[Enhancement]: New Taphonomy Classification

[snowykoii]

Context

I am currently working on a project involving commingled human remains that were likely part of a medical teaching collection. Many specimens in the collection exhibit post-mortem damage, including scalpel/saw marks, features being broken off, and scratches or chips.

Description

I would like to request that an additional taphonomy classification be added to the "human modification" taphonomy category. The additional category type would be called "Handling Damage," referring to post-mortem damage/trauma occurring to a specimen while it is being handled by researchers or students or while it is in an anatomical/ museum collection. Any input or suggestions from the community are greatly appreciated!

Related links

• Requesting a change

Use Cases

This new category would help analysts classify specimens that exhibit post-mortem damage/ breakage due to human handling, likely in an academic/ museum environment. Current categories, such as excavation damage or bone section removal, do not accurately describe the damage exhibited by the remains in the remains I am working with.

Solutions

No response

Alternatives

No response

Visuals

No response

Before submitting

• [X] I have read and followed the change request guidelines.
• [X] I have verified that my idea is a change request and not a bug report.
• [X] I have ensured that, to the best of my knowledge, my idea will benefit the entire community.
• [X] I have included relevant links to the documentation, related issues, and discussions to underline the need for my idea.

[SachinPawaskarUNO]

@fedamann @clegarde @cbrown311 @TarawaProject @tlvandeest @Katie-East What are your thoughts on adding a new taphonomy? Human Modification --> Handling Damage referring to post-mortem damage/trauma occurring to a specimen while it is being handled by researchers or students or while it is in an anatomical/ museum collection.

Any input or suggestions from the community are greatly appreciated!