An analysis of the skeletal material from Sugar Creek Ossuary

Abstract

The purpose of this study is essentially twofold: first, to record and present the osteological data from the skeletal material recovered at the Sugar Creek Ossuary (23PL58) and, second, to assess this material's affinities with other skeletal series having similar cultural,geographical, and temporal associations. In regard to the first, and principal, objective, this writer developed osteometric data sheets especially for this study. There were specific reasons for doing this. It was felt that by having to organize his own list of observations to be made, measurements to be taken, and indices to be calculated, the author would gain a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the whys and hows of basic human osteometric procedure than if he were to simply use others' check lists. This is not to say that the author can now be considered a master practitioner of human osteometric analysis but, rather, that he has certainly become more familiar with the knowledge and techniques involved in such analysis, as well as becoming more aware of the problems and difficulties encountered in such studies.