APPENDIX D Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Gibson Mounds Site (16TR5). By Michelle Whipp and Stephanie Crider (Under the Supervision of Mary H. Manhein and Dr. Ginny Listi, LSU FACES Laboratory) 108 GIBSON MOUNDS SITE (16TR5) INTRODUCTION The Gibson Mound site (16TR5) is a multi-mound complex located along Bayou Black in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The site consists of three earthen mounds, an associated midden, and a buried shell midden. Cultural occupation of the site spans the Marksville, Coles Creek, and Plaquemine periods. Human burials are present in both the mounds and midden deposits. A historic period occupation is evidences by burials with European goods on Mound B. Human skeletal remains, faunal remains, and artifacts recovered from the now abandoned house on top of Mound A were turned over to Dr. Rob Mann, the Southeast Regional Archaeologist for Louisiana. An initial sorting by Dr. Mann removed all clearly non-human bone from the collection. The remainder of the bone assemblage was brought to the LSU FACES Laboratory for analysis. METHODS Human skeletal remains recovered from the Gibson mounds site have been analyzed at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Laboratory. All human and animal remains were analyzed and identified by the accepted standards from, Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994); Moore-Jansen, Ousley and Jantz (1994); Bass (1995); Scheuer and Black (2000); White (2000); and Aufderheide and RodriguezMartin (2003). First, human and non-human remains were sorted into two different piles in order to screen the remains. Next, non-human remains were assessed, separating shells, fish, non-human mammalian, and non-mammalian from each other. Also, non-human mammalian jaws and teeth 109 were removed from the overall sample. All non-human remains were counted and weighted per their category. The human bone preservation is good, with the exception of the ribs and vertebrae which are highly weathered and fragmented. All skeletal remains (human and nonhuman) are covered in a moderate layer of dirt and attempts were made to massage clean the dirt with the use of brushes and bamboo skewers to prevent any further post-mortem damage. During this assessment the skeletal remains have were not washed with water to avoid destruction of important osteological markers. Human skeletal remains were first sorted by cranial and post-cranial elements. Postcranial remains were placed onto trays separating the axial and appendicular skeleton. Axial skeletal remains were then identified according to their specific grouping (i.e. vertebrae and ribs). The ribs and vertebrae were counted (number of ribs or vertebrae present in the respective group) and weighed within their groups. All weights are recorded in grams. Due to the moderate layer of dirt present on the skeletal remains, the weights recorded are estimated and not the true weight. Appendicular human skeletal remains were then sorted by long bone, either shoulder or pelvic girdle, and feet. Finally, cranial remains were sorted into their respective bones (i.e. parietals, frontal, occipital, and temporal). All cranial remains were weighed with their bone grouping and not individually. For both appendicular and cranial remains, all fragments have been articulated when possible. Articulated remains were weighed together (e.g. two fragments of the tibia that fit together were weighed as one piece). Identifiable appendicular remains were weighed individually, and unknown appendicular fragments were identified as unknown and weighed as a group (see Analysis). Each fragment was analyzed for antemortem pathologies. During this 110 assessment, minor pathologies may have been missed because of the layer of dirt present on all of the remains. Post-mortem damage was not recorded. When possible, stature was calculated from any complete long bones. Stature calculations and equations were drawn from Bass’s Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual, 4th Edition (1995). In this edition there are only stature estimations for males; and for this particular analysis, the only applicable equation is for Mongoloid males. Analysis of sex was conducted when possible. Various metric and non-metric techniques were used for analysis (e.g. bicondylar width of the humerus, the vertical height of the humeral head, and the size of the greater sciatic notch). ANALYSIS There are a total of 661 elements to be sorted for human skeletal analysis (Table 1). The majority of the elements are non-human (Table 1). The present study concludes that the minimum number of individuals (MNI) is four. This MNI was concluded by the presence of three complete right tibia and one juvenile tibia, however, there are likely more individuals represented in this assemblage. Non-Human Human TOTALS Table 1. Elements by Category Total Weight (g) Total Count % Weight 2587.9 504 39.57 3951.8 157 60.43 6539.7 661 100.00 % Count 76.25 23.75 100.00 Non-human Remains There are a total of 504 non-human elements (Table 2). These elements consist of mostly non-human mammalian bones. A zooarchaeological analysis of non-human skeletal remains was not conducted, as it is not the primary focus at this time of analysis. 111 Shells Fish Non-mammal Loose teeth Jaws with teeth Non-human mammalian bones TOTALS Table 2. Non-human fragments Weight (g) Count % Weight 62.5 8 2.41 0.7 3 0.03 3.9 7 0.15 15.6 10 0.60 57.2 6 2.21 % Count 1.59 0.60 1.39 1.98 1.19 2448.0 470 94.60 93.25 2587.9 504 100.00 100.00 Human There are a total of 157 human skeletal fragments and whole bones (Table 3). The skeletal remains are in moderate to good condition, with a layer of dirt covering the majority of the bones/fragments. After the initial overview of all remains, an observation was made describing the remains as robust with little noted sexual dimorphism. During the analysis, a total of four right tibae are identified (3 adults and 1 juvenile). Therefore, the minimum number of individuals (MNI) represented here from the Gibson Mounds site is four. It is important to note that none of these skeletal remains could affirmatively be associated with other remains and so more than four individuals could possibly be represented in this assemblage. Cranial Ribs Scapula Vertebrae Humerus Ulna Radius Innominate Femur Patella Weight (g) 196.6 78.8 26.2 109.4 188.5 54.3 23.2 123.7 1440.0 16.4 Table 3. Human skeletal elements Count 36 23 1 16 5 4 1 9 26 1 112 % weight 4.96 1.98 0.65 2.75 4.75 1.36 0.57 3.12 36.41 0.41 % count 22.93 14.65 0.64 10.19 3.18 2.55 0.64 5.73 16.56 0.64 Tibia Fibula Foot Unknown TOTALS 1438.1 146.5 29.3 88.8 3951.8 14 9 3 9 157 36.36 3.71 0.73 2.24 100.00 8.92 5.73 1.91 5.73 100.00 Skulls There are a total of 36 cranial fragments, collectively weighing 196.6 grams (g). The fragments consist of: 1 left descending ramus, weighing 16.4g; 4 temporal fragments, weighing 21.9g; 9 occipital fragments, weighing 68.0g; 14 parietal fragments, not sided, weighing 77.4g; and 6 unknown cranial fragments, weighing 12.9g. Ribs There are a total of 23 rib fragments. The collective weight is 78.8g. The rib fragments have not been sided or seriated because only rib shafts are present. Scapula There is one left scapula fragment. This is a left glenoid cavity, with some of the scapular spine attached. It weighs 26.2g. No arthritic lipping, or degenerative pathologies are present. Vertebrae There are 16 vertebral fragments present; no complete vertebrae. The total weight is 109.4g. There is no indication that these vertebrae belong to only 1 individual. Seriation of the vertebrae was not conducted because of the highly fragmented state of the remains. No arthritic lipping or any other degenerative pathologies are present. Humerus There are a total of five humeri fragments present, weighing a total of 188.5g. A partial proximal right humerus (weighing 92.1g) was analyzed for sex. The maximum diameter of the 113 humeral head measurs 4.69 centimeters (cm), suggesting an indeterminate sex (Bass 1995). No pathologies are present. A single known right humerus fragment, weighing 25.2g is present. No obvious pathologies are observed. Three known left humeri, weighing 71.2g are present. No obvious pathologies are observed. Ulna There are a total of 4 ulnar fragments weighing a total of 54.3g. A single known right ulna fragment, weighing 18.3g, is present with no obvious pathologies. Three known left ulna fragments, weighing 36.0g, were analyzed. No obvious pathologies are recorded. Radius A single known left radius fragment, weighing 23.2g, is present. No obvious pathologies are observed. Innominates There are a total of nine innominate fragments; four from the right side, two from the left side, and three from unknown sides. The total weight for all fragments is 123.7g; right side weight is 38.4g; the total left side weight is 70.3g. The unknown fragment weighs 15g. By using the large auricular surface of the left illia fragment, an estimated age of 45+ years (based on modern standards) was assessed for this individual; there is a wide greater sciatic notch and the presence of a preauricular sulcus, suggesting female sex (again by modern standards). Sex cannot be determined from the right auricular surface fragment, however, an age estimation of 30-45 years of age (by modern standards) is assigned to this individual. Femur There are a total of 26 femoral fragments, collectively weighing 1440.0g. As noted below, many of the femoral fragments have been articulated. A left femur, minus the posterior 114 portion of the medial condyle and the lesser trochanter, consisting of 4 pieces, is present. The total weight of all these 4 pieces is 379.2g. The femoral oblique length measures 46.70cm; the vertical diameter of the head measures 4.50cm; the bicondylar width measures a minimum of 7.40cm. All of these measurements suggest a sex of male, with a living stature of 172.98cm +/3.80cm (68.10in +/- 1.50in) for this individual. A distal left femur, consisting of 2 pieces, weighs 159.8g. The bicondylar width measures 8.60cm, suggesting this individual is a robust male. Another distal left femur, condyles and epicondyles only, weighs 88.1g. This bicondylar width measured 8.10cm, suggesting another robust male. A right femoral head weighing 14.6g with a vertical diameter of the head at 4.20cm, this results in the sex assessment of “questionable female” (Bass 1995). A left femoral head weighs 26.8g. The vertical diameter of the head was 4.70cm, suggesting a robust male. A total of 8 known right femur fragments are present collectively weighing 601.9g. A total of 3 known left femur fragments collectively weighing 114.0g are present. Finally, there are 6 unknown femur fragments collectively weighing 55.6g. No obvious pathologies are observed on any of the femoral fragments. Patella The single right patella weighs 16.4g. No obvious pathologies are present. Tibia There is one whole tibia and there are 13 tibia fragments present, with a combined weight of 1438.1g. The whole right tibia weighs 221.6g. This tibia measures 36.70cm in length, suggesting a living stature of 169.16cm +/- 3.27cm (66.60in +/- 1.29in). No obvious pathologies 115 are present other than mild to moderate bowing of the tibial shaft. A complete left tibia, in two pieces, weighs 284.2g. The pieces measure 39.20cm in length (when articulated), suggesting a living stature of 175.14cm +/- 3.27cm (68.95in +/- 1.29in). No obvious pathologies are present. A right tibia, in two pieces, weighs 360.2g. The tibia measures 39.50cm, suggesting a living stature of 175.86cm +/- 3.27cm (69.24in +/- 1.29in). Advanced periostitis is present on the distal portion of the shaft. The periostitis appears to have been active during life and is present in various stages of healing. Also, some extra bone growth (possible solitary enostosis or possibly related to the periostitis) is present as well. Another right tibia, in two pieces, missing the tibial tuberosity, weighs 243.5g. The tibia measures 41.50cm, suggesting a living stature of 180.64cm +/- 3.27cm (71.12in +/- 1.29 in). No obvious pathologies are present. A left tibia, with the tibial plateau in two pieces and missing the proximal portion, weighs 218.3g. No obvious pathologies are present. Another right tibial fragment weighs 44.4g with no obvious pathologies present. There are two known left tibial fragments, weighing a total of 53.5g. No obvious pathologies are observed. An unknown tibial fragment weighing a total of 8.3g also with no obvious pathologies observed. Finally, a single proximal right juvenile tibia is present, weighing 4.1g. This tibia was assessed for age between 22-26 months old. Fibula There are nine fibulae fragments present, weighing a total of 146.5g. The four known right fibula fragments weigh 62.7g. The five known left fibula fragments weigh 83.8g. No obvious pathologies are observed on any fibulae fragments. 116 Unknown Long bones (Possible Femur, Tibia, Fibula, Humerus, Radius, or Ulna) There are a total of nine unknown long bone fragments. These fragments are not distinctive enough to identify to the correct bone or side of bone. The total weight of these fragments is 80.8g. There are no obvious pathologies observed. Foot A right calcaneous is present weighing 25g. There are two unknown metatarsals present weighing 4.3g total. No pathologies are observed on any of the foot bones. Summary Overall, the remains in this assemblage are in good condition. After complete analysis, the suggested minimum number of individuals (MNI) for the Gibson Site remains is four; three adults and one juvenile. These remains appear to be robust as a whole and possibly have a low sexual dimorphism. With minimal pathologies, the general health of the individuals represented appears to be relatively good as well. References Aufderheide, A.C., and Rodriguez-Martin 2003 The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Paleopathology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Bass, W.M. 1995 Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual, 4th Edition. Missouri Archaeological Society, Columbia, Missouri. Buikstra, J.E., D.H. Ubelaker 1994 Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains: Proceedings of a Seminar at the Field Museum of Natural History. Arkansas Archaeological Survey, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Moore-Jansen, P.M., S.D. Ousley, and R.L. Jantz 117 1994 Data Collection Procedures for Forensic Skeletal Material. 3rd Edition. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Scheuer, L., and S. Black 2000 Developmental Juvenile Osteology. Academic Press, San Diego. White, T.D. 2000 Human Osteology. 2nd Edition. Academic Press, San Diego. 118