A prehistoric flexed human burial from Pha Phen, Middle Mekong Valley, Laos

Its context in Southeast Asia

Bibliographic Data

ID6135833
AuthorsNancy Tayles (University of Otago), E Halcrow (0000-0001-6038-7997, University of Otago), S E Halcrow (University of Otago), Thongsa Sayavongkhamdy (0000-0001-9467-0811), Viengkeo Souksavatdy
Year2015
Volume123
Issue1
Pages1-12
Publication date2015-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthropological Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0918-7960 • E-ISSN: 1348-8570
PublisherAnthropological Society of Nippon (PUBLISHER • JP)
DOI10.1537/ase.141013
OpenAlexW2080735407
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited20

This paper describes a human skeleton from a rock-shelter in northeast Laos, dated to ~7000 BP. It was excavated in 2004 and moved en bloc to the Laos National Museum in Vientiane. Here we report observations made from the in situ skeleton. The burial is the largely complete but slightly damaged remains of a tall, middle-aged, probable male buried on his side in a flexed position. His teeth were heavily worn and one was infected but otherwise there is no evidence of poor health. We were not able to make an assessment of biological affiliation. In comparison with the very small samples of approximately contemporary skeletal remains from the wider region around the middle Mekong, it is clear that the burial position and dental health were not unusual, but that he was very tall for that period of prehistory

Ancient history · Archaeology · Bioarchaeology · Biology · Context (archaeology · Geography · Human skeleton · Prehistory · Southeast asia · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Anatomy

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