Category Archives: Osteology

OsteoMenagerie 6: Tips for Siding the Calcaneus

Posted on August 27, 2013 by JB

The calcaneus, often colloquially referred to as the ‘heel bone’, is the largest tarsal in the human foot. It preserves relatively well archaeologically speaking, appearing both in individual cemetery burials and in commingled graves. The photo below is of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Foot, Osteology, OsteoMenagerie, Siding Tricks, Tarsals, Test Your Skills | Tagged , | 5 Comments

OsteoMenagerie 5: The pisiform

Posted on August 2, 2013 by JB

The pisiform is one of the smallest bones you’re likely to come across when dealing with archaeological remains (though I once found one of the auditory ossicles when excavating a commingled burial site in Portugal – that was an exciting … Continue reading →

Posted in Carpals, Hand, Osteology, OsteoMenagerie | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

In Honor of the “Super Moon” – Identifying and siding the lunate

Posted on June 28, 2013 by JB

Last week marked the arrival of the “super moon”, the rare coincidence of a full moon phase with the point in its orbit at which the lunar body is closest to the Earth. In order, no doubt, to stimulate public … Continue reading →

Posted in Carpals, Hand, Osteology, Siding Tricks | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Feeling Shafted? Tips for identifying humeral shaft fragments

Posted on June 21, 2013 by JB

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately sitting cross-legged on the floor of my office, refitting long bone shafts. This pastime  generally involves me hunching over a tray like a cranky oracle, brows furrowed, staring suspiciously at the bones … Continue reading →

Posted in Long Bones, Osteology | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Want to impress your friends at parties?* A guide to quickly siding the patella.

Posted on June 15, 2013 by JB

While working with the ca. 5,000 year old Copper Age human remains that I’m studying as part of my dissertation research, I’ve noticed that the patella tends to preserve fairly well. The patella is up there on my list of … Continue reading →

Posted in Osteology, Patella, Siding Tricks | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cake or….Superior Articular Facets?

Posted on May 10, 2013 by JB

Excuse the Eddie Izzard reference. After learning this trick a few years back I’ve used it to teach students (or whoever is unfortunate enough to wander into the osteology lab when I’m in a didactic mood) how to identify vertebrae … Continue reading →

Posted in Osteology, Vertebrae | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments