Edited Books by Estella Weiss-Krejci
by Stephen Shennan, Tim Kerig, Annelou Van Gijn, Pierre Pétrequin, Marjorie de Grooth, Michael brandl, Kevan Edinborough, Estella Weiss-Krejci, Serge Cassen, Michel G L Errera, and Daniel Modl Flint productions and distribution networks at the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 4th mi... more Flint productions and distribution networks at the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 4th millennia BC in north-western France and western Belgium ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 74 Françoise Bostyn
Papers by Estella Weiss-Krejci
Archaeologia Austriaca, 2018
It has recently been suggested by British archaeologists and anthropologists that mummification m... more It has recently been suggested by British archaeologists and anthropologists that mummification may have been widespread in Bronze Age Europe. This article presents the results of a study that, for the first time, investigates the question of whether the people who inhabited central Europe during the Early Bronze Age treated the bodies of their dead prior to deposition in order to prevent decay and preserve the soft tissue. The study relies on data from the cemetery of Franzhausen I in Lower Austria. The cemetery, excavated between 1981 and 1983, contained 714 Early Bronze Age graves and two pits with human remains. A sample of 22 skeletons from 22 graves was investigated using macroscopic, post-hoc archaeothanatological, and histotaphonomic analyses. Thin sections of the femora of 18 out of 22 individuals show high degrees of microbial tunnelling resulting from extensive putrefaction processes. Thin sections of femora from four individuals show less bioerosion indicating that the microbial invasion accompanying autolysis and decomposition was arrested at an early stage of the taphonomic process. Since the femora of these four individuals are partially discoloured green we lean towards the assumption that the good preservation of the internal bone microstructure was caused by a post-depositional uptake of heavy metals eroding from copper and bronze grave goods, mediated by a coffin environment.
Journal of Archaeological Sciene, 2022
Palaeoradiology is increasingly being used in archaeological and forensic sciences as a minimally... more Palaeoradiology is increasingly being used in archaeological and forensic sciences as a minimally invasive alternative to traditional histological methods for investigating bone microanatomy and its destruction by diagenetic processes. To better understand ancient mortuary practices, taphonomic studies using microCT scanning methods are gaining an ever more important role. Recently it was demonstrated that 2D virtual sections obtained by microCT scanning of intact samples are comparable to physical sections for the rating and diagnosis of bioerosion in archaeological bone. Importantly, volume image data obtained from tomographic methods also allow the rendering and analysis of 3D models. Building on these methods we provide (1) detailed descriptions of bioerosion in 3D volume renderings, virtual sections, and traditional micrographs, and (2) accessible techniques for the visualization of bioerosion in skeletal samples. The dataset is based on twenty-eight cortical bone samples, including twenty femora (of which five are cremated), two ribs, two parietals, one mandibular ramus, one humerus, and two faunal long bones from five archaeological sites in Lower Austria dating from the Early Neolithic to the Late Iron Age. Notably, we reduce the need for time-consuming image segmentation by sequentially applying two noise-reducing, edge-preserving filters, and using an image-display transfer function that visualizes bioerosion, as well as Haversian and Volkmann canal structure and density in 3D. In doing so we are also able to visualize in 3D the invasion of canals by microbiota, which has previously only been reported in 2D sections. Unlike conventional thin sections, the 3D volume images shown here are easy to create and interpret, even for archaeologists inexperienced in histology, and readily facilitate the illustration and communication of microtaphonomic effects.
Interdisciplinary Explorations of Postmortem Interaction: Dead Bodies, Funerary Objects, and Burial Spaces Through Texts and Time, 2022
This chapter exposes multiple contextual layers in the historical background of the famous Ossuar... more This chapter exposes multiple contextual layers in the historical background of the famous Ossuary at Sedlec in the Czech Republic. The Cistercian monastery of Sedlec was founded in the twelfth century and its importance soon increased together with the expansion of silver mining in the nearby town of Kutná Hora. According to a later legendary narrative, soil brought from the Holy Land was scattered across the monastic cemetery, which made this place an attractive destination for the burial of countless corpses in the course of the following centuries. The enormous amount of human remains in individual as well as mass graves led to the establishment of the Ossuary, which was rearranged several times, most recently in the second half of the nineteenth century. A variety of folk tales tell of the miraculous deeds of the bones and their special powers. Being conveniently located in the buffer zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kutná Hora, today crowds of tourists appreciate the macabre use of human skeletal elements in its decoration. A large-scale rescue excavation conducted recently around the Ossuary revealed an important archaeological archive that complements historical records.
Interdisciplinary Explorations of Postmortem Interaction: Dead Bodies, Funerary Objects, and Burial Spaces Through Texts and Time, 2022
In the present as in the past, the dead have been deployed to promote visions of identity, as wel... more In the present as in the past, the dead have been deployed to promote visions of identity, as well as ostensibly wider human values. Through a series of case studies from ancient Egypt through prehistoric, historic, and present-day Europe, this book discusses what is constant and what is locally and historically specific in our ways of interacting with the remains of the dead, their objects, and monuments. Postmortem interaction encompasses not only funerary rituals and intergenerational engagement with forebears, but also concerns encounters with the dead who died centuries and millennia ago. Drawing from a variety of disciplines such as archaeology, bioarchaeology, literary studies, ancient Egyptian philology and literature, and sociocultural anthropology, this volume provides an interdisciplinary account of the ways in which the dead are able to transcend temporal distances and engender social relationships. In this introduction, we highlight some unifying aspects of this book.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Recent technological advances have broadened the application of palaeoradiology for non-destructi... more Recent technological advances have broadened the application of palaeoradiology for non-destructive investigation of ancient remains. X-ray microtomography (microCT) in particular is increasingly used as an alternative to histological bone sections for interpreting pathological alterations, trauma, microstructure, and, more recently, bioerosion with direct or ancillary use of histological indices. However, no systematic attempt has been made to confirm the reliability of microCT for histotaphonomic analysis of archaeological bone. The objective of this study is therefore to compare thin sections of human femora rated with the Oxford Histological Index to microCT sections using the newly developed Virtual Histological Index in order to provide an accessible methodology for the evaluation of bioerosion in archaeological bone. We provide detailed descriptions of virtual sections and assess the efficacy of the method on cranial and postcranial elements, cremated long bones, and faunal s...
As attested by archaeological research and hieroglyphic inscriptions, the ancient Maya frequently... more As attested by archaeological research and hieroglyphic inscriptions, the ancient Maya frequently re-entered the tombs of their forebears removing objects and bones. This behaviour has long been seen as stemming from diverse phenomena such as grave robbery, especially for the purpose of taking jade jewellery, accidental disturbance in the course of subsequent construction, the reuse of graves for the purpose of placing additional bodies and deliberate tomb desecration by the lower strata of society during site abandonment. Thanks to the advances made in the decipherment of Maya writing and bioarchaeological analyses, over the last three decades ritualistic reasons such as multi-stage burial rites and ancestor worship, as well as politically motivated dead-body politics were added to the range of possible rationales. This chapter presents several examples of different types of grave disturbances from various parts of the Maya region and highlights some characteristics which distinguish these types of disturbances from each other.
"Between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries AD extracting the inner organs from dead bodies and... more "Between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries AD extracting the inner organs from dead bodies and burying the heart in a separate place was a hallmark of aristocratic mortuary behavior of Western Europe (present-day Great Britain and France). In the German-speaking part of the Holy Roman Empire (parts of present-day Germany and Austria) only the prince-bishops of Würzburg practiced a similar custom. In other parts of the Empire body processing and separate burial of the inner organs remained predominantly functional until the end of the middle Ages.
A tradition of evisceration for non-practical reasons as well as burial of the heart only developed during the Catholic Reformation, a religious movement, which lasted from the last session of the Council of Trent until the end of the Thirty Years’ War. The spur of renovation and new foundation that accompanied this movement had a direct impact on the distribution of body parts. As of the 1580s heart and intestines of secular and religious leaders were buried in newly founded ceremonial buildings. Between 1610 and 1630 heart burial without intestines became very common and was almost exclusively associated with Jesuit churches. As of the 1630s hearts were buried at a variety of places and involved many different religious orders. From the middle of the seventeenth century on hearts turned into votive offerings at Marian shrines for several prominent families such as the Houses of Habsburg and Wittelsbach."
In Chapter 4 , Weiss-Krejci provides a detailed discussion of the formation processes of mortuary... more In Chapter 4 , Weiss-Krejci provides a detailed discussion of the formation processes of mortuary skeletal samples using a graphic model exemplified with historic and ethnographic examples. She then goes on to provide a retrospective analysis of the formation of mortuary deposits from the prehistoric Mayan site of Tikal. She illustrates how preconceived notions of “burials” and what constitutes a grave, can color our perceptions
of mortuary behavior in the past. Further, this work reminds us that we must remain vigilant of the fact that the data we collect and how we categorize it is in fact part of our interpretation, and to use our own cultural norms as the basis for these categorizations can render the results removed from the social realities of the past. (from Introduction by Agarwal and Glenncross, p. 4).
The Iberian Peninsula is rich in caves, rockshelters, avens and rock fissures which were used for... more The Iberian Peninsula is rich in caves, rockshelters, avens and rock fissures which were used for the deposition of the dead from the Palaeolithic until early historical times. This article discusses contexts with human remains which date to the Neolithic and Copper Age (mid sixth to late third millennia cal BC). Since cave deposits during this period often contain disarticulated multiple individuals ranging from a few to hundreds of people their analysis and interpretation is not easy. Ethnographic analogy with cave burials from all over the world shows that similar deposits can result from a range of diverse practices and processes and are imbued with different meanings.
Journal of Social Archaeology, 2004
Seventy years of archaeological research in the Maya area have brought to light a series of tombs... more Seventy years of archaeological research in the Maya area have brought to light a series of tombs and crypts that hold more than one individual. The patterns regarding age, completeness and articulation of skeletons and sequence of deposition in some of these tombs suggest different burial traditions. These traditions include the placing of sacrificial victims with a deceased tomb principal, sequential burial of family members, or reburial of curated or exhumed ancestral remains. In medieval and post-medieval Europe, collective tomb burial was also very common. The investigation of tomb formation in the Habsburg dynasty shows that similar patterns can result from mortality, mobility and territorial shifts in a noble house. Maya multiple tombs and crypts simply may have been the final resting-places for the deceased members of noble houses who were deposited and redeposited in both simultaneous and sequential fashion.
Alongside research concerning the provenance of human remains and ethical issues, a scientific di... more Alongside research concerning the provenance of human remains and ethical issues, a scientific discourse about repatriation must also take into account political questions. Remains of the dead have always been effective political symbols and will continue to fulfill this role in the future. Restitution of human remains does not take place in a vacuum but can frequently be linked to particular socio-political developments. Repatriation may serve as a means to affirm cultural and national identity. In this paper I will talk about four Austrian repatriations of indigenous human remains. First, I will address the two earlier restitutions, which took place in 1985 and 2009. In 1985 a mummy collected by nineteenth-century Austrian taxidermist Andreas Reischek was returned to New Zealand. In 2009, 17 human remains from various collections acquired between 1858 and 1935 were returned to Australia. The main part of the paper discusses the two most recent Austrian restitutions conducted in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, 31 remains were repatriated to Australia, in 2012 two individuals, the Pienaars, were reburied in South Africa. In both instances the human remains derive from a collection made by Austrian anthropologist Rudolf Pöch at beginning of the twentieth century. I will compare these two restitutions with each other with regard to place, time and order of the ceremony, packaging and transport, media response and political significance of the remains. This comparison not only illustrates varying ways how to repatriate human remains but also directly reflects Australia’s and South Africa’s diverging identity politics.
explaining long-term change in the structure and performance of economies is the task of economic... more explaining long-term change in the structure and performance of economies is the task of economic history. Climatic, geographical and biological conditions, technology, demography, and ideology, together with political and economic institutions, form the structure of a society, and in consequence are the underlying determinants of economic performance. Performance, among other factors, relates to how much is produced, how costs and benefits are distributed, and the stability of production (North,
"This article explores how deviant behaviour in life, deviant circumstances of death, and young a... more "This article explores how deviant behaviour in life, deviant circumstances of death, and young age at death affected mortuary treatment among historically documented individuals from Medieval and Post-Medieval European dynasties. The study is based on an investigation of 868 individuals who are members of the Habsburg and Babenberg Dynasties or affiliated with these two houses. From this sample a group of
221 individuals as well as an additional 36 individuals, whose lives or deaths may be considered deviant, were selected for a closer investigation. The results show that ‘social deviants’ as well as people who died during warfare and in battle, victims of murder and disease, as well as young children have been afforded differential mortuary treatment. On the other hand, individuals who died during childbirth or from accidents
were usually treated according to the norm."
debates with the public about ethical issues and the archaeologists have had to be honest and sel... more debates with the public about ethical issues and the archaeologists have had to be honest and selfreflective in their engagement with the public about these issues. The archaeologists have been taught to think beyond their own cultural attitudes and in confronting opposing attitudes attached to the discovery of human remains have strengthened their own future exploration of these remains.
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Edited Books by Estella Weiss-Krejci
Papers by Estella Weiss-Krejci
A tradition of evisceration for non-practical reasons as well as burial of the heart only developed during the Catholic Reformation, a religious movement, which lasted from the last session of the Council of Trent until the end of the Thirty Years’ War. The spur of renovation and new foundation that accompanied this movement had a direct impact on the distribution of body parts. As of the 1580s heart and intestines of secular and religious leaders were buried in newly founded ceremonial buildings. Between 1610 and 1630 heart burial without intestines became very common and was almost exclusively associated with Jesuit churches. As of the 1630s hearts were buried at a variety of places and involved many different religious orders. From the middle of the seventeenth century on hearts turned into votive offerings at Marian shrines for several prominent families such as the Houses of Habsburg and Wittelsbach."
of mortuary behavior in the past. Further, this work reminds us that we must remain vigilant of the fact that the data we collect and how we categorize it is in fact part of our interpretation, and to use our own cultural norms as the basis for these categorizations can render the results removed from the social realities of the past. (from Introduction by Agarwal and Glenncross, p. 4).
221 individuals as well as an additional 36 individuals, whose lives or deaths may be considered deviant, were selected for a closer investigation. The results show that ‘social deviants’ as well as people who died during warfare and in battle, victims of murder and disease, as well as young children have been afforded differential mortuary treatment. On the other hand, individuals who died during childbirth or from accidents
were usually treated according to the norm."
A tradition of evisceration for non-practical reasons as well as burial of the heart only developed during the Catholic Reformation, a religious movement, which lasted from the last session of the Council of Trent until the end of the Thirty Years’ War. The spur of renovation and new foundation that accompanied this movement had a direct impact on the distribution of body parts. As of the 1580s heart and intestines of secular and religious leaders were buried in newly founded ceremonial buildings. Between 1610 and 1630 heart burial without intestines became very common and was almost exclusively associated with Jesuit churches. As of the 1630s hearts were buried at a variety of places and involved many different religious orders. From the middle of the seventeenth century on hearts turned into votive offerings at Marian shrines for several prominent families such as the Houses of Habsburg and Wittelsbach."
of mortuary behavior in the past. Further, this work reminds us that we must remain vigilant of the fact that the data we collect and how we categorize it is in fact part of our interpretation, and to use our own cultural norms as the basis for these categorizations can render the results removed from the social realities of the past. (from Introduction by Agarwal and Glenncross, p. 4).
221 individuals as well as an additional 36 individuals, whose lives or deaths may be considered deviant, were selected for a closer investigation. The results show that ‘social deviants’ as well as people who died during warfare and in battle, victims of murder and disease, as well as young children have been afforded differential mortuary treatment. On the other hand, individuals who died during childbirth or from accidents
were usually treated according to the norm."
been used in different time periods and cultures to underwrite, rewrite, or overturn narratives of national or community origin? How and why do material remains come to embody the past in the present, collapsing
essential distinctions in temporality?
For more information see https://www.orea.oeaw.ac.at/veranstaltungen/event-detail/article/beyond-death/
This conference aims to explore where archology stands as a discipline. Do we waver uneasily between subject groups, or are we integrating different kinds of knowledge? Archaeology is inherently cross-disciplinary, borrowing from art history, computer science, geography, biology and other subjects. Many projects today are multi-disciplinary, bringing in experts from different fields. Working in this way has become standard practice in archaeology, but how is this actually done? In what ways do the paradigms of different disciplines influence the questions explored and the knowledge generated? Is it appropriate to talk about inter-disciplinarity? How are multiple disciplines integrated within actual research? These questions provide the framework for understanding Disciplinarity in Archaeology.