Osteophageous insect damage on human bone from Je'reftheel, a Maya mortuary cave site in west‐central Belize

• Published in: International journal of osteoarchaeology Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 745 - 756
• Main Authors: Wrobel, Gabriel D., Biggs, Jack
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2018
• Subjects: Archaeology; cave; dermestid; Entomology; forensic entomology; Forensic osteology; Human remains; Maya; osteophagy; post‐mortem changes; pseudopathology; taphonomy; termite; Termites; Belize

Human bones from the Maya mortuary cave of Je'reftheel in west‐central Belize show evidence of taphonomic modifications attributed to insects, with termites and dermestid beetles being the most likely culprits. This study represents the first detailed exploration of the effects of osteophageous...