EAST DELTA

Tell Tebilla 11

	Osteology Osteological report for Tell Tebilla, 2000-2003 (By A. Graver and P. Sheldrick) The physical anthropology team worked at Tell Tebilla from June 25 to July 15, 2003 inclusive in order to further investigate the bioarchaeology of the site. Human remains from the previous excavation seasons of 2000 and 2001 were studied, as well as skeletal material newly excavated during the 2003 season. The aim of the osteological analysis was to describe each burial with respect to the vital statistics of sex, age at death, and stature, as well as to assess skeletal indicators of health status and disease, familial relationships, and activities of daily living. Human skeletal remains from 23 archaeological loci were examined representing at least 36 individuals. Seventeen loci represented the remains of single skeletons, while 6 loci were multiple interments.		East Delta (Tell Tebilla) Arabic Summary Arabic Report Bibliography Bibliographic sources for Tell Tebilla Tell Tebilla 1 Project Personnel Background Survey and Excavation Results Tell Tebilla 2 Southern Cemetery 2000 Tell Tebilla 3 Western Cemetery 1999-2001 Tell Tebilla 4 Northern Cemetery 2001 Northeastern Cemetery Tell Tebilla 5 The Temple Tell Tebilla 6 The Settlement Conclusion Tell Tebilla 7 Magnetometer and Surface Survey Tell Tebilla 8 History & Commerce Tell Tebilla 9 The Material Culture from Tell Tebilla Tell Tebilla 10 Imported Pottery Tell Tebilla 11 Osteology Remote Imaging (E.Delta) Satellite Images & Aerial Photography Studies

	Image 060 Unit G-14: Osteologists, P. Sheldrick and A. Graver, delineating burials in the street between mastaba-tombs A and D (Photo: P. Carstens).
	Skeletal analyses were constrained by the fragmentary and often fragile condition of the remains. However, in most instances it was possible to recover significant information from even extremely fragmentary skeletal material by using multiple methodologies. For example, age at death of adult skeletons was estimated based on various indicators including dental attrition, morphogenesis of the pubic symphysis and sternal rib end, and synostosis of cranial sutures. The human remains were also examined from the perspective of palaeopathology, the study of disease in ancient mankind. Teeth are relatively well preserved at Tebilla and thus offered the best opportunity for observations of pathology. In general, the teeth of most individuals were relatively healthy with few dental caries and only moderate amounts of calculus formation. This suggests fairly healthy diets without the preponderance of carbohydrates seen in modern diets. Dental attrition was ubiquitous as in most ancient Egyptian skeletal samples and provided a means of estimating age at death when other methods were not available in incomplete skeletons.

	Unit G-14: Burial no.5 in locus 80 in the street between mastaba-tombs A and D (Photo: P. Carstens).
	Although fragmentary, the bones were studied for any evidence of disease or trauma. In general, the bones were fairly robust and healthy. Only one healed fracture (of a metatarsal) was observed. However, quantifying fracture rates in this skeletal population was not possible because the fragmentary nature of the remains precludes positively identifying all fractures. Other diseases suggested by bone markers included anemia, osteoporosis, compression fractures of vertebrae, hypercementosis (tooth root) and dental abscesses. Activities of daily living can leave their mark on bone and can often be used to reconstruct aspects of daily life in an ancient population. In the skeletal sample from Tell Tebilla, a number of individuals, primarily males, showed robust and distinct muscle attachments on the bone consistent with prolonged heavy physical activity. One adult female showed advanced disc degeneration in the neck and a pronounced attachment for the deltoid muscle on her humerus (upper arm) which suggests the habitual carrying of loads, possibly water jars, on her head. A number of individuals showed distinct attachment lines for tendon sheaths of the hands, suggesting repetitive and/or strenuous flexion of the fingers and possibly an occupation requiring significant hand strength.

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