scattered skeletons & curated corpses: cases of tricky taphonomy alana cordy-collins, ph.d....
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Scattered Skeletons & Curated Corpses:
Cases of Tricky Taphonomy
Alana Cordy-Collins, Ph.D.
Professor of Anthropology
University of San Diego
5-7 yrs:cervical & thoracic vertebral skewing;both hands absent
L: 14-16 yr old female;thoracic disarticulation; hand bones loose behind pelvis;mandible disarticulated & rotated 180°
San José de MoroTomb of Elite Child
San José de Moro
Tomb of Priestess #1
R: partially disarticulated juvenile: mandible by L radius/ulna; R arm = radius only
Foot of Tomb (N..end)
San José de Moro
Tomb of Priestess #1
Priestess fully articulated
East adult female: cervical & thoracic vertebral disarticulation& sternal slippage
West adult female: cervical & most thoracic vertebrae, most ribs, both hands & feet, etc. absent
Head of Tomb (S end)
San José de Moro
Tomb of Priestess #2
Priestess before complete excavation: skeleton intact & articulated, however
Head of Tomb (S end)
Adult female with subtle disturbance of cranium slumped over thorax
San José de Moro
Tomb of Priestess #2Last interment: 16-25 year old female
Penultimate interment: 18-28 year old female
Majority of skeleton absent, L femur inverted, R navicular inside maxilla
Both femora inverted; L proximal humerus in vertical position; other disarticulations
San José de Moro
Tomb of Priestess #2Foot of Tomb (N..end)
Partial female age 17-19
Partial female age 18-20
Gracile cranium age 18-30
Dos Cabezas: Tomb B
Gracile ca. 25 year old: radii,R ulna, post-femorals, but missing R patella, L foot
Juvenile 14-16 years: L & R patellae, tibiae, tarsals-phalanges, L fibula
Female, ca 40 years: cranium, manubrium, R clavicle, scapulae (R intact), humeri (proximal L intact), 6 thoracic vertebrae; parrot bone
WHY?
Data review:
1 all relocated bodies are female or children
2 no adult males have been found as either
Curated Corpses or
Scattered Skeletons
Hypothesis : only females and children (female children?) were sought as ancestral companions of the newly and important dead
Ancestor worship?
No written records for ancient San José de Moro or Dos Cabezas
The Inka are well known for the practice