| 2007-08-18 |
lR |
i78 are the remains of a child buried inside a large ceramic jar recovered in the early Khabur levels at Mozan (1900 BCE). The funerary assemblage contained various artifacts including metal rings, jars, and beads representing the most elaborate burial in terms of artifacts present in A16. During the early Khabur, the practice of burying young children within ceramic jars or portions of jars appears commonplace however this practice appears to diminish during the later Khabur phase. Age estimate for this skeleton determined through dental development, diaphyseal long bone lengths, and stages of epiphyseal union visible on the skeleton. The deciduous molars and canines show incomplete root development with both deciduous mandibular molars in Rc development stage, deciduous mandibular canine at R ¾, and permanent mandibular molar 1 at Cr ¾- Crc. Using Moorrees, Fanning, and Hunt 1963, dental development was assessed between 1-2.8 years for both male and female profiles. Diaphyseal measurements of the humerus (130 mm) and fibula (135 mm) also suggest an age within 1.7-3.5 years (Hoppa 1992). Skeletal growth establishes this child between ages 1-3, fusion of the vertebral arches at midline and the lateral portion of the occipital bone unfused. Averaging the ranges for all the methods results in estimating A16. 78 within the age range of 1.5-2.5 years at the time of death. No pathological conditions were noted however several bones are discolored due to their proximity to oxidized metals. [Input: UZ15MM.j] |