Topical collection “The rise of forensic anthropology and documented human osteological collections”

Alves Cardoso’s research is funded by Bone Matters/Matérias Ósseas (IF/00127/2014/CP1233/CT0003/funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal); and Life After Death: Rethinking Human Remains and Human Osteological Collections as Cultural Heritage and Biobanks (2020.01014.CEECIND/funded by FCT/Portugal); and NOVA FCSH 6ª Edição do Financiamento Exploratório para Projetos Internacionais—Bones Digital Footprint: Insights from Scientometrics and Social Media Analysis (BoDiPrint). This research is also within the scope of the CRIA-Centro em Rede de Investigação em Antropologia Strategic Plan (UIDB/04038/2020 funded by FCT/Portugal)

Animais para humanos na vida e na morte

Riverine sambaquis, shellmounds, compounded of land snail shells, were <50 km from the contemporary coastline in the highland rainforest (Mata Atlantica) in Brazil. They were made by gropus of hunter-gatherers who exploited the rainsforest from at least c. 9,250 to 1,200 BP. Archaeological samples of human and faunal remains dating from 6,000-4,000 BP of a riverine shell mound, Moraes site, were submitted to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis and zooarchaeological study in order to investigate the importance of mammals and land snail on the subsistence of these groups . This study focused on how the dietary regime of the riverine sambaquis people was affected by the widespread environmental and sociocultural influence. More generally, the considers the disposal of the fauna and its utility on daily dietary in this site.Sambaquis fluviais compostos por gastrópodes terrestre estão anualmente localizados a 50 km do litoral na Mata Atlântica, Brasil. Eles foram construídos por grupos de caçadores-coletores que explotaram a floresta a partir de, pelo menos, c. 9250 a 1.200 anos A.P. Amostras arqueológicas de remanescentes humanos e faunísticos de um sambaqui fluvial datado de 6.000-4.000 anos AP, sítio Moraes, foram submetidos a análises de isótopos de carbono e nitrogênio e estudo zooarqueológico para investigação da importância de mamíferos e gastrópodes na composição da dieta destes grupos. Este estudo focou em como a dieta nos sambaquis fluviais foi afetada pelo ambiente do entorno e pela influência sociocultural. Mais do que isto, a pesquisa considera o descarte da fauna e sua utilidade na dieta cotidiana neste sítio

The Identified Osteological Collections of South America and Their Ethical Dimensions

Recent years have brought an important increase in the interest in identified human osteological collections in South America. Their number has been systematically growing and their sizes have been expanding, allowing the development of the field of forensic anthropology, among other disciplines, in this region. These collections are used mainly for the validation of international forensic anthropology methods for national and local populations, as well as for the training of professionals and researchers. Despite their growth, important limitation related to the lack of variability in the representativeness of individuals within these collections represents a significant drawback. Likewise, their concentration in only a few countries constitutes a noteworthy concern. This article aims at mapping the existing identified human osteological collections in South America, discussing the advances in the area of forensic anthropology that they have allowed, and reflecting upon their ethical dimensions in the South American context