Abstract

BENEDETTI, Florencia; TAVARONE, Aldana  and  GONZALEZ, Claudina. Taphonomic analysis of contemporary human bone remains in cemetery contexts (Córdoba, Argentina): Contributions applied to forensic anthropology. Rev. Mus. Antropol. [online]. 2023, vol.16, n.2, pp.159-176.  Epub Aug 31, 2023. ISSN 1852-060X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.31048/1852.4826.v16.n2.40334.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the taphonomic processes and agents involved in the preservation and/or degradation of skeletal remains buried in contemporary cemetery contexts in the mountainous region of the province of Córdoba. To this end, 13 individuals from the Salsipuedes municipal cemetery were analyzed, recording taphonomic alterations such as floriturbation, fauniturbation, fractures, weathering, chemical precipitation and anthropic marks, among others, with particular emphasis on taphonomic indicators of burial contexts in cemeteries. The results show a high incidence of variables related to the wear produced by the coffins and stains and bone staining, as well as postmortem fractures and root marks, all indicators present in burial contexts. In general, the sample presents a good degree of preservation, however, in the adult individuals there was a preservation between regular and poor, while the subadult individuals present less presence of taphonomic variables. This difference is possibly related to differential burials between adults and children.

Keywords : Funerary taphonomy; Biological anthropology; Coffin; Actualistic investigation; Burial.

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