La durée de vie des habitants d'Alexandrie musulmane

Age at death was determined for 83 individuals buried in the Muslim necropolis in Alexandria from Vlllth century and for 1.077 individuals from the necropolis from XIIIth century. In seeking links between population buried in the mediaeval population and contemporary inhabitants of Alexandria we analyzed the deceases recorded at the Health Centre. Connexion of the age at death structure and the living condition as well as the historical process was confirmed.L'âge au décès a été déterminé pour 83 sujets enterrés dans la nécropole musulmane d'Alexandrie du VIIIe siècle et pour 1.077 sujets de la nécropole du XIIIe siècle. Pour relier les populations médiévales exhumées et les habitants actuels d'Alexandrie, nous avons analysé les décès d'après les données du Centre de Santé. Les rapports entre les modalités de répartition de l'âge au décès et les conditions de vie, aussi bien qu'avec les événements historiques ont été confirmés.Dzierzykray-Rogalski T., Prominska E. La durée de vie des habitants d'Alexandrie musulmane. In: Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'anthropologie de Paris, XIII° Série. Tome 10 fascicule 1, 1983. pp. 31-36

Osteoarchaeological evidence for leprosy from Western Central Asia

Soren Blau, Vadim Yagodi

Taphonomic changes to the buried body in arid environments: an experimental case study in Peru

NoDespite an increasing literature on the decomposition of buried and exposed human remains it is important to recognise that specific microenviron-ments will either trigger, or delay the rate of decomposition. Recent casework in arid regions of the world has indicated a need for a more detailed understanding of the effects of burial over relatively short timescales. The decomposition of buried human remains in the coastal desert of Peru was investigated using pig cadavers (Sus scrofa) as body analogues. The project aims were to specifically examine the early phases of natural mummification and contrast the effects of direct burial in ground with burial in a tomb structure (i.e. with an air void). Temperature was logged at hourly intervals from both the surface, grave fill and core body throughout the experiment. In addition, air temperature and humidity were measured within the air void of the tomb. After two years all three pig graves were excavated, the temperature and humidity data downloaded and the pig carcasses dissected on site to evaluate condition. The results demonstrate that: (1) there were distinct differences in the nature/rate of decomposition according to burial mode; (2) after two years burial the carcasses had been subject to considerable desiccation of the outer tissues while remaining moist in the core; (3) the body had undergone putrefactive change and collapsed leading to slumping of soil within the grave fill following the curvature of the pig's back, although this was not evident from the surface; (4) there was a specific plume of body decomposition products that wicked both horizontally and also vertically from the head wounds in the sandy desert soil. These observations have widespread application for prospection techniques, investigation of clandestine burial, time since deposition and in understanding changes within the burial microenvironment under arid conditions