Bioanthropological Investigations and Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from Sakas, District Rohtas, Bihar, India

Abstract (English)

The present research, titled "Bioanthropological Investigations and Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from Sakas, District Rohtas, Bihar, India," presents a systematic anthropological investigation of human skeletal remains excavated from the site of Sakas during the 2018-2019 field season. Situated in the foothills of the Vindhyan-Kaimur ranges near Sasaram, Bihar, the site named Sakas is tentatively dated to the Neolithic–Chalcolithic period based on relative chronology. The present research examines multiple parameters, including the in situ burial arrangements, demographic profiles, metric analysis, skeletal morphology, and palaeopathological markers. This study is first of its kind attempted on a Neolithic–Chalcolithic site in this region. The analysis yielded significant insights into dietary habits, morphological variations, and indicators of habitual stress. Evidence of congenital conditions and degenerative pathologies suggest patterns of physically intensive labour and repetitive biomechanical stress. These findings highlight a physically demanding lifestyle, characterized by age and sex specific degenerative changes and activity related skeletal markers. In this skeletal series, the adult male individuals exhibited pronounced vertebral arthritis and degenerative alterations in the thoracic and lumbar regions, indicative of sustained axial loading. In contrast, females showed stress markers on both upper and lower limbs, suggesting a broader spectrum of physical activities. One of the study’s most notable discoveries was the identification of ischial bursitis (Weaver’s Bottom) in two individuals – an atypical condition within archaeological contexts as this is reported for the first time in Indian context and is likely indicative of prolonged seated activities or chronic pressure on the ischial region. Overall, the study provides a nuanced understanding of the health, lifestyle, and labour patterns of prehistoric populations in the region, offering valuable contributions to the bio-archaeological record of ancient India.