Human Remains- Retention or Reburial?

[kevin wooldridge]

quote:Originally posted by Oxbeast

What about DNA/isotope/chemical composition analysis? Another reason to keep the bones is the developement of unknown future techniques. There have been several new techniques deveopled in recent years.

I remember this similar discussion from the mid 1980s. At the time the pace of rescue archaeology was such in some of our larger cities that sampling strategies were introduced (some of which are with us today).

The point made at the time was that we were sampling based upon 1980s technology and that this did not take account of future potentialities. Whilst I have/had some sympathy for the idea, the cost of storage and conservation of unprocessed archaeological artefact and ecofact seemed to be the main deterrent for archaeologists putting finds aside for later...apart from human remains of course. (I still recall standing in various Museum of London warehouses contemplating shelf upon shelf of boxes and bags of human remains....).

Well I guess it could have been worse, imagine if archaeologists got all sentimental over roof-tile fragments, another material which itself may become significantly more important if and when technology developes to the point of any of us understanding the why and wherefore of its origins, occurence and distribution:face-huh:






With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...