BIOARCHAEOLOGY, CONSERVATION AND DISPLAY OF A 16K-HUMAN SKELETON, JORDAN

Abstract

The Jordanian Museum of Cultural Heritage houses the oldest human skeleton unearthed in Jordan; Radiocarbon analysis revealed a date of approximately 16000 years BP. The purpose of the study is to reconstruct the biology and way of life of an individual who lived in an era that is still ignored by archaeologists in the region. The methods of the reconstruction include bioarchaeological investigation, XRD, XRF, FTIR, pH meter, and microbiology. The reults indicate a 31-years-old male with an estimated height of about 172.4-175.2 cm. The bone pathology on the vertebrae and long bones suggests that the individual endured hard daily life activites. His teeth showed oblique dental wear that is attributed to using them as tools. The cause of death was probably due to a blunt force trauma to the left side of the skull. The bone analyses using XRD, XRF, FTIR, and pH meter ruled out bone diagenesis, which nominate the skeleton for further chemical analyses. The microbiological tests revealed the presence of a wide range of microorganisms: Aspergillus viger, Pencillium chryogenum, Penicillum digitatum, yeasts, Corynebacterium equantium, Corynebacterium pyogemes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas pseudoaclingenes, Staphylcococus aureus, Salmonella enterica, and Corynebacterium pseudodiphthriticum. For the purpose of exhibiting the skeleton at the Museum and ensuring longer survival, the previous conservation materials (P.V.A) were replaced by new ones (Paraloid B 72).