Louise Shewan
University of Melbourne, School of Earth Sciences, Faculty Member
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Since the 1990s there has been an increase in bioarchaeological research in many parts of Southeast Asia by both locals and non-locals. Southeast Asian countries are characterised by varied social, cultural, and political histories, but... more
Since the 1990s there has been an increase in bioarchaeological research in many parts of Southeast Asia by both locals and non-locals. Southeast Asian countries are characterised by varied social, cultural, and political histories, but there are also some broad similarities in terms of poor economic development that limits much local research, and strong nationalism and rigid bureaucratic procedures for research. All have implications for non-local and local bioarchaeological research. Despite the growth in bioarchaeological research, the ethics of the practice of bioarchaeology in this region remain relatively underexplored. This chapter presents some of the main ethical issues of research with human remains in the region focusing on the countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines, from a non-local and local researcher viewpoint. We review a range of ethical issues, including the varied way different cultures respond to bioarchaeological work, local-non-local partnership in research, community archaeology, bioarchaeological methods including post-excavation management, and looting of archaeological sites. With the recent development of local expertise in bioarchaeology in the region, the repatriation of skeletal samples to Thailand, the increase in local training, and partnerships between local and non-local bioarchaeologists, there is much promise for the further development of local research in the field.
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The use of coffins and jars as funerary receptacles was common across Southeast Asia. During the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries AD, cremation was the dominant mortuary tradition on the Angkorian plains, but in the Cardamom Mountains... more
The use of coffins and jars as funerary receptacles was common across Southeast Asia. During the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries AD, cremation was the dominant mortuary tradition on the Angkorian plains, but in the Cardamom Mountains to the south, contemporaneous groups practised a unique burial tradition involving the deposition of un-cremated bone in exposed ceramic vessels and log coffins. The authors present the first geochemical analysis of individuals from this highland culture, specifically the site of Phnom Pel. The childhood diets of those interred in jars and coffins may have been sourced from different areas within the Cardamom Mountains, suggesting that the individuals came from discrete groups.
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Research Interests: Geography and Excavation
Research Interests: Quality of life, Treatment Outcome, Hong Kong, Medicine, Heart Failure, and 15 moreHumans, Hypertension, Diuretics, Female, Male, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, Diabetes complications, Retrospective Studies, Ejection Fraction, Angiology, renal insufficiency, Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, and Heart Failure WIth Preserved Ejection Fraction
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This paper introduces on-going research by presenting the original proposal for this work. This research seeks to combine archaeological and bioarchaeological analyses, as well as theoretical perspectives from these fields, to obtain an... more
This paper introduces on-going research by presenting the original proposal for this work. This research seeks to combine archaeological and bioarchaeological analyses, as well as theoretical perspectives from these fields, to obtain an integrated and holistic perspective of social change and its effect on health in prehistory. This approach will be tested on the archaeological and human skeletal remains from the late Iron Age site of Non Bak Jak in northeast Thailand. Social organization prior to the advent of state society in mainland Southeast Asia has long been a focus of archaeological research. The Iron Age of northeast Thailand (420 BCE-500 CE) has received particular archaeological attention, as rapid social and technological change has been identified in this region during this period. These changes include increasing social complexity, which is often associated with inequality between social groups and deterioration of population health. In contrast, bioarchaeological rese...
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O’Reilly, D. and Shewan L. 2016. The Mysterious Megalithic jars of Central Laos, The Journal of the Asian Arts Society of Australia 25 (4), 12-13.
Research Interests: Art and Laos (Lao PDR)
The megalithic jar sites of Laos (often referred to as the Plain of Jars) remain one of Southeast Asia’s most mysterious and least understood archaeological cultures. The sites, recently inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage, host hollowed... more
The megalithic jar sites of Laos (often referred to as the Plain of Jars) remain one of Southeast Asia’s most mysterious and least understood archaeological cultures. The sites, recently inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage, host hollowed stone jars, up to three metres in height, which appear scattered across the landscape, alone or clustered in groups of up to more than 400. Until now, it has not been possible to estimate when the jars were first placed on the landscape or from where the stone was sourced. Geochronological analysis using the age of detrital zircons demonstrates a likely quarry source for one of the largest megalithic jar sites. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating suggests the jars were positioned at the sites potentially as early as the late second millennium BC. Radiocarbon dating of skeletal remains and charcoal samples places mortuary activity around the jars from the 9-13th century AD, suggesting the sites have maintained ritual significance from the p...
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Since the 1990s there has been an increase in bioarchaeological research in many parts of Southeast Asia by both locals and non-locals. Southeast Asian countries are characterised by varied social, cultural, and political histories, but... more
Since the 1990s there has been an increase in bioarchaeological research in many parts of Southeast Asia by both locals and non-locals. Southeast Asian countries are characterised by varied social, cultural, and political histories, but there are also some broad similarities in terms of poor economic development that limits much local research, and strong nationalism and rigid bureaucratic procedures for research. All have implications for non-local and local bioarchaeological research. Despite the growth in bioarchaeological research, the ethics of the practice of bioarchaeology in this region remain relatively underexplored. This chapter presents some of the main ethical issues of research with human remains in the region focusing on the countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines, from a non-local and local researcher viewpoint. We review a range of ethical issues, including the varied way different cultures respond to bioarchaeological work, local-non-local partnership in research, community archaeology, bioarchaeological methods including post-excavation management, and looting of archaeological sites. With the recent development of local expertise in bioarchaeology in the region, the repatriation of skeletal samples to Thailand, the increase in local training, and partnerships between local and non-local bioarchaeologists, there is much promise for the further development of local research in the field.
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The rise of social inequality is a key development in human history and is linked to deteriorating health. These associated health impacts are poorly understood for Iron Age (420 B.C.–A.D. 500) northeast Thailand. To clarify this issue we... more
The rise of social inequality is a key development in human history and is linked to deteriorating health. These associated health impacts are poorly understood for Iron Age (420 B.C.–A.D. 500) northeast Thailand. To clarify this issue we investigate whether social status differences influence non-specific stress at the site of Non Ban Jak (A.D. 300–800), which comprises two separate burial mounds. These mounds are thought to represent the neighborhoods of two distinct social groups at the site. Quantitative analyses were used to explore differences in grave goods among the adults of Non Ban Jak (N = 47). Long bone lengths, ages at death, and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) were examined to explore differences in non-specific stress on the basis of age, sex, burial mound, and mortuary phase. Results demonstrated that older adults of both sexes, males of all ages, and west mound individuals received greater grave good quantities and may therefore have been of higher social status. Wes...
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Strontium (Sr) isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) measured in human skeletal material can increase one's understanding of the residential behaviour and resource‐acquisition strategies of past populations. The paper maps bioavailable... more
Strontium (Sr) isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) measured in human skeletal material can increase one's understanding of the residential behaviour and resource‐acquisition strategies of past populations. The paper maps bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr variation in 183 plant and soil samples across Cambodia. Bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr, as measured in plants, differs significantly between four major geological units. The data set will support future investigations of skeletal material from Cambodian archaeological sites. Baseline 87Sr/86Sr data should be applied judiciously to skeletal populations, and in concert with other lines of evidence, to identify potential geographical outliers rather than to ascribe specific locations from which individuals may have moved.
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The Iron Age of Mainland Southeast Asia began in the fifth century bc and lasted for about a millennium. In coastal regions, the development of trade along the Maritime Silk Road led to the growth of port cities. In the interior, a fall... more
The Iron Age of Mainland Southeast Asia began in the fifth century bc and lasted for about a millennium. In coastal regions, the development of trade along the Maritime Silk Road led to the growth of port cities. In the interior, a fall in monsoon rains particularly affected the Mun River valley. This coincided with the construction of moats/reservoirs round Iron Age settlements from which water was channelled into wet rice fields, the production of iron ploughshares and sickles, population growth, burgeoning exchange and increased conflict. We explore the social impact of this agricultural revolution through applying statistical analyses to mortuary samples dating before and after the development of wet rice farming. These suggest that there was a swift formation of social elites represented by the wealth of mortuary offerings, followed by a decline. Two associated changes are identified. The first involved burying the dead in residential houses; the second considers the impact of ...
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Research Interests: Archaeology and Antiquity
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The International Cardiovascular Forum Journal requires authors to abide by the following guidelines:Manuscript: The corresponding author declares that the manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration... more
The International Cardiovascular Forum Journal requires authors to abide by the following guidelines:Manuscript: The corresponding author declares that the manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration elsewhere.Authorship: The corresponding author takes full responsibility for the list of authors. Any modification to the author list including order and composition can only be approved by the Editor-in-Chief following signed agreement from all the authors listed on the original submission.Ethics: The corresponding author states that the material presented has been obtained with the approval of all appropriate animal and/or human ethics committee(s).Permissions: The corresponding author on behalf of all authors confirms whether explicit written consent to publish has been received from any people described, pictured, or recorded and that formal copyright clearance is obtained to publish any video or audio recordings.Registration of Clinical Trials: Prospective reg...
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Despite many therapeutic advances, heart failure (HF) remains challenging to treat and continues to be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. There is an ongoing need to identify co-morbidities that either contribute to... more
Despite many therapeutic advances, heart failure (HF) remains challenging to treat and continues to be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. There is an ongoing need to identify co-morbidities that either contribute to the progression of heart failure or limit the therapeutic response to treatment. One area under active investigation is the treatment of central sleep apnoea (CSA). CSA has consistently been shown to be associated with a worse prognosis in HF patients. Thus, understanding how to diagnose and treat CSA is of paramount importance to the HF clinician. Without treatment, HF patients continue to be at risk for the devastating consequences of CSA. Prognosis is very poor with studies consistently demonstrating poor outcomes among HF patients with CSA. Over the course of the night, each discrete event contributes to increased nor- epinephrine levels and hypoxia which are associated with progressive heart failure and arrhythmias. Initial therapeutic options ut...
In this paper we present the study of the copper-base assemblage of the Late Iron Age (c. 100–400 BC/AD) moated site of Lovea in northwestern Cambodia. Fourteen artefacts, approximately 20% of the metals assemblage, including bracelets,... more
In this paper we present the study of the copper-base assemblage of the Late Iron Age (c. 100–400 BC/AD) moated site of Lovea in northwestern Cambodia. Fourteen artefacts, approximately 20% of the metals assemblage, including bracelets, rings and earrings, were analysed for their elemental and lead isotopic composition, and these data compared with existing Southeast Asian archaeometallurgical databases. Results indicate the presence of bronze, leaded bronze, and possibly high-tin bronze alloys on-site. The unleaded-bronzes exhibit a strong consistency with the lead isotope signature of Sepon in central Laos, a major prehistoric copper production centre. We propose that the apparent presence of a sole copper source, when others were available, may be linked to economic and/or cultural factors during a period of increasing social complexity.
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The understanding of Angkorian pre-state society has been greatly enhanced by an increase in archaeological investigation in recent years. From excavations conducted at Cambodian Iron Age sites we have evidence that attests to a... more
The understanding of Angkorian pre-state society has been greatly enhanced by an increase in archaeological investigation in recent years. From excavations conducted at Cambodian Iron Age sites we have evidence that attests to a transformative period characterised by increasing sociopolitical complexity, intensified inter- and trans-regional mercantile activity, differential access to resources, social conflict, technological transfer and developments in site morphology. Among the growing corpus of Iron Age sites excavated, Phum Lovea, on the periphery of Angkor, is uniquely placed to provide insight into increasing sociopolitical complexity in this area. The site is one of the few prehistoric moated settlements known in Cambodia and the only one to date to have been excavated. Excavation of the site has revealed an Iron Age agrarian settlement whose occupants engaged in trade and exchange networks, craft specialisation, metal production, and emergent water management strategies. Th...
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This special issue includes expert reviews on the neglected cardiological syndrome – Chagas Disease (CD), also known as American trypanosomiasis. First described in 1909 this syndrome is endemic in several Latin American countries. This... more
This special issue includes expert reviews on the neglected cardiological syndrome – Chagas Disease (CD), also known as American trypanosomiasis. First described in 1909 this syndrome is endemic in several Latin American countries. This specially commissioned themed issue of the International Cardiovascular Forum Journal brings together notable experts who discuss a wide range of emerging topics in CD. These include the changing, and challenging, epidemiology of CD in migrants and visitors to the Europe and the USA. We also review what treatments exist for the primary infective aetiology, and how to manage Chagas cardiomyopathy when it has reached its end-stage heart failure form. We have expert reviews on advanced imaging techniques and their role in the assessment and care of Chagas’ patients and the opportunity to protect against sudden death in this enigmatic condition.
We present the first radiocarbon dates from previously unrecorded, secondary burials in the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia. The mortuary ritual incorporates nautical tradeware ceramic jars and log coffins fashioned from locally harvested... more
We present the first radiocarbon dates from previously unrecorded, secondary burials in the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia. The mortuary ritual incorporates nautical tradeware ceramic jars and log coffins fashioned from locally harvested trees as burial containers, which were set out on exposed rock ledges at 10 sites in the eastern Cardamom Massif. The suite of 2814C ages from 4 of these sites (Khnorng Sroal, Phnom Pel, Damnak Samdech, and Khnang Tathan) provides the first estimation of the overall time depth of the practice. The most reliable calendar date ranges from the 4 sites reveals a highland burial ritual unrelated to lowland Khmer culture that was practiced from cal AD 1395 to 1650. The time period is concurrent with the 15th century decline of Angkor as the capital of the Khmer kingdom and its demise about AD 1432, and the subsequent shift of power to new Mekong trade ports such as Phnom Penh, Udong, and Lovek. We discuss the Cardamom ritual relative to known funerary ritua...
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The goal of treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB) has traditionally focused on improving daytime sleepiness and fatigue. In heart failure (HF) patients with SDB, this is not as easy to ascertain as their symptoms overlap with HF.... more
The goal of treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB) has traditionally focused on improving daytime sleepiness and fatigue. In heart failure (HF) patients with SDB, this is not as easy to ascertain as their symptoms overlap with HF. Thus, improvement in treating SDB in HF patients must focus more on overall quality of life. Over the past 5years, there has been a shift in sleep medicine from only improving symptoms in SDB, to preventing the long term consequences. The specialist Heart Failure community is, however, desirous of also seeing benefit in reduction of major clinical events for their patients with interventions, such as effects on mortality or re-hospitalisation rates and so may wish to see other benefits beyond a reduction in sleep apnea events before either commencing therapy or referring their patients for sleep study evaluation and further management. To expect lower mortality as well may be asking for too much. Consequently, success in the treatment in SDB should focu...
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Introduction to a special supplement issue on the importance of uric acid in cardiovascular disorders.
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Excavations were undertaken at the village (<em>phum) </em>of Sophy in Banteay Meanchey Province, north-west Cambodia over two field seasons in two separate areas in 2009 and 2010. The remains of twenty individuals were found... more
Excavations were undertaken at the village (<em>phum) </em>of Sophy in Banteay Meanchey Province, north-west Cambodia over two field seasons in two separate areas in 2009 and 2010. The remains of twenty individuals were found in 14 mortuary contexts with individuals interred with a range of burial goods including ceramic vessels, stone and glass beads, iron and bronze artefacts and faunal remains. The site dates to the Iron Age (dates spanning the period c. 87-526 AD) and is surrounded by the ruins of later, Pre-Angkorian temples and their associated ponds. Excavation and research has revealed Sophy to be a prehistoric agricultural village in which the inhabitants exploited a wide-range of habitats and engaged in inter-regional exchange. The results of these investigations are presented here incorporating a description of the excavation, preliminary discussion of the material assemblage and demographic data obtained from the mortuary contexts.
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ABSTRACT Intentional dental modification, in the form of ablation and filing, is reported for the first time from Cambodia in two late prehistoric sites (Phum Snay and Phum Sophy, c. 2500 to 1500 bp). Bioarchaeological research is... more
ABSTRACT Intentional dental modification, in the form of ablation and filing, is reported for the first time from Cambodia in two late prehistoric sites (Phum Snay and Phum Sophy, c. 2500 to 1500 bp). Bioarchaeological research is relatively new for this region, and this study significantly adds to our reconstruction of past behaviours in mainland Southeast Asia. The skeletal samples combine both excavated material and large looted collections in the form of ossuaries. People from Phum Sophy and Phum Snay had similar rates of anterior ...