My Experience: Being Trained in the Archeological Excavation and Processing of Human Remains

• Sophia Margiotta, Anthropology, University of Delaware

• Sarah Lacy, Anthropology, University of Delaware

The Jucu Project is led by Transylvania Bioarchaeology, a registered non-profit, educational community interest organization led by a team of current professionals in the field. They aim to provide comprehensive professional training in the excavation and analysis of human skeletal remains in archaeological and forensic contexts. This occurs alongside their ongoing research of archeological sites in Romania. The Jucu Project has spent over a decade excavating and analysing human remains from their site in Jucu. The site itself is composed of two medieval cemeteries (from the 7th-9th centuries and 11th-12th centuries respectively) found alongside a Roman Villa from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The yearly goal of this archaeological research project is to continue to excavate skeletal remains and associated material culture from the necropolis, as well as continuing the post-excavation processing and analysis of the human remains previously recovered. Long-term, the objective of the project is to further define the relationship between the necropolis and the surrounding settlements; as well as to attempt to understand the social customs, palaeodemography, origins, and health status of the differing populations. This is accomplished with standard archeological and osteological field and lab methodology. This summer season, we excavated six individuals. In addition,  each student collaborated with one or two other students to complete the comprehensive laboratory analysis (with a particular focus on skeletal pathology) of a previously excavated individual. With a successful season, the yearly research goal was completed; but the long term goal will continue to be completed for years to come.