Interpreting behaviour from the human skeleton : iron age Taiwanese populations

Abstract

The study of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites continues to play an important role in increasing our understanding of our human past. They are a vital source of historical information on past human-environment interactions and division of labour within societies. Osteometric studies have proven to be difficult considering that complete skeletal remains are usually quite rare. Skeletal materials recovered from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands are often incomplete and poorly preserved due to its soil conditions and customary reburials. The discovery of the Blihun Hanben archaeological site at the South of Yilan County in 2012 therefore, provides an important source of information on one of the most important early cultures in prehistoric Taiwan. This thesis aims to present an osteometric analysis of the lower limbs of ancient Taiwanese population during the Iron Age collected from Hanben, Shiqiao and Shisanhang sites. Through the quantification of femoral and tibial shaft morphology and the comparative analysis between populations and genders, this thesis examines the importance of using long bone morphology and ethnography in historical studies. Most importantly, this paper will also explore how these analyses can further allude to important understandings of the sexual division of labour, habitual activities, terrestrial mobility patterns and subsistence strategy of past populations.