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Osteophageous insect damage on human bone from Je'reftheel, a Maya mortuary cave site in west‐central Belize
Author(s) -
Wrobel Gabriel D.,
Biggs Jack
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.2700
Subject(s) - taphonomy , cave , maya , archaeology , geography , human bone , biology , biochemistry , in vitro
Human bones from the Maya mortuary cave of Je'reftheel in west‐central Belize show evidence of taphonomic modifications attributed to insects, with termites and dermestid beetles being the most likely culprits. This study represents the first detailed exploration of the effects of osteophageous insects on bones from the Maya area and thus expands on recent efforts by other researchers working in the region to document taphonomic processes and distinguish them from intentional mortuary treatments.