On Wed, 01 May 2013 14:30:07 -0700, Louis E. Schmier wrote:
The literature says that there were others. Perhaps the reason for
the recent evidence is two fold. First, it was thought that the original
Jamestown had disappeared into the river. So, no one excavated.
Second, the scientific technology at archeologist disposal are a tad
superior.
I can't speak to the first point but the presentation on the Smithsonian
website seems to undermine the second point. Quoting from it:
|"Our team has discovered partial human remains before, but the
|location of the discovery, visible damage to the skull and marks
|on the bones immediately made us realize this finding was unusual,"
|said Dr. Bill Kelso, chief archaeologist of the Jamestown Rediscovery
|Project who has been overseeing excavations at Jamestown for more
|than 20 years. "We approached the Smithsonian's National Museum
|of Natural History for further research because of their proven
|understanding of the contextual history in this part of Virginia."
|
|Dr. Douglas Owsley, Division Head of Physical Anthropology at
|the museum, identified chops to the forehead and back of the cranium
|to open the head; knife cuts on the jaw and cheek indicating removal
|of the flesh; and markings indicating the head's left side was punctured
|and pried apart: all physical evidence consistent with survival
cannibalism.
http://historicjamestowne.org/jane/jane.php
So, it wasn't any new technique or form of analysis but the finding
of an unusual specimen that contained marks that apparently were
not found before. It was the finding of Jane that was critical. The
question now is whether any previous specimens can be shown to
have such marks or whether new remains can be found with similar
marks. I would not be surprised if the remains of the eaten were
buried differently from those who weren't.
-Mike Palij
New York University
[email protected]
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