More than bones: rethinking ethics and epistemologies of bodily exuviae in archaeology

This paper critically examines the ethical and epistemological challenges surrounding the treatment of non-skeletal human remains, specifically dental calculus and coprolites, in archaeological research. While these materials are increasingly targeted for biomolecular analysis, they are rarely afforded the same ethical scrutiny as skeletal remains. Current practices often prioritise molecular data at the expense of contextual, morphological or physical information, which has ethical implications both in terms of destruction of a finite archaeological record, and questions of ownership of genetic data. Drawing on broader debates in ancient DNA, the paper argues for a more equitable, interdisciplinary approach that integrates multiproxy and multivocal perspectives, and calls for the routine use of non-destructive documentation (e.g. 3D scanning, XR-CT), for both skeletal and non-skeletal human remains, prior to sampling. I argue that exuviae occupy a fluid category between person and object. By foregrounding the cultural significance of bodily exuviae and the finite nature of archaeological materials, the paper advocates for sustainable research practices that respect both scientific enquiry and cultural values.