1. Skeletal Modification

2. Vocab to know Skeletal Modification – Pre- or antemortem –
Any changes made to the skeleton
Pre- or antemortem –
Modifications made before death
Examples: breaking a bone as a kid
Perimortem –
Modifications made just before, during, or just after death; “around the time of death”
Example: stabbing someone & nicking the ribs or vertebrae
Postmortem –
Modifications made after death
Examples: bones that get broken when they are buried or run through a grinder or shredder, etc.. Think back to some of the episodes we watched…

3. Taphonomy
The study of the processes that operate between the time of death and the time of study (Human Bone Manual)
A subdiscipline of paleontology; but also in the realm of archaeology
Looks at the contexts of skeletal remains’ resting place
How were they buried? Where were they buried? What were they buried with? Body position? Etc…..

4. Skeletal Modification
Modification by Physical Agents
Chemistry – the soil the remains are in; weathering; natural decomposition of the body
Rocks, Earth, Ice – Bones can be broken or scratched by rockfalls; freeze-thaw cycles
Abrasion – particles of grit that “sand” the bones
Fire – cremation vs. naturally- occurring fires vs. roasting
Modification by Nonhuman, Biological Agents
Non-Human Animals
Gnawing/chewing on bones; sings of carnivores include: pitting, scoring and puncturing of bone; trampling
Plants –
Roots can grow through & around bones, leaving evidence on the bone; looks similar to etching
Modification by Humans
Cannibalism; cremation; cutting, chopping, scraping; percussion (hammering); projectiles (arrowheads, bullets, spearheads, etc…)