Grave Circle A dates back to 1600-1500 BCE and is located south of the lion gate outside of Mycenae. Shaft grave VI was one of six shaft graves found in the necropolis by Schliemann.
Grave Shaft VI in Grave Circle A, contained the bones of two adult male in addition to an unidentified zygomatic bone.
Determining the gender of the deceased in one of the first steps taken when looking at a set of human remains. This method can be useful in ensuring that all of the bones are actually from the same person. The two best ways to determine gender is by examining the pelvis and the skulls. The image on the left is an artistic rendition of the differences between innominate bones. The image on the right is the frontal aspect of the skull and the mandible from individual 1.
The next factor to consider is age of the individual at the time of their death. This can be estimated from the morphology of the long bones. Long bones can also be compared against other individuals to gain a better understanding of age and size of the individual.
Besides the long bones, the most exact method of determining age is through examining the dentition. The eruption and wear on the teeth allow researchers to narrow the age to a window of around 5 years.
Besides the long bones, the most exact method of determining age is through examining the dentition. The eruption and wear on the teeth allow researchers to narrow the age to a window of around 5 years.
This exhibit shows overuse trauma and subsequent remodeling on a lumbar vertebra from individual 1 found in shaft grave VI. Injuries are visible on the bones for long after they are healed and can tell us more about the lifestyle of the deceased.
As well as traumatic injuries there are osteological signs of physical labor on the lower extremities. The pattern of overuse based on ethesophytosis can show us the lifestyle of the individual.
As well as traumatic injuries there are osteological signs of physical labor on the upper extremities. The pattern of overuse based on enthesophytosis can show us more about the lifestyle of the individual in the upper extremities as well as the lower.
The mostly complete skull of individual 1 was mapped to design a facial reconstruction to show us how the deceased might have looked when they were alive.