Geophysical Survey of a Choleric Mass Grave in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Cemetery outside the walls of San Felipe del Morro Fort

In 1855, Puerto Rico was struck by the cholera epidemic, killing 20,000 to 50,000 individuals – 4-10% of the total population at the time. Due to the high volume of corpses piling up and fear of the disease’s further spreading, a cemetery outside of the walls of El Morro was established. This cemetery remained untouched for over a century, due to fears that the disease might resurface. Today, however, this cemetery is in danger of being destroyed, as tourists in Old San Juan have been recently granted access to this section of the fort, uncovering human remains as they walk in the trail.

Jeffery Seckinger

Jeffrey Seckinger
Graduate Student
Research Website: 
Teaching Website: 

Jeffrey received his BA in Archaeology from the University of Saskatchewan, and MSc in Skeletal and Dental Bioarchaeology from University College London. He is interested in applying a biocultural approach and integrating new materialisms into studies of health, disease, and embodiment. He hopes to examine patterns of early life stress and its effects on health over the life course in the context of cultural and political changes in Medieval Italian society, with particular reference to notions of eschatology, sex, and gender roles.

Region(s): 
Mediterranean
Research Theme(s): 
Bioarchaeology, Skeletal Biology, Dental Anthropology, Histology, Mediterranean archaeology, Growth and Development, Palaeopathology, Inequality, Intellectual History, Archaeological Theory

Martha Nuño Diaz-Longo

Martha
Graduate Student
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Teaching Website: 

Martha is a PhD candidate who conducts bioarchaeological research. She received her BA from CSU, Fresno and her MA at CSU, Chico. At the PhD level she hopes to address questions regarding structural violence and how said violence can be seen on the skeleton, especially of those who attempt to cross the U.S./Mexico border.

Region(s): 
North America
Research Theme(s): 
structural violence, Bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, life course, human rights

José Marrero Rosado

Jose Marrero Rosado
Graduate Student
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Linked-in profile

My research interests focus on structural violence and infectious disease, and how we can study this through human skeletal remains. 

Region(s): 
Carribean
Research Theme(s): 
Bioarchaeology, structural violence, infectious disease, Historical Archaeology, molecular bioarchaeology