The human skeletal remains from Kavousi, Crete : a bioarchaeological analysis

The human skeletons recovered from excavations in the area of the modern village of Kavousi, Crete include the remains of 144 adults, children and fetuses. These remains date to the 12th to 7th centuries, B.C. and comprise the first large-scale sample of human remains from this time period in Bastern Crete to be retained for analysis. The skeletons are from five grave groups associated with the archaeological sites of Vronda, and Kastro. A sixth group of skeletons were excavated by the Greek Archaeological Service from a tomb near Vasiliki, Crete. The burials include both Late Bronze Age inhumation burials, and cremations and inhumations from the Barly Iron Age. Careful excavation allowed for the recovery of skeletal position of the primary cremations, and the eventual reconstruction of cremation techniques. The analysis was aided by an experimental pyre cremation of a pig, and observation of cremations at a modern crematorium. The skeletons were evaluated for age, sex, and pathological conditions. While most of the Bronze Age inhumations were disturbed when the tombs were robbed, many of the cremation graves were intact. The cremations included burial in amphorae, other secondary deposits of bone, and primary burials of cremated skeletons. The typical primary cremations indicate that the bodies were cremated on top of a pyre, approximately 2 min length. While the preserved remains are in a flexed position, this is probably the result of contraction of muscles during cremation. The demographic profiles indicate that both males and females were being buried in approximately equal numbers. The presence of cremated and inhumed infants, children, and fetuses in the cemeteries indicates that children had equal access to funerary treatment, regardless of their age. This finding contrasts with previous excavations which failed to recover large numbers of children in formal cemeteries of this time period. The presence of children at Kavousi is thought to be the result of improved recovery technique, including water sieving of grave deposits, rather than a cultural difference. Pathological and anomalous conditions on the bone included indications of anemia, traumatic injuries, osteoarthritis, histiocytosis and metopism.