Approche anthropologique de sépultures de catastrophe du XVIIIe siècle (rue Martin-du-Nord, Douai, France)

Abstract: Anthropological approach of catastrophic burials from the 18th century (Martin du Nord Street, Douai, France). Several mass burial were discovered during urgent rescue in 1981 (Douai, France) under Pierre Demolon''s leadership. The individuals, buried simultaneously, were deposited head to foot, into exiguous pits. On this site, 12 multiple burials and four individual burials were discovered. The archaeological facts suggest that the installation of these funerary structures was done in a very short lapse of time. Funerary organization can be evidenced by field data (simultaneous body deposit, position, breakdown, taphonomy, artefacts) and by anthropological study (palaeodemography: young male adults; palaeopathology: absence or presence of traumatisms) of the skeletons. These burials can be attributed to the 1710 or 1712 town''s siege. To cite this article: C. Rigeade et al., C. R. Palevol 5 (2006) . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]