Osteoarcheological study on human remains from atypical burials in Fujian during the Ming Dynasty

This study analyzes human skeletal remains from two atypical Ming Dynasty burials (M10 and M12) excavated at the Huangtou Village site in Putian, Fujian, southeastern China. A range of methods were employed in the analysis, including sex and age estimation, bone color rating, morphological alteration assessment, and micro-CT scanning. Results reveal that M10 represents a secondary burial of a middle-aged couple, while M12 is a cremation burial of a young woman, who was likely cremated in a supine position with a left lateral tilt at a temperature within 700-800°C. As is documented in historical texts, both burial types, though prohibited by the Ming government and Confucian norms, persisted among lower socioeconomic groups due to land scarcity, economic pressure, and local geomantic or Buddhist beliefs. These findings highlight the diversity of mortuary behavior in late imperial China and provide osteoarchaeological evidence of unsanctioned funerary practices in Fujian during the Ming Dynasty.