Question for archaeologists. What other material traces or materialities of trauma can we explore next to physical evidence of trauma on human bodies (mostly skeletal remains)?
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Another thing I looked at, and this is based on individual societies, is a switch to regional art forms rather than a "royal" version... See the First Intermediate Period in Egypt, versus the Old Kingdom artistic conventions... There was a lack of artists/materials when it all fell apart...1/2
2/2 ...and that corresponded in some of my university research with higher infection and malnutrition rate in the human remains from a couple of cemeteries... the correlation seemed clear...
Another thing I look for is change of "kitchen tools"- those change so slowly with culture change and pressure due to... your mother's salad bowl is A salad bowl, if you know what I mean?
Also wondering if there is an increase in hoarding supplies evident in the archaeological record. We all know that at times of trauma such as the pandemic foods are hoarded - can this been seen archaeologically?
Pollen analysis to see what was being planted / what was wiped out after times of disaster - in the layers above & below evidence of flood/fire/tsunami/volcanic eruption
Good point! In Egypt, "Nilometer" records kept track of drought which can also assess crop success/quantity...
In California, there is the transition between oysters and clams as staple foods that might also show some of that in the midden stratigraphy (such as it is, darned gophers!)
Agreed- and the "ritual killing" of sacred items- bowls, sculptures, etc- are a good example- save them by destroying them, then place them in a "sacred space" ... Might account for some "votive" offerings if close to the date of an invasion, etc...
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Thanks, you made my day...
In California, there is the transition between oysters and clams as staple foods that might also show some of that in the midden stratigraphy (such as it is, darned gophers!)
...as a biological anthropologist/archaeologist, really bones and or/mummified remains tell the best tale. But I know they are not always available...
How about oral histories?