At least 250 cave burials along the Meuse river basin of Belgium yield prehistoric remains, and most date from Late Neolithic period. Several have been radiocarbon dated, including early/late deposits Hastière Caverne M Trou Garçon C final/late caves Sclaigneaux Bois Madame. An additional collective burial, Maurenne de la Cave is dated to Middle periods, circa 4,635 3,830 BP, encompassing range...

Until the early 5th century BC, Phaleron Bay was main port of ancient Athens (Greece). On its shore, archaeologists have discovered one largest known cemeteries in Greece, including a range burial forms, simple pits, cremations, larnaces (clay tubs), and series burials male individuals who appear to died violent deaths, referred here as “atypical burials”. Reconstructing osteobiographies these ...

Cahokia Mound 72 contains 272 human burials dating to the Lohmann and early Stirling phases (ca. 1050–1150 AD) of the Mississippian period. Substantial statusand gender-related differences in burial style are apparent. Some burials are associated with large quantities of prestigious grave goods, suggesting high status. Mass graves of young adult females with skeletal indicators of poor health s...

Recent casework in Belgium involving the search for human remains buried with lime, demonstrated the need for more detailed understanding of the effect of different types of lime on cadaver decomposition and its micro-environment. Six pigs (Sus scrofa) were used as body analogues in field experiments. They were buried without lime, with hydrated lime (Ca(OH)(2)) and with quicklime (CaO) in shal...

The Bayesian linear mixing model SISUS is used to reconstruct reliance on maize and intake of animal protein from the stable carbon (d13C) and nitrogen (d15N) isotope values of 149 directly dated Basketmaker II burials. Maize is the primary dietary staple. d13C values are also enriched by intake of yucca and wild C4 plant foods but these resources are of minor importance in sampled diets. Anima...

The emergence of Corded Ware Groups throughout Europe in the 3rd millennium BC is one of the most defining events in European history. From the Wolga to the Rhine communities start to speak Indo-European languages and bury their dead in an extremely similar fashion. Recent ancient DNA-analyses identify a massive migration from the Eurasian steppe as the prime cause for this event. However, ther...