Published In
The African Diaspora Archaeology Network Newsletter
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2010
Subjects
African diaspora, Black people -- Material culture
Abstract
Human skeletal remains associated with 17th century artifacts were recovered during the latest excavations at Kormantse, Central Region, Ghana. The following is a preliminary bioarchaeological analysis, and in particular, it concerns data pertinent to demographics, dental and skeletal health, and human behavior extracted from the population sample. All three study areas of the site contain evidence of at least seven individuals and as many as nine. In Study Area 1 at least two adult individuals are represented from leg bones within this feature or area. One may have been a female with a body mass of 59.0 kg. Two teeth and eight skull fragments were recovered from Study Area 2. In Study Area 3 at least five individuals are present. One is likely a young adult (21-34 years of age at death) and the other is a sub-adult between 6-10 years of age at death. Further excavations at the site, and the continual study of their remains, will soon enhance our understanding of skeletal biology and mortuary patterns during the cultural establishment of historic Kormantse.
Rights
© The authors
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42402
Citation Details
Schaffer, William C. and Agorsah, E. Kofi, "Bioarchaeological Analysis of Historic Kormantse, Ghana" (2010). Black Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations. 116.
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42402