Identification of dermestid beetle modification on Neolithic Maltese human bone: Implications for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs

Jess E. Thompson; Daniel Martin-Vega; Laura T. Buck; Ronika Power; Simon  Stoddart; Caroline Malone

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.016

Identification of dermestid beetle modification on Neolithic Maltese human bone: Implications for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs

Jess E. Thompson, Daniel Martin-Vega, Laura T. Buck, Ronika Power, Simon Stoddart, Caroline Malone

School of Natural and Built Environment

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

453 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Taphonomic modifications to Neolithic human skeletal remains from six rock-cut tombs in Malta has provided key information about funerary practices and the local environment. Application of microscopic analysis, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and 3D imaging of the modifications has allowed their comparison with similar examples in modern and archaeological skeletal material. The modifications are interpreted as pupal chambers and feeding damage by dermestid beetles. Based on observation of the behaviour and ecology of dermestid beetles, we suggest several scenarios for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs which nuance our current understanding of collective burial during the late Neolithic in Malta.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	123-131
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science Reports
Volume	22
Early online date	01 Oct 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.016
Publication status	Published - Dec 2018

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.016Licence: Unspecified

Thompson_Identification_of_dermestid_pupal_chambers_to_Neolithic_Maltese_human_bone_MS
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/,which permits distribution and reproduction for noncommercial purposes, provided the author and source are cited.
Accepted author manuscript, 500 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

1 Invited talk

Interdisciplinary approaches to work on the prehistory of Malta: the Fragsus Project
Caroline Malone (Advisor)
24 Oct 2018
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk

3 Citations
1 Book
1 Chapter (peer-reviewed)

Temple Landscapes: Fragility, change and resilience of Holocene environments in the Maltese Islands.
Malone, C., Stoddart, S., McLaughlin, R., Hunt, C., French, C. & Grima, R., 05 Nov 2020, Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Cambridge. 569 p. (Fragsus Project Monographs; vol. 1)
Research output: Book/Report › Book

Open Access
Hypogea and the clubhouse: Neolithic Malta's houses of the living and the dead.
Malone, C., McLaughlin, R., Barratt, R. & Parkinson, E. W., 2019, Houses of the dead?: Neolithic Studies Group Seminar papers 17. Barclay, A., Field, D. & Leary, J. (eds.). Oxford: Oxbow, Vol. 17. p. 15-37 23 p. (Neolithic Studies Group Seminar Papers).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Cite this

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title = "Identification of dermestid beetle modification on Neolithic Maltese human bone: Implications for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs",

abstract = "Taphonomic modifications to Neolithic human skeletal remains from six rock-cut tombs in Malta has provided key information about funerary practices and the local environment. Application of microscopic analysis, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and 3D imaging of the modifications has allowed their comparison with similar examples in modern and archaeological skeletal material. The modifications are interpreted as pupal chambers and feeding damage by dermestid beetles. Based on observation of the behaviour and ecology of dermestid beetles, we suggest several scenarios for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs which nuance our current understanding of collective burial during the late Neolithic in Malta.",

author = "Thompson, {Jess E.} and Daniel Martin-Vega and Buck, {Laura T.} and Ronika Power and Simon Stoddart and Caroline Malone",

year = "2018",

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journal = "Journal of Archaeological Science Reports",

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AU - Thompson, Jess E.

AU - Martin-Vega, Daniel

AU - Buck, Laura T.

AU - Power, Ronika

AU - Stoddart, Simon

AU - Malone, Caroline

PY - 2018/12

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N2 - Taphonomic modifications to Neolithic human skeletal remains from six rock-cut tombs in Malta has provided key information about funerary practices and the local environment. Application of microscopic analysis, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and 3D imaging of the modifications has allowed their comparison with similar examples in modern and archaeological skeletal material. The modifications are interpreted as pupal chambers and feeding damage by dermestid beetles. Based on observation of the behaviour and ecology of dermestid beetles, we suggest several scenarios for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs which nuance our current understanding of collective burial during the late Neolithic in Malta.

AB - Taphonomic modifications to Neolithic human skeletal remains from six rock-cut tombs in Malta has provided key information about funerary practices and the local environment. Application of microscopic analysis, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and 3D imaging of the modifications has allowed their comparison with similar examples in modern and archaeological skeletal material. The modifications are interpreted as pupal chambers and feeding damage by dermestid beetles. Based on observation of the behaviour and ecology of dermestid beetles, we suggest several scenarios for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs which nuance our current understanding of collective burial during the late Neolithic in Malta.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.016

DO - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.016

M3 - Article

VL - 22

SP - 123

EP - 131

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science Reports

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science Reports

SN - 2352-409X

ER -

Identification of dermestid beetle modification on Neolithic Maltese human bone: Implications for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs

Abstract

Access to Document

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Activities

Interdisciplinary approaches to work on the prehistory of Malta: the Fragsus Project

Research output

Temple Landscapes: Fragility, change and resilience of Holocene environments in the Maltese Islands.

Hypogea and the clubhouse: Neolithic Malta's houses of the living and the dead.

Cite this