Interpretation
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- Grave of an adult male in built tomb, N-S orientation, buried in empty space. Head was likely placed on top of some kind of rest, and the body fell into current position after the decay of the cervical joints, as did the mandible after decay of TMJ. Dropping of vertebral column must have occurred early as all vertebrae are well articulated. Skeleton appears to be male, however the jaw looks quite female and though the sciatic notches are more male shaped, the pelvis and sacrum are quite broad. Left side is compressed laterally from tomb wall.
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- Samantha Cox
- 18-7-2009
Description
- N-S burial of adult male in walled tomb cut into narthex below HRU 3785*
- small tools
- tomb
- none
- N-S
- good
- good
- Adult male in built tomb cut into narthex. N-S orientation, supine position. Arms crossed over torso just above pelvis. Legs fully extended, shows some lateral compression on left side. Cranium resting significantly higher than the rest of the skeleton, with face pointing directly up. Mandible has fallen and is resting to the right of the cervical column. Pelvis completely open.
- in built tomb cut into narthex
- good
- Glabella, mastoid process, sciatic notch. Note: mandible is quite female looking.
- size, maturation
Position
- Face pointing up, cranium much higher than body, mandible dropped to right of cervical vertebrae
- flexed
- extended, over right elbow
- flexed
- extended over right elbow
- extended
- extended
- good preservation, tomb burial
Articulation
Decomposition and Compression
- Yes
- Yes
- Very open
- in position
- connected and articulated
- some on left side
- yes on left side
- slightly on left
- none
- cervical vertebrae, mandible, pelvis
- tomb wall
