Dissection and Documented Skeletal Collections: Embodiments of Legalized Inequality

Muller, Jennifer L.; Pearlstein, Kristen E.; Cova, Carlina de la

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-26836-1_9

Cited by 27 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…For example, de la Cova (2019, 2020), Watkins (Watkins, 2018;Watkins & Muller, 2015), and others (Hunt & Albanese, 2004;Muller et al, 2016) acknowledge the marginalized individuals who comprise the key American anatomical collections upon which biological anthropology has built its reporting standards. While bioarchaeological interpretation will never be comprehensive, since we "face bones, not people" (Fahlander, 2012, p. 139 (Bowleg, 2012;Hinze et al, 2012).…”

Section: Bioarchaeology and Intersectionalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These aspects qualify as additional intersections that must be considered when examining past and historical groups. For example, de la Cova (2019, 2020), Watkins (Watkins, 2018; Watkins & Muller, 2015), and others (Hunt & Albanese, 2004; Muller et al, 2016) acknowledge the marginalized individuals who comprise the key American anatomical collections upon which biological anthropology has built its reporting standards. While bioarchaeological interpretation will never be comprehensive, since we “face bones, not people” (Fahlander, 2012, p. 139), an intersectional approach allows for a better acknowledgement of the inherent complexity of lived lives.…”

Section: Bioarchaeology and Intersectionalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intersectionality and trauma analysis in bioarchaeology

Mant

Cova

Brickley

2021

American J Phys Anthropol

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Intersectionality, the theory named by Kimberlé Crenshaw, outlines how multiple elements of an individual's social identity overlap to create and preserve societal inequalities and discrimination. Recently bioarchaeology's engagement with intersectionality has become increasingly explicit, as the field recognizes the lived experience of multiple axes of an individual's identity. Evidence of trauma can remain observable in an individual's skeleton for years, making it an ideal subject of study for intersectional analyses in bioarchaeology. Using contrasting case studies of two individuals who died in hospitals and were unclaimed after death, we explore the theoretical and methodological application of intersectionality to investigations of accidental and interpersonal trauma. Differences in identities and structural inequalities affect bone quality and health outcomes. As we demonstrate, a broken bone is the intersecting result of biological, histomorphological, sociocultural, and behavioral factors. This approach allows for a better acknowledgement of the inherent complexity of past lives, elevating and amplifying previously silenced voices. In this way, intersectionality in bioarchaeology demands social justice.

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Section: Bioarchaeology and Intersectionalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bioarchaeology and Intersectionalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Intersectionality and trauma analysis in bioarchaeology

Mant

Cova

Brickley

2021

American J Phys Anthropol

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“…The skeletal populations these methods are based on are also recent. Therefore, interpretation was conducted with an understanding of the historical, colonial framework which led to these collections and the ancestry classifications they use [100][101][102], as well as evidence for Tudor migration and diversity discussed above. This framing was particularly important in understanding the designation of 'Hispanic' in a Tudor context.…”

Section: Methods Of Ancestry Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of theMary Rosecrew using multi-isotope analysis

et al. 2021

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The great Tudor warship, the Mary Rose , which sank tragically in the Solent in 1545 AD, presents a rare archaeological opportunity to research individuals for whom the precise timing and nature of death are known. A long-standing question surrounds the composition of the Tudor navy and whether the crew were largely British or had more diverse origins. This study takes a multi-isotope approach, combining strontium ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr), oxygen (δ 18 O), sulfur (δ 34 S), carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope analysis of dental samples to reconstruct the childhood diet and origins of eight of the Mary Rose crew. Forensic ancestry estimation was also employed on a subsample. Provenancing isotope data tentatively suggests as many as three of the crew may have originated from warmer, more southerly climates than Britain. Five have isotope values indicative of childhoods spent in western Britain, one of which had cranial morphology suggestive of African ancestry. The general trend of relatively high δ 15 N and low δ 13 C values suggests a broadly comparable diet to contemporaneous British and European communities. This multi-isotope approach and the nature of the archaeological context has allowed the reconstruction of the biographies of eight Tudor individuals to a higher resolution than is usually possible.

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“…Subsequently, the long history of human anatomy and dissection has a chequered past, as extensively pointed out in the prior anatomical and medical literature. Anatomy's cadaver acquisition and dissection activities have been the subject of important review and analysis in the humanities domain (Sappol 2002;Moore 2005;MacDonald 2010;Hurren 2014;Fitzharris 2017;Sawday 1995;Eriksson 1959;von Staden 2007;MacDonald 2006;Rifkin, Ackerman and Folkenberg 2006b), in part, documenting evolution of a discipline within its cultural and social contexts but more importantly providing reflection, recognition, and realization of the unacceptable past actions and events (Muller, Pearlstein and de la Cova 2017;MacDonald 2006MacDonald , 2010Hurren 2014).…”

Section: A Concise History Of Dissectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dubious Practice of Sensationalizing Anatomical Dissection (and Death) in the Humanities Literature

Stephan

Fisk

2021

Bioethical Inquiry

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Past anatomical dissection practice has received recent attention in the humanities and social science literature, especially in a number of popular format books. In these works, past ethically dubious dissection practices (mostly from the 1700 to 1800s, though they had their origins much earlier on) are again revisited, including stealing the dead for dissection. There are extremely simple, yet very important, lessons to be had in these analyses, including: do not exploit the dead and treat the dead with dignity, respect, and reverence. In this paper, we highlight that these principles apply not just to anatomists but to all parties concerned with bodies for dissection, including journalists and authors from the humanities writing on anatomical dissection whether in the historical or modern-day context. Not too infrequently these same authors/ publishers resort to sensationalist language in titles, text, and/or promotion blurbs in a bid to grab attention and sell books. These actions, yet again, exploit dissection subjects for commercial purposes. The use of insensitive and sensationalist language that is designed to shock, fails to set good precedent for young impressionable students and paints an entirely backward picture of modern-day anatomy for intending or existing donors and their families. We suggest that all who participate in anatomical endeavours should strive to do so with reverence toward the dead, including armchair journalists and humanities authors who, just like their hands-on anatomical colleagues, should employ dignified, sensitive, and respectful language that is not sensationalist.

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Dissection and Documented Skeletal Collections: Embodiments of Legalized Inequality

Cited by 27 publications

References 21 publications

Intersectionality and trauma analysis in bioarchaeology

Intersectionality and trauma analysis in bioarchaeology

Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of theMary Rosecrew using multi-isotope analysis

The Dubious Practice of Sensationalizing Anatomical Dissection (and Death) in the Humanities Literature

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