TALKING BONES

Almudena García-Rubio undertook the anthropological analysis of the two bodies found in the Bronze Age graves of Casa Montero. Both were lain in lateral niches inside what were once used as storage pits. The remains of individual 2486 are those of a young man aged 20-25. He was between 155.84 and 168.03 cm tall, and was found laying in a slightly flexed right lateral position. The femoral subtrochanter showed a high degree of compression, perhaps a sign of an unusual, forced femoral posture during infancy or early adolescence, or evidence of a mineral or vitamin deficiency.

The remains of individual 2781 are those of a young woman aged 19-25. She was some 164.1-166.3 cm in height, and was found lying a prone flexed position with her head pointing south and looking west. Her arms were lain straight, the right arm over her legs, and the left under her chest. This body also experienced strong compression of the femoral subtrochanter. The index of platolenia of the right ulna was higher than for the left, perhaps indicating she was right-handed. She had three dental caries (teeth 25, 35 and 36).