Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland

Excavation is the process of uncovering buried remains. Unlike simple digging, it involves careful planning and techniques to protect artifacts and bones. As Walker explains, archaeologists use scientific tools before beginning their excavation, like ground-penetrating radar. Once they start digging, they use a variety of tools such as trowels and fine brushes to avoid damaging the remains. The process of excavation not only reveals physical items like bones and artifacts but also provides contextual information such as the arrangement of a burial site and the stratigraphy of the soil. Documenting the process of excavation is key to the work’s presentation of The Role of Science in Understanding Human History.

Forensic anthropology is a field of anthropology that uses the study of human skeletal remains to solve criminal cases and understand historical contexts. By examining bones, forensic anthropologists like Doug Owsley can determine the age, sex, ancestry, and health conditions of individuals. For example, the analysis of JR1225B’s remains revealed insights into his malnutrition and physical labor, while the study of the lead-coffin burials provided evidence of social status and burial practices. Forensic anthropology often uses a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating elements of archaeology, history, biology, and chemistry.

The historical record refers to the documented evidence and written accounts from the past. The historical record plays a crucial role in corroborating and enriching the findings from archaeological and forensic investigations. For example, the identification of prominent individuals like Philip Calvert and the Captain was supported by historical documents that detail their lives and contributions to early colonial society. The historical record also helps fill gaps that physical evidence alone cannot address, offering a narrative that includes social, political, and personal dimensions. Connecting the Historical Record to Archaeological Evidence is therefore one of the book’s major themes.

In situ is Latin for “in its original place.” When archaeologists find artifacts or human remains, they often investigate them in situ to preserve their context and ensure accurate analysis. To perform an investigation in situ, archaeologists carefully excavate around the remains, leaving them undisturbed in their original context. They document the exact location and position of the findings before removing them from the site. By examining items in situ, archaeologists can gather information about the burial environment and relationships between artifacts. The “pedestaling” of JR1225B’s remains is an example of this process.

In the Chesapeake Bay excavations, forensic anthropologists used isotope analysis to determine the length of time that the subjects had lived in America. Isotopes are variants of an element that differ in neutron number, and they can provide information about a person’s diet and origin of birth. For example, by analyzing the isotope carbon-13 levels in the bones of the colonists, researchers were able to infer how long individuals had been consuming a diet rich in corn, which was prevalent in the Americas but not in Europe.