摘要
考古學上出土墓葬所蘊藏的資訊，以及其重要性，在許多文獻中皆有提及。然而考古遺址不是凍結的時空關係組合，自埋藏的那一時刻開始，即無時不刻地遭受自然營力或人為作用力等各種形成過程的影響。同樣的，遺址出土的墓葬，也經常歷經形成過程的擾動，尤其是無葬具的墓葬，更是容易受到影響。本文以第一作者主持發掘的籬仔尾遺址所出土的零散人骨為例，討論如何透過零散人骨本身殘存的痕跡和證據，及其出土空間位置的分析，進行理解、並解釋考古遺址出土零散人骨的分布現象。
根據分析，籬仔尾遺址出土的零散人骨，其散布原因應為後埋藏的擾動。雖然部分遺骸上留有暴力行為所造成的痕跡，加上部分零散人骨發現有受到熱變化的跡象，不過，觀察人骨上殘留痕跡的模式，基本上可以排除籬仔尾遺址有烹煮人類的可能性。這些零散人骨上的熱變化跡象，很有可能是受到燃燒灰坑或餘燼干擾等行為所造成的。另外，零散人骨的空間分布，除了人為作用力所造成的擾動外，籬仔尾遺址中亦有自然營力所造成的擾動跡象，例如：動物及流水的擾動等所造成的干擾。
Mortuary practices and human burials have been studied by archaeologists from various points of view. However, there are few studies of bones that have been fragmented and discovered out of burial contexts. As we all know, many processes, include physical and animal-related factors, can alter the appearance and context of archaeological evidences. For burials without coffins or other protection, the influence of such processes can be extreme.
In this article, scattered human remains excavated from the Li-tzu-wei site, investigated by the first author, were examined. Although there are evidences of violence and heat damage on these remains, cannibalism of the Li-tzu-wei people can basically be ruled out based on the thermal alternation patterns on the bone. Moreover, spatial context and taphonomical analysis of the scattered human remains suggest that animal-related factors and natural processes such as rodent activity and fluvial movement also influenced the appearance and location of the remains.
關鍵詞
籬仔尾遺址 零散人骨 埋藏學過程
Li-tzu-wei site, scattered human remains, taphonomical process