I can not resist. One obvious category would be "warrior", soldier
and related military personnel. Clean evidence of occupation as
seen in BLOOD RED ROSES: THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF A MASS GRAVE FROM THE
BATTLE OF TOWTON AD 1461 by Fiorato, Boylston and Knusel. Large sword
cuts, hammar blows etc. to the face and head. Also remains from sites
like Little Big Horn.

Examples of repetitious occupations movement (e.g. like the carpal
tunnel I just started to get a few months back) I can not think of
examples  so readily. Of course, there are the slaves in Manhattan
buried in the African American Burial Ground which show major bone
damage because of hard physical labor including carrying loads on
their heads.

Also there was an artilcle a few years back in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
which talked about evidence of the impact of the Neolithic, as seen in
teeth and bones (e.g. use of grinding stones). This would also be, in
part, occupational and involve women as well as men.

                                        RLS


At 08:01 PM 7/15/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>A classic study - and one I'm sure comes to everyone's mind - is the
>excavation
>of the crypt of Spitalfields church. Church records recorded age, occupation,
>religion, cause of death, gender and other information. The archaeology and
>osteological studies proceeded without reference to the historical records,
>which were only brought into play as a test on the veracity and robustness of
>the methods of analysis. It's fascinating stuff -- creepy excavation though.
>
>Publications include:
>
>Reeve, J., and Adams, M (1993) The Spitalfields Project vol. 1 - The
>Archaeology. Brit. Council Arch. Research Report 85
>
>Molleson, T. and Cox, M. (1993) The Spitalfields Project vol.2 - The
>Anthropology. Brit. Council. Arch. Research Report 86
>
>Cox, M. (1996) Life and Death in Spitalfields 1700-1850.
>
>Maureen Basedow
>
>
>
>>===== Original Message From HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]> =====
>>We should all know about particular osteological markers indicating certain
>>stresses and which can be construed to indicate repetative motion or
>>perhaps even occupation, but have good examples of such characteristics not
>>only been found but also proofed through historical records?  It is one
>>thing to infer from the evidence, but how lucky have we been to be able to
>>identify name, occupation, and then attribute the osteological evidence?
>>
>>For example ...
>>
>>Has anyone excavated the burial of a person known to be a printer and found
>>the distended or even injured shoulder or arm from pulling the press levers
>>for years ...
>>
>>Has anyone excavated the burial of a known river bateau poleman and found
>>the deformed shoulder caused by years of pushing the pole?
>>
>>or along the same lines ...
>>
>>Has anyone excavated the burial of a person known to have died in a mill
>>accident, house fire, or crime and scientifically described the injuries as
>>seen on the bones?
>>
>>I suspect that this kind of finding happens often with military burials,
>>but how about every day Joes?
>>
>>Just curious ...
>>
>>        Dan W.
>
>
Robert L. Schuyler
University of Pennsylvania Museum
33rd & Spruce Streets
Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324

Tel: (215) 898-6965
Fax: (215) 898-0657
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