Anat Biol Anthropol.  2023 Dec;36(4):181-195. 10.11637/aba.2023.36.4.181.

Forensic Archeological Analysis on Human Remains from the Peculiar Burial Situation of Archaeological Excavation Site in Joseon Dynasty

• Kim MJ
• Min SR
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2551290
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/aba.2023.36.4.181

Abstract

The process of recovery and restoration at the archaeological site is excavated by applying the theory and principles of archaeology, but when human bones are discovered, a forensic analysis called “forensic archaeology” should be conducted. Applying archaeological techniques to forensic sites allows all the processes to be carried out systematically and scientifically collected geographical and environmental information around the site to help interpret events. But, so far, even if human bones are found in archeological sites, excavations and field analysis through the forensic archaeology approach have not been conducted yet. The Hanul Cultural Heritage Research Institute excavated in eight areas from 2009 to 2011, including human bones excavated from the well side of the Japanese colonial era at Cheong-Jin district, 12-16 area and human bones excavated under the floor at 150 area. All of the human bones excavated in this study were excavated from the 5th floor (V floor), the mid-Joseon period layer. During the Joseon Dynasty, this area was a commercial and residential area where street vendors and government offices were concentrated. Thus, these were an area that was archaeologically unpredictable to find human bones. Moreover, each bone was found at the well and beneath floors, respectively, and due to its special archeological situation, several distorted interpretations of the burial process were divided on the spot. Therefore, in this study, the human bone under the well and the floor was regarded as the bone placed in the forensic situation, and then the forensic archaeological analysis of the human bone was attempted to correctly explain the burial process of ancient human bones through literature and forensic analysis.

Keyword

Archaeology; Forensic archaeology; Human bone; Joseon Dynasty; Well; Floor