L A Gregoricka
Biographic Data
| ID | 17359 |
|---|---|
| NAME | L A Gregoricka |
| GIVEN NAMES | L A |
| FAMILY NAME | Gregoricka |
| SIGNATURE | GREGORICKA L A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of South Alabama |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6608-7709 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 152 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 8 |
A Multi‐Isotopic Approach to Examining Mobility and Social Reorganization During the Bronze Age Transition in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Investigating Entheseal Changes of the Arm and Activity Patterns of an Early Bronze Age Group From the UAE
Entheseal changes have proven useful to reconstruct past activity patterns. This approach was used to evaluate individuals interred within two Umm an‐Nar (ca. 2700–2000 bce ) tombs at the Early Bronze Age site of Shimal in the United Arab Emirates. Tombs Unar 1 and Unar 2 held commingled, fragmentary, and often cremated bones of hundreds of individuals of all age groups and sexes. It was unclear, however, whether differential interment based on s…
The Impact of Secondary Mortuary Practices on Representation and Distribution of Commingled Elements from Umm an-Nar Human Skeletons in Communal Tombs
Commingled human skeletons have the potential to reveal information about ancient funerary traditions through detailed bioarchaeological analyses of element representation (via minimum number of individuals, or MNI) and postmortem distribution. While MNI estimates are often presented in a perfunctory way, calculations using more nuanced methods may offer insight into taphonomic alteration and mortuary practices no longer visible to archaeologists…
The ethics of excavating
Excavation is considered by many to be an inextricable part of bioarchaeology, generating assemblages of human skeletons that bioarchaeologists rely on to reconstruct the past. However, in the Near East and beyond, little reflexivity has been given as to whether skeletal collections should continue to be amassed amidst the existence of already-excavated assemblages, especially those skeletal collections that have not yet been properly curated, an…
Mediterranean Bioarchaeology, Meta-Analysis and Migration
.
Twenty-first century bioarchaeology
This article presents outcomes from a Workshop entitled "Bioarchaeology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward," which was held at Arizona State University (ASU) on March 6-8, 2020. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (ASU), and the Center for Bioarchaeological Research (CBR, ASU), the Workshop's overall goal was to explore reasons why research proposals submitted by bioarchaeologists, both g…
A Bioarchaeological Investigation of Fraternal Stillborn Twins from Tell el-Hesi
A double nonadult burial excavated at the Ottoman period (1600–1800 CE) cemetery at Tell el-Hesi was hypothesized to belong to a set of stillborn twins. This study incorporated the use of multiple bioarchaeological techniques in order to assess both the age and survival of the perinates. Cranial and long-bone measurements were undertaken to determine age at death, while stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were considered alongside microCT assessm…
Isotopic assessment of diet and infant feeding practices among Ottoman-period Bedouin from Tell el-Hesi
Stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes from human bone collagen (n = 20) were used to examine adult diet and infant feeding practices among the Ottoman-period Bedouin at Tell el-Hesi (ca. 1500-1800 CE). Among adults, δ15N values point to a diet dependent on animal protein, fitting with ethnohistoric accounts detailing the reliance of these communities on secondary animal products. Nevertheless, differential access to animal protein was evident betwe…
Moving Forward
Set apart from within
The vast majority of individuals who died during the Umm an‐Nar period (2700–2000 BCE) of the Early Bronze Age (3200–2000 BCE) in south‐eastern Arabia were interred within large communal tombs, and following decomposition, their skeletons became commingled with others. Here, two women are discussed whose skeletons remained articulated – one from Unar 2 at Shimal, and one from Tell Abraq. The Unar 2 female was left unburned, exhibited a pathologic…
Advancing the understanding of treponemal disease in the past and present
Syphilis was perceived to be a new disease in Europe in the late 15th century, igniting a debate about its origin that continues today in anthropological, historical, and medical circles. We move beyond this age‐old debate using an interdisciplinary approach that tackles broader questions to advance the understanding of treponemal infection (syphilis, yaws, bejel, and pinta). How did the causative organism(s) and humans co‐evolve? How did the rel…
Status, kinship, and place of burial at Early Bronze Age Bab adh‐Dhra
Objectives The Early Bronze Age (EBA; ca. 3,600–2000 BCE) of the southern Levant underwent considerable transformation as agro‐pastoral communities began to utilize their land more intensively, constructing larger, fortified towns prior to site abandonment at the end of the third millennium. At the site of Bab adh‐Dhra' in Jordan, the dead of the Early Bronze (EB) II–III (ca. 3,100–2,500 BCE) period were communally interred within charnel houses,…
The monastic mosaic at Mount Nebo, Jordan
Reconstructing Life Histories Using Multi-Tissue Isotope Analysis of Commingled Remains from St Stephen's Monastery in Jerusalem
The examination of isotope ratios from multiple tissues offers new life to interpretations of commingled assemblages where information regarding individual biological history has been lost. Here, life histories from a commingled sample of Byzantine monks were reconstructed using enamel and bone δ13C and δ15N values. The δ13C values suggest a diet dominated by C3 products, while the δ15N ratios indicate variable contributions of animal protein. Af…
Deviant burials and social identity in a postmedieval Polish cemetery
Objectives Deviant burials can reveal important information about both social and individual identity, particularly when the mortuary record is supplemented by an examination of skeletal remains. At the postmedieval (17th to 18th c. AD) cemetery of Drawsko (Site 1), Poland, six individuals (of n = 285) received deviant, anti‐vampiristic mortuary treatment. A previous study using radiogenic strontium isotope ratios ( = 0.7112 ± 0.0006, 1 σ , n = 6…
Continuity or conquest? A multi‐isotope approach to investigating identity in the Early Iron Age of the Southern Levant
OBJECTIVES: Across the Mediterranean and Near East, the transition from the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550-1200 BC) to the Early Iron Age (ca. 1200-900 BC) was accompanied by profound cultural change. While this transformation was initially attributed to invasion or conquest, more recent, nuanced interpretations of archaeological and biological data now emphasize the decline of palatial economies, a shift away from centralized political authority, and…
Differential diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disorder using bioarchaeological and biogeochemical evidence from a bronze age skeleton in the UAE
Human Response to Climate Change during the Umm an‐Nar/Wadi Suq Transition in the United Arab Emirates
Stable oxygen isotope ratios in archaeological human dental enamel represent an under‐utilised tool in the examination of changing climatic patterns in the ancient world. In the Oman Peninsula at the end of the third millennium bc , rapid aridification was accompanied by a breakdown in interregional trade relations; however, the human response to these changes is poorly understood. At the Bronze Age necropolis at Shimal in the United Arab Emirate…
Isotopic Evidence for Diet Among Historic Bedouin of Khirbat al-Mudayna, Jordan
Interpreting the behaviours of nomadic groups from the archaeological record is particularly challenging owing to the ephemeral remains produced by their lifestyle. As such, human burials - even from isolated contexts - provide a wealth of information about these transient groups. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of a series of human skeletal remains (n = 22) from isolated burials were utilized to reconstruct the diet of historic (ca. …
Monks on the move
OBJECTIVES: Written and archaeological evidence indicates that migration, in the form of pilgrimage to Byzantine Palestine, was a major social phenomenon between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. Monasteries saw record growth at this time as pilgrims chose to stay in the region and take up religious life. A major influx of people to the region, with a corresponding growth in monastic vocations that led travelers to stay in the area, is not in questio…
Assessing life history from commingled assemblages
The Social, Spatial, and Bioarchaeological Histories of Ancient Oman project
The Social, Spatial, and Bioarchaeological Histories of Ancient Oman (SoBO) project has conducted three seasons of survey and excavation in north-western Oman. Focusing on third-millennium BC archaeological features, this project is unique because of the combination of geospatial survey and bioarchaeological excavation of mortuary monuments in and around the town of Dhank. Here we report our initial findings, define our survey area and techniques…
Geographic origins and dietary transitions during the bronze age in the oman peninsula
The nature of the Bronze Age transition from the Umm an‐Nar (ca. 2700–2000 BC) to the Wadi Suq (ca. 2000–1300 BC) period in the Oman Peninsula has been highly debated by archaeologists, with some characterizing the latter as a time of cultural isolation, social collapse, and/or population replacement following the successful involvement of the area in widespread interregional exchange networks across Arabia and South Asia. The hypothesis that a s…
Ascetic or affluent? Byzantine diet at the monastic community of St. Stephen’s, Jerusalem from stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes
Residential mobility and social identity in the periphery
Residential mobility and social identity in the periphery
Twenty-first century bioarchaeology
This article presents outcomes from a Workshop entitled "Bioarchaeology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward," which was held at Arizona State University (ASU) on March 6-8, 2020. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (ASU), and the Center for Bioarchaeological Research (CBR, ASU), the Workshop's overall goal was to explore reasons why research proposals submitted by bioarchaeologists, both g…
Monks on the move
OBJECTIVES: Written and archaeological evidence indicates that migration, in the form of pilgrimage to Byzantine Palestine, was a major social phenomenon between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. Monasteries saw record growth at this time as pilgrims chose to stay in the region and take up religious life. A major influx of people to the region, with a corresponding growth in monastic vocations that led travelers to stay in the area, is not in questio…
Assessing life history from commingled assemblages
Moving Forward
Advancing the understanding of treponemal disease in the past and present
Syphilis was perceived to be a new disease in Europe in the late 15th century, igniting a debate about its origin that continues today in anthropological, historical, and medical circles. We move beyond this age‐old debate using an interdisciplinary approach that tackles broader questions to advance the understanding of treponemal infection (syphilis, yaws, bejel, and pinta). How did the causative organism(s) and humans co‐evolve? How did the rel…
Reconstructing Life Histories Using Multi-Tissue Isotope Analysis of Commingled Remains from St Stephen's Monastery in Jerusalem
The examination of isotope ratios from multiple tissues offers new life to interpretations of commingled assemblages where information regarding individual biological history has been lost. Here, life histories from a commingled sample of Byzantine monks were reconstructed using enamel and bone δ13C and δ15N values. The δ13C values suggest a diet dominated by C3 products, while the δ15N ratios indicate variable contributions of animal protein. Af…
The Social, Spatial, and Bioarchaeological Histories of Ancient Oman project
The Social, Spatial, and Bioarchaeological Histories of Ancient Oman (SoBO) project has conducted three seasons of survey and excavation in north-western Oman. Focusing on third-millennium BC archaeological features, this project is unique because of the combination of geospatial survey and bioarchaeological excavation of mortuary monuments in and around the town of Dhank. Here we report our initial findings, define our survey area and techniques…
Geographic origins and dietary transitions during the bronze age in the oman peninsula
The nature of the Bronze Age transition from the Umm an‐Nar (ca. 2700–2000 BC) to the Wadi Suq (ca. 2000–1300 BC) period in the Oman Peninsula has been highly debated by archaeologists, with some characterizing the latter as a time of cultural isolation, social collapse, and/or population replacement following the successful involvement of the area in widespread interregional exchange networks across Arabia and South Asia. The hypothesis that a s…
Human Response to Climate Change during the Umm an‐Nar/Wadi Suq Transition in the United Arab Emirates
Stable oxygen isotope ratios in archaeological human dental enamel represent an under‐utilised tool in the examination of changing climatic patterns in the ancient world. In the Oman Peninsula at the end of the third millennium bc , rapid aridification was accompanied by a breakdown in interregional trade relations; however, the human response to these changes is poorly understood. At the Bronze Age necropolis at Shimal in the United Arab Emirate…
Status, kinship, and place of burial at Early Bronze Age Bab adh‐Dhra
Objectives The Early Bronze Age (EBA; ca. 3,600–2000 BCE) of the southern Levant underwent considerable transformation as agro‐pastoral communities began to utilize their land more intensively, constructing larger, fortified towns prior to site abandonment at the end of the third millennium. At the site of Bab adh‐Dhra' in Jordan, the dead of the Early Bronze (EB) II–III (ca. 3,100–2,500 BCE) period were communally interred within charnel houses,…
Continuity or conquest? A multi‐isotope approach to investigating identity in the Early Iron Age of the Southern Levant
OBJECTIVES: Across the Mediterranean and Near East, the transition from the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550-1200 BC) to the Early Iron Age (ca. 1200-900 BC) was accompanied by profound cultural change. While this transformation was initially attributed to invasion or conquest, more recent, nuanced interpretations of archaeological and biological data now emphasize the decline of palatial economies, a shift away from centralized political authority, and…
Isotopic assessment of diet and infant feeding practices among Ottoman-period Bedouin from Tell el-Hesi
Stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes from human bone collagen (n = 20) were used to examine adult diet and infant feeding practices among the Ottoman-period Bedouin at Tell el-Hesi (ca. 1500-1800 CE). Among adults, δ15N values point to a diet dependent on animal protein, fitting with ethnohistoric accounts detailing the reliance of these communities on secondary animal products. Nevertheless, differential access to animal protein was evident betwe…
The monastic mosaic at Mount Nebo, Jordan
Isotopic Evidence for Diet Among Historic Bedouin of Khirbat al-Mudayna, Jordan
Interpreting the behaviours of nomadic groups from the archaeological record is particularly challenging owing to the ephemeral remains produced by their lifestyle. As such, human burials - even from isolated contexts - provide a wealth of information about these transient groups. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of a series of human skeletal remains (n = 22) from isolated burials were utilized to reconstruct the diet of historic (ca. …
A Bioarchaeological Investigation of Fraternal Stillborn Twins from Tell el-Hesi
A double nonadult burial excavated at the Ottoman period (1600–1800 CE) cemetery at Tell el-Hesi was hypothesized to belong to a set of stillborn twins. This study incorporated the use of multiple bioarchaeological techniques in order to assess both the age and survival of the perinates. Cranial and long-bone measurements were undertaken to determine age at death, while stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were considered alongside microCT assessm…
The Impact of Secondary Mortuary Practices on Representation and Distribution of Commingled Elements from Umm an-Nar Human Skeletons in Communal Tombs
Commingled human skeletons have the potential to reveal information about ancient funerary traditions through detailed bioarchaeological analyses of element representation (via minimum number of individuals, or MNI) and postmortem distribution. While MNI estimates are often presented in a perfunctory way, calculations using more nuanced methods may offer insight into taphonomic alteration and mortuary practices no longer visible to archaeologists…
Set apart from within
The vast majority of individuals who died during the Umm an‐Nar period (2700–2000 BCE) of the Early Bronze Age (3200–2000 BCE) in south‐eastern Arabia were interred within large communal tombs, and following decomposition, their skeletons became commingled with others. Here, two women are discussed whose skeletons remained articulated – one from Unar 2 at Shimal, and one from Tell Abraq. The Unar 2 female was left unburned, exhibited a pathologic…
Ascetic or affluent? Byzantine diet at the monastic community of St. Stephen’s, Jerusalem from stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes
Residential mobility and social identity in the periphery
The Social, Spatial, and Bioarchaeological Histories of Ancient Oman project
The Social, Spatial, and Bioarchaeological Histories of Ancient Oman (SoBO) project has conducted three seasons of survey and excavation in north-western Oman. Focusing on third-millennium BC archaeological features, this project is unique because of the combination of geospatial survey and bioarchaeological excavation of mortuary monuments in and around the town of Dhank. Here we report our initial findings, define our survey area and techniques…
Geographic origins and dietary transitions during the bronze age in the oman peninsula
The nature of the Bronze Age transition from the Umm an‐Nar (ca. 2700–2000 BC) to the Wadi Suq (ca. 2000–1300 BC) period in the Oman Peninsula has been highly debated by archaeologists, with some characterizing the latter as a time of cultural isolation, social collapse, and/or population replacement following the successful involvement of the area in widespread interregional exchange networks across Arabia and South Asia. The hypothesis that a s…
Assessing life history from commingled assemblages
Monks on the move
OBJECTIVES: Written and archaeological evidence indicates that migration, in the form of pilgrimage to Byzantine Palestine, was a major social phenomenon between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. Monasteries saw record growth at this time as pilgrims chose to stay in the region and take up religious life. A major influx of people to the region, with a corresponding growth in monastic vocations that led travelers to stay in the area, is not in questio…
Differential diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disorder using bioarchaeological and biogeochemical evidence from a bronze age skeleton in the UAE
Human Response to Climate Change during the Umm an‐Nar/Wadi Suq Transition in the United Arab Emirates
Stable oxygen isotope ratios in archaeological human dental enamel represent an under‐utilised tool in the examination of changing climatic patterns in the ancient world. In the Oman Peninsula at the end of the third millennium bc , rapid aridification was accompanied by a breakdown in interregional trade relations; however, the human response to these changes is poorly understood. At the Bronze Age necropolis at Shimal in the United Arab Emirate…
Isotopic Evidence for Diet Among Historic Bedouin of Khirbat al-Mudayna, Jordan
Interpreting the behaviours of nomadic groups from the archaeological record is particularly challenging owing to the ephemeral remains produced by their lifestyle. As such, human burials - even from isolated contexts - provide a wealth of information about these transient groups. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of a series of human skeletal remains (n = 22) from isolated burials were utilized to reconstruct the diet of historic (ca. …
Reconstructing Life Histories Using Multi-Tissue Isotope Analysis of Commingled Remains from St Stephen's Monastery in Jerusalem
The examination of isotope ratios from multiple tissues offers new life to interpretations of commingled assemblages where information regarding individual biological history has been lost. Here, life histories from a commingled sample of Byzantine monks were reconstructed using enamel and bone δ13C and δ15N values. The δ13C values suggest a diet dominated by C3 products, while the δ15N ratios indicate variable contributions of animal protein. Af…
Deviant burials and social identity in a postmedieval Polish cemetery
Objectives Deviant burials can reveal important information about both social and individual identity, particularly when the mortuary record is supplemented by an examination of skeletal remains. At the postmedieval (17th to 18th c. AD) cemetery of Drawsko (Site 1), Poland, six individuals (of n = 285) received deviant, anti‐vampiristic mortuary treatment. A previous study using radiogenic strontium isotope ratios ( = 0.7112 ± 0.0006, 1 σ , n = 6…
Continuity or conquest? A multi‐isotope approach to investigating identity in the Early Iron Age of the Southern Levant
OBJECTIVES: Across the Mediterranean and Near East, the transition from the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550-1200 BC) to the Early Iron Age (ca. 1200-900 BC) was accompanied by profound cultural change. While this transformation was initially attributed to invasion or conquest, more recent, nuanced interpretations of archaeological and biological data now emphasize the decline of palatial economies, a shift away from centralized political authority, and…
The monastic mosaic at Mount Nebo, Jordan
Advancing the understanding of treponemal disease in the past and present
Syphilis was perceived to be a new disease in Europe in the late 15th century, igniting a debate about its origin that continues today in anthropological, historical, and medical circles. We move beyond this age‐old debate using an interdisciplinary approach that tackles broader questions to advance the understanding of treponemal infection (syphilis, yaws, bejel, and pinta). How did the causative organism(s) and humans co‐evolve? How did the rel…
Status, kinship, and place of burial at Early Bronze Age Bab adh‐Dhra
Objectives The Early Bronze Age (EBA; ca. 3,600–2000 BCE) of the southern Levant underwent considerable transformation as agro‐pastoral communities began to utilize their land more intensively, constructing larger, fortified towns prior to site abandonment at the end of the third millennium. At the site of Bab adh‐Dhra' in Jordan, the dead of the Early Bronze (EB) II–III (ca. 3,100–2,500 BCE) period were communally interred within charnel houses,…
Moving Forward
Set apart from within
The vast majority of individuals who died during the Umm an‐Nar period (2700–2000 BCE) of the Early Bronze Age (3200–2000 BCE) in south‐eastern Arabia were interred within large communal tombs, and following decomposition, their skeletons became commingled with others. Here, two women are discussed whose skeletons remained articulated – one from Unar 2 at Shimal, and one from Tell Abraq. The Unar 2 female was left unburned, exhibited a pathologic…
Mediterranean Bioarchaeology, Meta-Analysis and Migration
.
Twenty-first century bioarchaeology
This article presents outcomes from a Workshop entitled "Bioarchaeology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward," which was held at Arizona State University (ASU) on March 6-8, 2020. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (ASU), and the Center for Bioarchaeological Research (CBR, ASU), the Workshop's overall goal was to explore reasons why research proposals submitted by bioarchaeologists, both g…
A Bioarchaeological Investigation of Fraternal Stillborn Twins from Tell el-Hesi
A double nonadult burial excavated at the Ottoman period (1600–1800 CE) cemetery at Tell el-Hesi was hypothesized to belong to a set of stillborn twins. This study incorporated the use of multiple bioarchaeological techniques in order to assess both the age and survival of the perinates. Cranial and long-bone measurements were undertaken to determine age at death, while stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were considered alongside microCT assessm…
Isotopic assessment of diet and infant feeding practices among Ottoman-period Bedouin from Tell el-Hesi
Stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes from human bone collagen (n = 20) were used to examine adult diet and infant feeding practices among the Ottoman-period Bedouin at Tell el-Hesi (ca. 1500-1800 CE). Among adults, δ15N values point to a diet dependent on animal protein, fitting with ethnohistoric accounts detailing the reliance of these communities on secondary animal products. Nevertheless, differential access to animal protein was evident betwe…
The ethics of excavating
Excavation is considered by many to be an inextricable part of bioarchaeology, generating assemblages of human skeletons that bioarchaeologists rely on to reconstruct the past. However, in the Near East and beyond, little reflexivity has been given as to whether skeletal collections should continue to be amassed amidst the existence of already-excavated assemblages, especially those skeletal collections that have not yet been properly curated, an…
The Impact of Secondary Mortuary Practices on Representation and Distribution of Commingled Elements from Umm an-Nar Human Skeletons in Communal Tombs
Commingled human skeletons have the potential to reveal information about ancient funerary traditions through detailed bioarchaeological analyses of element representation (via minimum number of individuals, or MNI) and postmortem distribution. While MNI estimates are often presented in a perfunctory way, calculations using more nuanced methods may offer insight into taphonomic alteration and mortuary practices no longer visible to archaeologists…
A Multi‐Isotopic Approach to Examining Mobility and Social Reorganization During the Bronze Age Transition in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Investigating Entheseal Changes of the Arm and Activity Patterns of an Early Bronze Age Group From the UAE
Entheseal changes have proven useful to reconstruct past activity patterns. This approach was used to evaluate individuals interred within two Umm an‐Nar (ca. 2700–2000 bce ) tombs at the Early Bronze Age site of Shimal in the United Arab Emirates. Tombs Unar 1 and Unar 2 held commingled, fragmentary, and often cremated bones of hundreds of individuals of all age groups and sexes. It was unclear, however, whether differential interment based on s…
Archaeology (20 works) · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies (19 works) · Geography (19 works) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (17 works) · History (12 works) · Bronze Age (10 works) · Paleopathology and ancient diseases (9 works) · Biology (8 works) · Ecology (8 works) · Ancient history (7 works)