Multidisciplinary identification of human skeletal remains from the karst abyss in Demänovská Valley (19th–20th century calCE, Slovakia)

The study of human skeletal remains from archaeological and historical contexts provides valuable insights into past populations and their living conditions. Here we present a multidisciplinary analysis of human skeletal remains discovered in a karst abyss in the Demänovská Valley, Slovakia, dating to the 19th-20th century CE. The remains were subjected to comprehensive osteological, anthropological, and forensic analysis to determine demographic characteristics, pathological conditions, and potential cause of death. Radiocarbon dating and historical research confirmed the temporal context of the findings. The skeletal analysis revealed evidence of multiple individuals of various ages and both sexes, with several showing signs of trauma and pathological conditions typical of the historical period. The karst environment provided exceptional preservation conditions, allowing for detailed morphological and pathological assessment. This interdisciplinary approach combining archaeological, anthropological, and forensic methods demonstrates the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in the investigation of historical human remains from unusual depositional contexts.