Services
Desert Sage Osteology collaborates seamlessly with clients across federal, state, and private sectors, ensuring the meticulous excavation, recovery, and documentation of archaeological mortuary features and human remains is treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
Our dedication to maintaining high standards positions us as a trusted partner for conducting this important and culturally sensitive work for survey, testing, and data recovery projects.
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Bioarchaeology
Our expertise lies in the identification, documentation, and respectful recovery of mortuary features in their entirety. We use non-destructive techniques to conduct osteological documentation for cremations and inhumations.
After conducting a detailed osteological assessment for each individual, a comprehensive report is generated that integrates the details into a site-specific context offering insights into the broader understanding of the overall health, lifestyle, and cultural practices of past populations.
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Human Osteology
In the event your company requires additional laboratory support, we provide specialized skills in non-destructive osteological documentation encompassing a wide range of methodologies in estimating the biological profile.
Following a thorough osteological assessment for each individual, a comprehensive report is prepared that integrates these findings within the unique context of the site.
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Surface Recoveries
If skeletal material is identified on the surface of an archaeological site, we offer our expertise in the identification of bone and presence of mortuary features. Surface recovery will then be conducted, as necessary, without further ground disturbance.
Our services include on-site assessment to confirm the presence of mortuary features and associated funerary objects, identifying surface cremated Ancestral remains, in-field estimates of the minimum number of individuals (MNI), and an osteological assessment and letter report.
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Human Vs Faunal Identification
We recognize that unexpected encounters may arise in various settings, such as active construction sites, archaeological sites, or during lab processing. In situations where identification is required for agency and tribal notifications and consultation, we offer expertise in distinguishing between human and faunal remains.