0209495#pone.0209495.ref005" target="_blank">5</a><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0209495#pone.0209495.ref001" target="_blank">1</a>].</p
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<p>The insert depicts features apparent in the vicinity of the Golden Lane site near the church of St Michael Le Pole, including St Stephen’s leprosarium, c. AD 1300. The original maps upon which the insert is based are fully... more
<p>The insert depicts features apparent in the vicinity of the Golden Lane site near the church of St Michael Le Pole, including St Stephen’s leprosarium, c. AD 1300. The original maps upon which the insert is based are fully available under a CC BY license, with permission from Royal Irish Academy, original copyright 2016 [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0209495#pone.0209495.ref025" target="_blank">25</a>].</p
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<p>VNTR PCR methods applied to positive Irish LL cases after Taylor and Donoghue, 2011 [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0209495#pone.0209495.ref004"... more
<p>VNTR PCR methods applied to positive Irish LL cases after Taylor and Donoghue, 2011 [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0209495#pone.0209495.ref004" target="_blank">4</a><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0209495#pone.0209495.ref004" target="_blank">4</a>].</p
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Grave memorials offer archaeologists a combined source of material and visual culture, which almost uniquely in the field of archaeology, can be directly related to named individuals. In the context of post-Plantation Ulster, grave... more
Grave memorials offer archaeologists a combined source of material and visual culture, which almost uniquely in the field of archaeology, can be directly related to named individuals. In the context of post-Plantation Ulster, grave memorials have the potential to provide invaluable insights in relation to the dynamics and subtleties of group identity within a colonial context. Roulston (1998) highlighted the significance of Ulster's early grave memorials, emphasising the need to study all aspects of these memorials in order to fully understand the societies and associated identities that created them.
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Page 182. 1111 11 HERODOTUS AND THE AMAZONS MEET THE CYCLOPS Philology, osteoarchaeology and the Eurasian Iron Age1 Eileen M. Murphy &amp;amp;amp;#x27;Father of History&amp;amp;amp;#x27;or &amp;amp;amp;#x27;Father of... more
Page 182. 1111 11 HERODOTUS AND THE AMAZONS MEET THE CYCLOPS Philology, osteoarchaeology and the Eurasian Iron Age1 Eileen M. Murphy &amp;amp;amp;#x27;Father of History&amp;amp;amp;#x27;or &amp;amp;amp;#x27;Father of Lies&amp;amp;amp;#x27;, love him or loathe him, the works ...
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Only a limited number of genetic diseases are diagnosable in archaeological individuals and none have had causal mutations identified in genome-wide screens. Two individuals from the Gaelic Irish Medieval burial ground of Ballyhanna, Co.... more
Only a limited number of genetic diseases are diagnosable in archaeological individuals and none have had causal mutations identified in genome-wide screens. Two individuals from the Gaelic Irish Medieval burial ground of Ballyhanna, Co. Donegal, showed evidence of bone tumors consistent with the autosomal dominant condition multiple osteochondromas. Genome sequencing of the earlier individual uncovered a missense mutation in the second exon of EXT1, a specific lesion that has been identified in several modern patients. The later individual lacked this but displayed a novel frameshift mutation leading to a premature stop codon and loss of function in the same gene. These molecular confirmations of a paleopathological diagnosis within a single rural ancient context are surprisingly disjunct, given the observation of clusters of this disease in modern isolated populations and a de novo mutation rate of only 10%.
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approximately 1.5 km from the town of Ballyshannon. In the summer of 2003 human skeletal remains were uncovered during archaeological testing prior to the construction of the N15 Bundoran–Ballyshannon Bypass (Illus. 1). The skeletons were... more
approximately 1.5 km from the town of Ballyshannon. In the summer of 2003 human skeletal remains were uncovered during archaeological testing prior to the construction of the N15 Bundoran–Ballyshannon Bypass (Illus. 1). The skeletons were excavated by Brian Ó Donnchadha of Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC Ltd) over the winter months of 2003 and the spring of 2004, and during the course of the excavation the foundations of a small stone church were uncovered (Ó Donnchadha 2007; MacDonagh 2008).1 In total some 1,301 individuals—men, women and children—had all been laid to rest in the cemetery at Ballyhanna. Initially, the dating of the cemetery was dependent upon artefactual evidence, with the presence of silver pennies and medieval pottery indicating that the site was likely to have been in use during the late medieval period. Subsequently, an extensive AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) radiocarbon dating programme undertaken at Queen’s University, Belfast (QUB), indicated...
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The study of human skeletal remains in Russia had its genesis in the late seventeenth century during the reign of Tsar Peter the Great who was instrumental in the foundation of the Kunstkamera Museum and the Russian Academy of Sciences in... more
The study of human skeletal remains in Russia had its genesis in the late seventeenth century during the reign of Tsar Peter the Great who was instrumental in the foundation of the Kunstkamera Museum and the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg. Physical anthropology was recognised as a discipline in its own right during the nineteenth century, because of the efforts of scientists working in both Saint Petersburg and Moscow; this development paved the way for the modern structures within which it still operates today. The paper reviews the birth of physical anthropology in Russia and examines the concept of ‘race’ within the Russian context. Physical anthropology flourished during the Soviet era and the reasons for this are explored, while the major developments are outlined. The paper ends by examining the changes in the field that have occurred since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
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Los cillini, o lugares para el enterramiento de ninos, son un tipo de monumento arqueologico que se encuentra a lo largo de toda Irlanda. Estos lugares se usaban frecuentemente para enterrar a ninos no bautizados, aunque otros miembros de... more
Los cillini, o lugares para el enterramiento de ninos, son un tipo de monumento arqueologico que se encuentra a lo largo de toda Irlanda. Estos lugares se usaban frecuentemente para enterrar a ninos no bautizados, aunque otros miembros de la sociedad irlandesa que eran considerados por parte de la Iglesia Catolica Romana como inadecuados para ser enterrados en suelo consagrado, tambien fueron inhumados en estos lugares. Tal grupo incluia a los discapacitados, muertos en naufragios, criminales y victimas de las hambrunas. Las localizaciones de estos cillini son diversas e incluyen iglesias y cementerios abandonados, monumentos antiguos y lugares naturales conspicuos. Aunque desde la arqueologia se ha prestado considerable atencion a estos monumentos, aun son bastante desconocidos. Este texto revisara la investigacion previa sobre estos lugares antes de avanzar en una teoria que explique su origen. Tambien intentaremos explorar el impacto emocional que el entierro de un bebe en un cil...
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The cemetery complex of Aymyrlyg is located in the Autonomous Republic of Tuva in south Siberia. The paper will focus on information derived from a group of 3rd and 2nd centuries BC burials, attributed to the Scythian period, who were... more
The cemetery complex of Aymyrlyg is located in the Autonomous Republic of Tuva in south Siberia. The paper will focus on information derived from a group of 3rd and 2nd centuries BC burials, attributed to the Scythian period, who were semi-nomadic pastoralists. An overview of certain findings derived from the osteoarchaeological analysis and of relevance to subadults will be provided. The adoption of a biocultural approach has enabled this information to be married with relevant archaeological and historical data. The paper will conclude by suggesting how a better understanding of prehistoric Eurasian nomadic children might be gained through the use of modern anthropological research in the area today.
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Human osteoarchaeology has been growing from strength to strength in Ireland in recent years. The current paper begins with a brief introductory review of the history of the discipline within an Irish context. This is followed by an... more
Human osteoarchaeology has been growing from strength to strength in Ireland in recent years. The current paper begins with a brief introductory review of the history of the discipline within an Irish context. This is followed by an overview of some of the main methodologies employed in the general analysis of archaeological human skeletal remains. The final section of the text addresses the issue of why it is important to study archaeological human skeletons. A number of the main themes of relevance to human osteoarchaeological studies, including demography, health, trauma and diet, are explored and illustrated using Irish case studies.
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Preliminary summary of the findings of the Samara Valley Project 1995-2002.
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A total of 20 new AMS radiocarbon determinations on human bone have been obtained for the Neolithic chamber tomb of Quanterness, Orkney. The results show poor agreement with the recorded stratigraphy, suggesting extensive mixing of the... more
A total of 20 new AMS radiocarbon determinations on human bone have been obtained for the Neolithic chamber tomb of Quanterness, Orkney. The results show poor agreement with the recorded stratigraphy, suggesting extensive mixing of the chamber deposits. A Bayesian model treating all of the determinations as deriving from a single phase of activity provides a start date in the range 3510– 3220 cal bc (most probably falling after 3450 cal bc), with the main phase of burial activity ending in the range 2850–2790 cal bc (95.4% probability). This presents a tighter range than previously available, but nevertheless appears to confirm the longevity of burial activity at the monument. Osteologically, there is no convincing evidence for excarnation, and the representation of the small bones of the hands and feet, together with the absence of sub-aerial weathering, make it unlikely that the bulk of the human bone assemblage was brought in from elsewhere, as had previously been suggested. Stab...
Research Interests: Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Geology, Stratigraphy, Stable Isotope Analysis, and 12 moreFunerary Archaeology, Neolithic Archaeology, Osteoarchaeology, Megalithic Monuments, Orkney and Shetland studies, Radiocarbon Dating (Earth Sciences), Palaeodiet, Bayesian Radiocarbon Dating, Radiocarbon Dating, Radiocarbon Dating (Archaeology), Scottish Archaeology, and Prehistoric Orkney
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Contemporary multiple interment is a minority burial practice occasionally encountered in Medieval Christian burial grounds that is suggestive of the death of two or more individuals at the same time followed by a conscious decision by... more
Contemporary multiple interment is a minority burial practice occasionally encountered in Medieval Christian burial grounds that is suggestive of the death of two or more individuals at the same time followed by a conscious decision by the living to bury those individuals together. The study reviews the evidence from thirty-one Irish burial grounds (spanning AD 300 to 1700) to explore the nature of the demographic combinations apparent in these contemporary multiple interments. Drawing upon information gleaned from contemporary historical sources, an attempt will be made to proffer possible scenarios to account for the different demographic configurations apparent in the burials. Funerary practices, in particular, positioning of the bodies, will be explored to see if insights can be gained concerning the nature of the potential social relationships that may have existed between those interred together in each grave. The findings from Ireland will be compared to those of studies of s...
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Lowell is considered as the birthplace of the industrial revolution in the early nineteenth-century United States. Originating in 1822, the new textile factories harnessed the waters of the Merrimack River using a system of canals, dug... more
Lowell is considered as the birthplace of the industrial revolution in the early nineteenth-century United States. Originating in 1822, the new textile factories harnessed the waters of the Merrimack River using a system of canals, dug and maintained by laborers. While this work employed many local Yankees, it also attracted groups of emigrant Irish workers. Grave memorials are a valuable source of information concerning religious and ethnic identity and an analysis of the slate headstones contained within Yard One of St Patrick’s Cemetery, opened in 1832, provides insight into the mindset of this migrant community. The headstones evolved from contemporary Yankee memorials but incorporated Roman Catholic imagery, while the inclusion of shamrocks and details of place of origin on certain memorials attests to a strong sense of Irish identity. The blatant display of such features at a time of ethnic and religious sectarian tensions in Massachusetts demonstrates the confidence that the ...
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Unlike other social sciences, the archaeological discipline has been lacking a theoretical framework to discuss the mechanism of migration. Traditionally, patterns of population movements were denoted from material culture and interpreted... more
Unlike other social sciences, the archaeological discipline has been lacking a theoretical framework to discuss the mechanism of migration. Traditionally, patterns of population movements were denoted from material culture and interpreted within the context of ethnicity and the diffusion of ideas without considering underlying processes and incentives, despite active consideration of these issues by geographers and sociologists. It was not until the 1990s that a more integrated archaeological discussion on the various stimuli, influences, and mechanisms of why people choose to migrate was beginning to evolve. Since then, the debate on migration in archaeology has not only reflected on patterns of cultural and technological change but also increasingly on aspects of identity and self-realization; both in terms of how migrants themselves adapt and adjust to their new home environment, and how the host-communities themselves respond and interact with newcomers. Using four case studies,...
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Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a condition that can be inherited or acquired. It causes diffuse periosteal new bone formation on the long bones, with a predilection for the appendicular skeleton. When acquired, it is a nonspecific... more
Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a condition that can be inherited or acquired. It causes diffuse periosteal new bone formation on the long bones, with a predilection for the appendicular skeleton. When acquired, it is a nonspecific indicator of systemic disease that arises following a primary condition. This paper reviews the palaeopathological literature associated with this rare condition. It also describes the first possible case of co-morbidity associated with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in an adult skeleton (cal. BC 170 - 1 cal. AD) from the mobile pastoralist Sarmatian culture of the Volga steppes of Russia. Macroscopic and radiological examination provide differential diagnoses of the lesions, while clinical and bioarchaeological analyses offer insights into the possible experience of disease and social implications of care among the nomadic populations of Iron Age Russia. The analysis of Sk. 6524.102 displays lesions that may be due to both hypertrophic osteoarthrop...
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Herodotus' 5th-century BC Histories provide us with one of the earliest written accounts for the practice of cannibalism. This paper examines the references concerning cannibalism contained in Herodotus, reviews the theories proposed... more
Herodotus' 5th-century BC Histories provide us with one of the earliest written accounts for the practice of cannibalism. This paper examines the references concerning cannibalism contained in Herodotus, reviews the theories proposed to account for these references, and suggests a new explanation for this cultural motif.
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This workshop will bring together world-leading, international scholars with the aim of developing new theoretical perspectives for studying the mother-infant nexus in anthropology. The themes covered will explore biocultural... more
This workshop will bring together world-leading, international scholars with the aim of developing new theoretical perspectives for studying the mother-infant nexus in anthropology. The themes covered will explore biocultural understandings and embodied practices relating to maternal, fetal and infant bodies and the significance for early life development and overall population well-being. This is particularly topical because there is a burgeoning awareness within anthropology regarding the centrality of mother-infant interactions for understanding the evolution of our species, infant and maternal health and care strategies, epigenetic change, and biological and social development. Over the past few decades the anthropology and archaeology of childhood has developed apace, however, infancy, the pregnant body and motherhood continue to be marginalised. The aim of this workshop is to develop new theoretical directions within anthropology and set future research agendas regarding the unique mother-infant relationship. We will achieve this aim
through two inter-related objectives: 1) Our targeted invitation of participants who are leaders in different sub-disciplines of
anthropology and beyond, whose research is breaking new methodological and theoretical ground in investigating mother-infant
relationships and; 2) To assess a series of inter-related research topics/themes through multiple anthropological approaches in order to develop a holistic biocultural understanding of the mother-infant relationship and broader implications for population well-being. Outputs will include an edited volume, 'The Mother-Infant Nexus in Anthropology:
Small Beginnings, Significant Outcomes' with Springer, a collaborative Major Article for Current Anthropology, and dissemination via major forms of social media.
through two inter-related objectives: 1) Our targeted invitation of participants who are leaders in different sub-disciplines of
anthropology and beyond, whose research is breaking new methodological and theoretical ground in investigating mother-infant
relationships and; 2) To assess a series of inter-related research topics/themes through multiple anthropological approaches in order to develop a holistic biocultural understanding of the mother-infant relationship and broader implications for population well-being. Outputs will include an edited volume, 'The Mother-Infant Nexus in Anthropology:
Small Beginnings, Significant Outcomes' with Springer, a collaborative Major Article for Current Anthropology, and dissemination via major forms of social media.