The lifestyles of Bronze Age Zagros highlanders at Deh Dumen, Iran: Insights from midshaft femur cross‐sectional geometry and histology. (9th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miszkiewicz, Justyna J.; Stewart, Tahlia J.; Naseri, Reza; Sołtysiak, Arkadiusz
• Is Part Of: Archaeometry. Volume 64:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 1270
• Page End: 1287
• Publication Date: 2022-05-09
• Subjects: bioarchaeology -- bone microstructure -- bone morphometry -- Near East -- pastoralism -- subsistence -- transhumance; Archaeometry -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Expertising -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12781
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-813X

Abstract

Abstract: Late Bronze Age multiple human burials from Deh Dumen, Iran, were uncovered in the Zagros Mountains. Using cross‐sectional geometry and histology, a sample ( n = 23) of fragmented femora from these burials was examined to test for possible adaptation to transhumant pastoralism. Midshaft femur remodelling and modelling characteristics examined across males, females and age‐at‐death groups partly indicated sex‐specific pastoralist behaviours and possible experiences of walking on rugged terrain in this small sample. We discuss the value of combining histology and cross‐sectional geometry techniques when attempting to reconstruct past human behaviours in multiple burial contexts.