NCJ Number
218776
Date Published
October 2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the analysis of a human skull partially embedded in a gray plastic material.
Abstract
Results indicate that the skull was not of recent origin and contained pre-1950 levels of radiocarbon. The individual’s death was established as occurring prior to 1950, with four main periods estimated as the time of death, ranging from AD 1530 to AD 1950. In less precise probability testing, the range of death shortened to between AD 1650 and AD 1800. Moreover, the analysis of the C13/C12 ratio suggested the diet consisted mainly of marine foods and/or C4 plants, such as corn. The preliminary analysis indicated that the bone of the skull was well persevered with no soft tissue or hair present. The skull was found on August 1, 1999 in a poorly preserved metal bucket recovered from a river in Lancaster, PA. The skull, which was partially embedded in a gray plastic material, was discovered inside a smaller, white plastic bucket within the metal bucket. Several traditional fossil-preparation methods were used to extract the skull from the plastic, including several sessions of intensive, meticulous work with an air scribe, which is used to separate fossils from their geological matrices. Initial anthropological analysis indicated the skull was male and of African origin who most likely died after the age of 50 years. Application of the Lamendin technique further estimated that the age at death was likely 60.2 years, plus or minus approximately 8 years. The case shows how techniques used by paleontologists can be useful in the extraction of human remains from challenging contexts and also illustrates how radiocarbon dating can clarify the time since death. References