Cohen AG Hons Thesis Project Dataset and RStudio Codes

The attached codes were written by AG Cohen to analyse the attached data obtained from an experimental taphonomy experiment conducted at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER). Six human donors were buried on the left side in flexion. Four donors were buried in a fresh state and two donors were naturally mummified by desiccation prior to burial. The donors were excavated after ~5 to 7 years of burial.

The project aimed to explore the correlation between joint flexion and mode of deposition, testing the hypothesis proposed by archaeothanatological scholars that hyperflexion is only achievable in multistage depositions, such as those in which mummification precedes interment, permitting a tighter closure of flexor surfaces than would be achievable in life with the obstruction of soft-tissues.

The main aim was to determine if there was any post-burial movement of the lower limbs and a statistically significant difference in flexion angles between the 'mummy' and ‘fresh’ experiment groups. It also provided new insights by comparing the reliability of 2D and 3D methods in measuring joint angles from the skeletal remains and established by what parameters we can define hyperflexion. The data and codes are used to explore this correlation, the agreement between 2D and 3D methods, and the consistency of the measurement methods when performed by one rater (repeats) and multiple beta-testers.