Trey Huneycutt Spring '25 Archaeology Blog

For week eight's lesson we discussed Bioarchaeological Approaches to the Past. I was looking forward to this discussion since I have always had a fascination with forensic science.  Bioarchaeology is the study of the human biological component evident in the archaeological record.   We discussed how King Richard III (not the Lion Heart) were discovered under a Leicester parking lot in England.  Through an analysis of the bones and comparing skeletal injuries with known deformities and cause of death, along with DNA verification scientists were able to positively identify the remains. We discussed Osteology which is the study of bone.  We discussed how the human pelvis can be used to identify the sex of the individual due to the shape of the Sciatic Notch , which is wider in females due to child birth.  We also discussed how the femur is the best bone for computing stature, and weight can be calculated because dry weight is about 25-30% of live weight.  W...

 For week 7 in ANT2100 we discussed People, Plants and Animals in the Past.  The discussion began with defining Faunal Assemblage , the animal remains recovered from an archaeological site.  The example of this used were the butchered dogs located in Jamestown possible from the "Starving Time" winter of 1609-1610 where 3/4 of the colonists perished.  Zooarchaeology is the study of these animal remains excavated from an archaeological site. The goal of zooarchaeology is to understand the relationship between humans and their environment, especially humans and other animal populations. The example used was the Mesoamerican civilizations using the Jaguar in many important religious practices.   Faunal Analysis is the identification and interpretation of animal remain and a Comparative Collection is a skeletal collection used to make identification of archaeofaua.  We discussed the Oakland Hotel that was popular in the early 20th Century, and the properties ...