8th February 2007, 08:33 PM
i would agree with Els about the value of excavating burials from all all periods in the same manner and with the same standards. A quick rectified photo of the skellie in situ is invaluable to an osteo, to be sure that bones are missing because of truncation, to show any disturbance that might influence the interpretation of fractures etc as peri or post-mortem, to indicate unusual burial positions that may be due to pathology or burial during rigor mortis etc etc. And as an osteo, I don't take ages to excavate a burial, my quickest time is 2 hours from finding grave cut to being ready to photo and lift. Speed does not equate with lack of care, as long as people are aware of the best ways to lift a burial. I recently saw one skeleton, nothing to do with me or who I work for, that had had both femoral heads broken off during lifting. That is sloppiness and totally unnecessary. A controlled "wrenching" out of bones does no harm whatsoever as long as you know what you are doing and is often the only way to get them out of the ground, but that just showed lack of experience and care.
++ i spend my days rummaging around in dead people ++
++ i spend my days rummaging around in dead people ++