28th October 2005, 12:48 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by mercenary
I really like the field guide to excavation of human remains. I've excavated well over a hundred individuals so far and still learned a few things. (I've also had good osteo training)
I'd really like to see these become the definitive guides, but can't see it happening as long as units tender for excavating, lifting and recording 2 burials a day. (An extreme example) Even the better sites where a full day is allowed per burial make it probably the hardest work you can do in the field. I particularly hate rushing to lift skelly's at the end of a day after laboriously cleaning, planning, sampling etc. and it coming up in many more than 206 bits. Gutting.
I can only console myself that I'm doing a better job than the arch units that like to covertly clear parts of cemeteries with JCB's, which I've seen happen twice.
Actually the OSSA guidelines given by bajr state that 2 skellies a day should be possible!! I too feel that this is a bit optimistic. I have been under pressure to do even more (as Mr Hosty might recall too
) and while you can salvage the larger bones and produce a stick-man sketch important details are lost or poorly recorded - digits, teeth, patellae, epiphyses, small finds, coffin fittings, grave edges etc etc. I plan for staff to do one per day, and that's with experienced people. Mr Hosty - did said site ever get published?