|
|
Agenda
Tuesday, January 6, 2004
- Scientific Session
Morning Session / Center for Khmer Studies (CKS)
8:00-12:00
8:00 Opening Address
Professor Rethy Chhem, Paleoradiology Research Unit, University of
Western Ontario, Canada
Bioarchaeology in South East Asia: An overview
Nancy Tayles, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
1.-
Papers: Angkor in prehistory: the Prei Khmeng skeletons
9:00 Christophe Pottier, EFEO
Looking for the people in
Angkor
9:20 Rethy Chhem, S.K. Venkatesh, M.K. Wong, K.Latinis, S.C. Wang,
C. Pottier
Preservation of skeletal morphology: multidetector CT scanning of a
prehistoric skeleton from Prei Khmeng
9:40 Kyle Latinis,
National
University of
Singapore
Discoveries and speculations regarding the Prei Khmeng skeletons
10-10:30 Coffee break
2.- Papers:
Mortuary behaviour and biological evidence for Human origins, dispersals
and relationships in South East Asia
10:30 Anne-Sophie Coupey, P. Mornais., J-P. Pautreau, J-P. France
Three late prehistoric cemeteries in Myanmar/Burma
10:50 Fabrice Demeter
New findings from a Pleistocene site in Northern Laos: Tam Hang revisited’
11:10 Hirofumi Matsumura,
Sapporo Medical University,
Japan
Prehistoric
Dispersion of Southern Chinese into Southeast Asia from Dental Perspectives
11:30 Kanoknart Chintakorn and Kriskrai Sitthiseripratip,
Thailand
CT Imaging for Dental Anthropology
12:00‑14:00: Lunch
Afternoon Session /
Ecole Française d'Extrême Orient (EFEO)
14:00-17:00
3.- Papers: Biological evidence in South
East Asia for quality of life, diseases and palaeodemography
14:00 Kate Domett, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
The skeletons from Phum Snay: preliminary investigations of health’
14:20 Sian Halcrow
Infant and child growth in prehistoric Thailand
14:40 Nancy Tayles
Preliminary observations on the demography of Ban Non Wat, Mun River
Valley, Thailand
15:00 Nancy Beaven, Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory, Geological and
Nuclear Sciences,
Lower Hutt., New
Zealand
What the bones say: the use of bone chemistry in skeletal analysis
15:30- 16:00 Coffee Break
5. 16.00-17:00 Forum: The future of
Bioarchaeological research in South East Asia
- development of
local expertise
- funding for
training
- funding for
research projects
- storage of
collections, where, how?
- relationships
between local and foreign researchers
- Synthesis, proposals and
solutions
Wednesday, January 7, 2004 - Workshop
on Bioarchaeology
Center for Khmer Studies (CKS)
8:00-12:00
-
What is bioarchaeology?
-
Overview of research on biological relationships
-
Overview of research on quality of life
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00‑18:00
-
Techniques for excavation, recording, curation and storage of skeletal
remains
Abstracts
Looking for the people in Angkor.
An overview of human remains in the archaeology of Angkor
by
Christophe Pottier, EFEO Siem Reap
Angkor is one of the
largest archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, and even if its
population estimates remain completely hazardous, they evoke some
hundreds of thousands of people. After one century of discoveries and
research focussed on rebuilding the history of temples and kings, what
is known about people who lived there?
This presentation will
give an overview with an archaeological perspective about the work
completed so far in Angkor on this subject, based on direct information
(human remains, necropolis) and indirect data (human representation).
Multidetector CT Scan of a Total
Ancient Skeletal-in-soil matrix: Distinguishing Bone From Soil
by Rethy K. Chhem, S. K. Venkatesh, M.K. Wong, Kyle Latinis, S. C
Wang and Christophe Pottier
The purpose of this
study is to demonstrate the role of multidetector spiral CT in the
non-destructive investigation of ancient skeletal remains from Angkor
Wat, Cambodia. An adult 2000 year-old skeleton was recovered from an
archaeological site in the region of Angkor, near a 8th century AD
temple. The skeleton was partially cleared from its soil matrix. It
was then cut in eleven blocks in order to facilitate the shipping to the
Radiology Department. Care was taken not to cut through anatomical
areas that may be of interest for physical anthropological study. The
entire skeleton in soil matrix was scanned, using protocols that allow a
3D and multiplanar reconstruction of the specimen. The aim of the study
is to demonstrate that multidetector CT examination can distinguish soil
matrix from the cortical bone without disassembling the skeleton. This
will support that pre cleaning CT allows a preservation of data that
will be inevitably lost after the cleaning of the soil matrix and the
possibility of reformatting the skeleton from CT data.
Discoveries and Speculations
Regarding the Prei Khmeng Skeletons
by Kyle Latinis
The first part of the
discussion will briefly highlight the initial processing of the
skeletons. Next, the discussion will focus on recent discoveries from
the two skeletons analyzed in Singapore thus far, particularly a few
interesting and uncommon archaeological finds revealed during
processing. Finally, the discussion will end with anthropological
speculations on the Prei Khmeng community including some comparisons
with burial sites in the region.
Survey and excavation at Krasang
Thmei, Cambodia
by Keosovannara Sok
The paper reports on
the survey and excavation of a archaeological site at the village of
Krasang Thmei, Chub Vari commune, Prah Net Prah district, Banteay Mean
Cheay province. The site is a large mound. Artifacts from the site
indicate that it was occupied from the prehistoric to Angkor periods.
There has been considerable looting of the site but our excavation
exposed three cultural layers with a variety of ceramic, bronze, stone
and clay artifacts together with animal bones. We also found a skeleton
in the lowest layer, at about 1.2m depth. The bones are in poor
condition. The burial included an animal skull, possibly a wild boar,
adjacent to the skull, and a small pot broken with the sherds deposited
over the hands.
Three late prehistoric cemeteries
in South-East Asia
by Anne Sophie Coupey, S. Mornais, P. Pautreau, J.-P. Rennes, France
The excavation of Hnaw
Kan and Ywa Htin sites, in central Myanmar, has revealed close to 150
skeletons with ceramic, metallic, ornamental and food offerings. Ywa
Htin revealed an early phase attributed to the Bronze Age, when the
inhumations are single. During a later phase, the dead were interred in
collective graves which are uncommon in Myanmar. We found the same
funeral practices at Hnaw Kan, where successive interments were
superimposed in shared graves. In the two cemeteries, the dead are
extended and supine, oriented in an East-West direction. These are
primary burials, but there are some disturbed bones. Both sexes and all
ages are present and buried the same way, except for some newborn
infants at Ywa Htin, which were interred in burial jars.
The site of Ban Wang
Hai, in Northern Thailand, revealed more than 30 graves together with
cremation urns and apparently isolated funeral deposits. The graves of
adults, young children and newborns discovered, some of which are well
preserved, correspond to a single burial phase. Some are accompanied by
jewellery, including glass, stone and shell bead necklaces, glass
earrings, and bronze bracelets, with iron instruments (tools and
weapons), or ceramic vessels deposited as offerings.
New findings on a Pleistocene site
in Northern Laos: Tam Hang revisited
by Fabrice Demeter, Prehistory and Palaeoanthropology Laboratory,
Collège de France
In February 1934,
Jacques Fromaget, from the Geological Service of Indochina, discovered
the Tam Hang shelter complex while prospecting the Southeast slope of
the Annamitic Chain in Northern Laos. There, the geologist undertook
gigantic excavations, which gathered an impressive Middle Pleistocene
fauna collection and 17 human skeletons (C14 dating:15 740±80 BP). The
exceptional state of preservation of the 5 most complete skeletons makes
these Tam Hang fossils one of the best-preserved Southeast Asian
population from pre-Holocene periods.
In March 2003, a
mission supported by the Fyssen Foundation (France) had an objective to
re-locate this site and to estimate the feasibility of an extensive
study of the place. In close collaboration with the Museum and
Archaeology Department (Ministry of Information and Culture, Lao PDR),
the site was located and an exploratory excavation was carried out. The
preliminary results are very promising since new archaeological layers
were found just below those described by Fromaget. The top layers show
pottery fragments, which seem to be contemporaneous of the human remains
found in 1934, while the bottom layers display a palaeolitihic context
mainly based upon a debitage industry. However both pottery and
Palaeolithic industries are currently under analysis, their existence
confirm the continuity of the human occupation of the site over
thousands of years.
Prehistoric Dispersion of Southern
Chinese into Southeast Asia from Dental Perspectives
by Hirofumi Matsumura, Department of Anatomy, Sapporo Medical
University, Japan
This study uses metric
and nonmetric dental data to test the “Two Layer” hypothesis whereby
Southeast Asia was initially occupied by an “Australo-Melanesian”
population that later underwent substantial genetic admixture with East
Asian immigrants from Southern China associated with the spread of
agriculture from the Neolithic period onwards. We examine teeth from
4016 individuals comprising 42 prehistoric and historic populations from
East Asia including Neolithic Southern China, Southeast Asia, Australia,
and Melanesia. For the odontometric analysis, dental size proportions
were compared using factor analysis and Q-mode correlation coefficients,
and overall tooth size was also compared between population samples. In
the nonmetric analysis, population affinities were estimated by Smith’s
distances using the frequencies of 16 tooth traits. The results of both
the metric and nonmetric analyses demonstrate close affinities between
recent Australo-Melanesian samples and samples representing early
Southeast Asia such as the early to middle Holocene series from Vietnam
and Malaysia, and collections of similar age from Flores. These latter
specimens are considered members of a population that originated in late
Pleistocene Sundaland and are believed to share common ancestors with
Australian Aborigines. In contrast, the dental characteristics of the
modern inhabitants of most of Southeast Asia exhibit a mixture of traits
associated with East Asians and Australo-Melanesians, suggesting that
these populations have been genetically influenced by immigrants from
Southern China. Metric and/or nonmetric traits derived from a northern
source are also found in some of the prehistoric inhabitants of
Southeast Asia such as the Ban Kao Thailanders, implying that the
initial wave of migrants probably occurred during the early Neolithic.
Much clearer influence of East Asian immigration was found in the Early
Metal Age Vietnamese and Sulawesi samples. Although the results of this
study are consistent with the expectations of the Two Layer hypothesis,
analysis of additional early Neolithic samples is needed to determine
the exact timing of prehistoric population dispersals into Southeast
Asia.
CT Imaging for Dental Anthropology:
A comparison of teeth between ancient and modern humans.
by Kanoknart Chintakanon and Kriskrai Sitthiseripratip, Thailand
Spiral computed
tomography (SCT) was performed on isolated teeth of ancient and modern
humans. The objectives of the study were to find a new method in
measuring a tooth in three dimensions for both the external and internal
structure i.e. for enamel, dentin and pulp tissue. Lower molars, lower
first premolars, lower canines and central incisors were used for
scanning. The teeth were scanned longitudinally and cross-sectionally.
The thickness of the enamel could be used to identify the extent of
attrition and the thickness of dentin and the size of the pulp could be
used to validate the age or the pulpal reaction to external stimuli. To
obtain the maximum data for dental attrition and mesio-distal width,
this study recommended the scanning to be longitudinally with the bucco-lingual
side parallel to plain of slice cut.
Molecular genetic analysis of
ancient DNA from ancient and extant populations in South East Asia -
challenges and possibilities
by
Eric P. H. Yap, Rita Y.Y. Yong, Yim Onn Siong, Fabrice Demeter,
Christophe Pottier,Rethy Chhem, Khoo Hoon Eng. Osteoarchaeology
Research Group, National University of Singapore and Defence
Medical & Environmental Research Institute @ DSO, Singapore
The advent of molecular
biology methods that allow the recovery and sequence analysis of ancient
DNA from small and degraded human samples has led to applications in
archaeology and anthropology. Analysis of different components of DNA
derived from the sample of interest provides a range of biological
information. Mitochondrial DNA is highly variable between individuals
and, being maternally inherited, can allow inferences to population,
ethnicity and familial relationships. In addition it exists in multiple
copies compared to chromsomal DNA and is therefore more readily
extracted and amplified. Analysis of nuclear or chromosomal DNA is
technically more challenging but can provide proof of familial
relationships, gender, traits (eg. colour blindness) and inheritable
diseases (eg. genetic blood disorders such as thalassaemia). DNA of
human pathogens and microbes that infect body tissues can also be
detected, indicative of premortem infection or infestation (eg. malaria,
tuberculosis, leprosy). Challenges include excluding sample
contamination with modern DNA and genetic databases of extant
populations. Tools that the bioarchaelogist of the future could use
include mobile field labs and DNA chips providing near realtime
analysis, improved sensitivity and nondestructive microsampling. The
field of ancient DNA studies therefore promises to be an interesting
one.
Phum Snay: Preliminary
investigations of health
by Kate Domett, School of Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University,
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Recent excavations at
the village of Phum Snay in northwestern Cambodia have uncovered a rich
burial ground, believed to be dated to the late pre-Angkorian period,
around the first half of the first century AD. Twenty-three burials
were identified and 21 individuals were represented by skeletal
remains. In addition, looting by local villagers has also exposed a
large sample of unprovenanced human bones (MNI = 26). Both sets of
material have undergone a preliminary analysis to determine their state
of health. This data will be presented and the results will be
discussed in relation to the archaeological evidence for culture
including social complexity and available technologies.
The Archaeology of Human
Skeletons:Prehistoric peoples from Ban Khok Khon and Ban Pone in the
Sakon Nakhon Basin, Northeast Thailand
by Boonlop, K. and S. Bubpha, Archaeological research Section, The 9th
Regional Office of the Fine Arts Department, Khon Kaen, Thailand
During the last decade,
archaeologists from the 9th Regional office of the Fine Arts Department
in Khon Kaen surveyed a number of archaeological sites in the Sakon
Nakhon Basin, northern Khorat Plateau, and selected some for excavation.
Among more than 150 sites, Ban Khok Khon in Sakon Nakhon province and
Ban Pone in Udon Thani province were excavated in 1998 and 1999
respectively. The excavations at both sites revealed complex
archaeological materials including human skeletal remains; there are 20
human skeletons at Ban Khok Khon and 9 skeletons at Ban Pone, associated
with a variety of grave goods. The mortuary remains at Ban Khok Khon
date from the pre-metal through to the Iron age, while the cultural
sequence of Ban Pone commenced in the Bronze Age.
The sample from the
early period of Ban Khok Khon includes a high proportion of child
skeletons but the sample from the later period includes more adult than
child skeletons. At Ban Pone, the ratio of burials between children and
adults remains the same through time. Observations of oral pathology on
the skeletons from both sites suggested that dental caries, abscesses,
and attrition were frequently present in adults.
Subadult growth in prehistoric
Southeast Asia
by Sian E. Halcrow, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology,
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Infant and child growth
are sensitive barometers of a population’s health. The study of subadult
growth is assessed in archaeological samples using linear and more
recently appositional bone growth.
Recent research in
prehistoric Southeast Asia indicates that patterns of health changes do
not adhere to the general bio-archaeological model that posits a decline
in health with the origins and intensification of agriculture. This
paper, a part of a more comprehensive synthesis of subadult health and
disease aiming to address this issue, presents the results of a
comparative study of linear and appositional bone growth from five Thai
samples. These samples are from two different geographical locations and
span from the early agricultural period to the late Iron Age. The aim of
this study is to assess what effects, if any, environmental differences
and cultural changes, including the intensification of agricultural
practices, had on growth. This study could also add knowledge to
research that has found morphological differences among the inhabitants
from the early agricultural site in central Thailand and later Northeast
sites.
Results show no
differences in linear growth among the samples. A cortical thickness
increase with age in all samples indicates the absence of severe
nutritional deficiencies. When compared to the British Mediaeval site of
Wharram Percy there are some differences in appositional bone growth.
Environmental factors which could account for these differences are
discussed. Implications of these results for the bio-archaeological
model of health change are discussed in the context of the natural and
cultural environment of prehistoric Southeast Asia.
Preliminary observations on the
demography of Ban Non Wat, Mun River Valley, Thailand
by Nancy Tayles, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology,
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
During the past decade,
there has been a series of excavations of prehistoric sites in the Mun
River Valley, Northeast Thailand, under the joint directorship of Dr
Rachanie Thosarat (Fine Arts Department, Bangkok) and Professor Charles
Higham (University of Otago). Three of the sites have recovered good
samples of human skeletal remains. These are the bronze age site of Ban
Lum Khao; the iron age site of Noen U-Loke; and the current excavation
at the site of Ban Non Wat, which extends from the pre-metal period to
the iron age. These sites are located close together and therefore when
combined will provide a large sample of human skeletal remains for
analysis. These total over 350 to date; 110 from Ban Lum Khao, 120 from
Noen U-Loke and 118 from the first two seasons at Ban Non Wat. Very
little data has been collected so far from the Ban Non Wat skeletons but
this paper introduces the sites and provides a preliminary review of
their age structure, particularly comparing the ratio of infant, child,
and adult burials.
“What the bones say”: Radiocarbon
dating and stable isotope analysis of bone for archaeological research
by Nancy Beavan Athfield, Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory, New Zealand
The secrets of the past
are held within bone; not only the age of a burial, but information
about ancient diet, migratory patterns, and individual and community
ecology. Advances in isotope applications, especially in the last five
years, have produced a diverse number of applications and show how the
various methods can be valuable tools for the archaeologist.
This presentation will
offer an overview of both radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis
techniques, and how these applications can improve our understanding of
past civilisations.
Topics covered:
Radiocarbon dating
Stable isotope analysis
Selection of sample material
Analysis methods
Using the data
Participants
Cambodia
CHY Rotha,
RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
CHEN Chanratana, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
ENG Lakhena, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
HAM Seiha Saran, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
HUOT Samnang, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
IV Panchakseila, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
NHEAN Socheat, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
OURN Sinang, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
O’REILLY Dougald, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, Archaeologist,
doog@mobitel.com.kh
PHLONG Pisith, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
PHOEUNG Dara, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
PHON Cheakosal RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
POTTIER Christophe, EFEO Siem Reap Office Director,
efeo.angkor@camintel.com
PRAK Vireak, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
ROEUNG Kannytha, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
SAMRETH Sipheon, Archaeologist
SOK KEO Sovannara, NARA - National Research Institute for Cultural
Properties Researcher,
narasinha@hotmail.com
SORN Sunsopheak, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
TOEUR Maneth, RUFA – Archaeology Faculty, student
Australia
DOMETT Kate,
James Cook University, Lecturer, Kate.Domett@jcu.edu.au
Canada
CHHEM Rethy,
University of Western Ontario, Professor, Canada,
bengmealea@yahoo.com
France
COUPEY
Anne-Sophie, Mission Archaéologique Française, PHD Student,
coupeyas@yahoo.fr
DEMETER Fabrice, Collège de France, Doctor, fabrice.demeter@college-de-france.fr
MORNAIS Patricia, Mission Archéologique Française, Archaeologist,
patmornais@club-internet.fr
PAUTREAU Jean-Pierre, CNRS-MAFM, Director, France,
pautreau@club.internet.fr
Japan
MATSUMARA
Hirofumi, Sapporo Medical University,
hiromura@sapmed.ac.jp
New Zealand
BEAVAN Nancy,
Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory, IGNS, New Zealand,
N.Beavan@gns.cri.nz
HALCROW Sian, University of Otago, student,
Sian.halcrow@anatomy.otago.ac.nz
TAYLES Nancy, University of Otago, Senior Lecturer,
Nancy.tayles@anatomy.otago.ac.nz
Singapore
LATINIS Kyle,
National University of Singapore, Archaeologist,
seadKL@nus.edu.sg
MIKSIC John, National University of Singapore, Southeast Asian Studies
Program, Associate Professor,
seajnm@nus.edu.sg
NG Sara, National University of Singapore
SUDHAKAR Kundapur
Venkatesh, National University of Singapore, Hospital Registrar,
sudhakarkv@yahoo.com
YAP Eric, National University of Singapore, Head Population Genetics
Program, Professor
Thailand
ANDE Diethard,
White Lotus Publishing House,
ande@loxinfo.co.th
ANUSORN, Ampunsri, Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha, Researcher, Silpakorn University
DEJPIROON Sirabutra, Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha, Researcher, Silpakorn University
KANLADA Rattanarungruang, Faculty of Archaeology , Silpakorn University,
student
KANOKNART Chintakanon, Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha, Researcher, Silpakorn University
KORAKOT Boonlop, Fine Arts Department,
Archaeologist,
boonlop_k@hotmail.com
NATHSUDA Pumijumnong, Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha, Researcher, Silpakorn University
NATTHAMON Pureepatpong Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha, Researcher, Silpakorn University
PUTSADEE Rodcharoen, Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha, Researcher, Silpakorn University
SCHOOCONDEJ Rasmi, Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha,
Project Director,
Silpakorn University,
rasmis@mozart.inet.co.th
SINEENART Wannasri , Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha, Researcher, Silpakorn University
SIRILAWAN Tohnak , Highland Archaeology Project in Pang Ma Pha, Researcher, Silpakorn University
SUREERATANA Bubpha, Fine Arts Department,
Archaeologist,
sureeratana_b@hotmail.com
U.S.A
CLARK Joyce,
scholar
JESSUP Helen, Art Gallery of South Wales, Independent scholar, Guest
Curator,
h.i.jessup@worldnet.att.net
|