Los museos antropológicos y la mirada del cacique de una comunidad ranquel

Antropólogos y miembros de comunidades indígenas reflexionan sobre los restos mortales de aborígenes conservados en museos y sobre su devolución a los grupos que se consideran sus descendientes.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Héctor Mario Pucciarelli, 1939-2018

Semblanza biográfica del antropólogo platense Héctor Mario Pucciarelli.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentin

Crania Patagónica. Uma abordagem material para os estudos antropológicos na Argentina

Desde los primeros estudios antropológicos el cráneo ha sido un referente empírico fundamental, para lo cual se formaron grandes colecciones procedentes de distintas sociedades humanas. Aún con renovadas teorías y metodologías, los estudios craneológicos se suceden hasta el presente. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprender cuáles fueron las condiciones de posibilidad de las investigaciones antropológicas en Argentina sobre esta temática. En primer lugar, analizo el estudio morfológico de Marcelo Bórmida sobre cráneos indígenas de la Patagonia, a través de los aspectos materiales, intelectuales y geopolíticos de la muestra utilizada. En segundo lugar, trazo algunos cambios teóricos, tecnológicos y políticos ocurridos en las últimas décadas, entre los que se encuentran la restitución de los restos humanos a los pueblos indígenas.Since the first anthropological studies, the skull has been a fundamental empirical reference. Due to this, a large amount of cranial collections derived from different human societies were created. Even with renewed theories and methodologies, craniological studies continue in present times. The goal of this paper is to understand the conditions of possibility of anthropological research regarding this subject in Argentina. Firstly, I analyze Marcelo Bórmida’s morphological study on indigenous skulls of Patagonia through the different sample, intellectual and geopolitical aspects of the sample he investigated. Secondly, I outline some theoretical, technological and political changes that have occurred in craniological studies in recent decades, among which I focus on the restitution of human remains to indigenous peoples.Desde os primeiros estudos antropológicos, o crânio tem sido uma referência empírica fundamental, para a qual foram formadas grandes coleções de diferentes sociedades humanas. Mesmo com teorias e metodologias renovadas, os estudos craniológicos continuam até hoje. O objetivo deste trabalho é compreender quais eram as condições de possibilidade da pesquisa antropológica na Argentina sobre o tema. Em primeiro lugar, analiso o estudo morfológico de Marcelo Bórmida sobre crânios indígenas da Patagônia, por meio das características materiais, intelectuais e geopolíticas da amostra analisada. Em segundo lugar, rastrearei algumas mudanças teóricas, tecnológicas e políticas que ocorreram nas últimas décadas, entre as quais a restituição de restos mortais aos povos indígenas.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Héctor Mario Pucciarelli, 1939-2018

Semblanza biográfica del antropólogo platense Héctor Mario Pucciarelli.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentin

Los museos antropológicos y la mirada del cacique de una comunidad ranquel

Antropólogos y miembros de comunidades indígenas reflexionan sobre los restos mortales de aborígenes conservados en museos y sobre su devolución a los grupos que se consideran sus descendientes.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Different cranial ontogeny in Europeans and Southern Africans

Modern human populations differ in developmental processes and in several phenotypic traits. However, the link between ontogenetic variation and human diversification has not been frequently addressed. Here, we analysed craniofacial ontogenies by means of geometric-morphometrics of Europeans and Southern Africans, according to dental and chronological ages. Results suggest that different adult cranial morphologies between Southern Africans and Europeans arise by a combination of processes that involve traits modified during the prenatal life and others that diverge during early postnatal ontogeny. Main craniofacial changes indicate that Europeans differ from Southern Africans by increasing facial developmental rates and extending the attainment of adult size and shape. Since other studies have suggested that native subsaharan populations attain adulthood earlier than Europeans, it is probable that facial ontogeny is linked with other developmental mechanisms that control the timing of maturation in other variables. Southern Africans appear as retaining young features in adulthood. Facial ontogeny in Europeans produces taller and narrower noses, which seems as an adaptation to colder environments. The lack of these morphological traits in Neanderthals, who lived in cold environments, seems a paradox, but it is probably the consequence of a warm-adapted faces together with precocious maturation. When modern Homo sapiens migrated into Asia and Europe, colder environments might establish pressures that constrained facial growth and development in order to depart from the warm-adapted morphology. Our results provide some answers about how cranial growth and development occur in two human populations and when developmental shifts take place providing a better adaptation to environmental constraints.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Developmental connections between cranial components and the emergence of the first permanent molar in humans

The age of emergence of the first molar (M1) is a developmental event correlated with many variables of primate life history, such as adult brain size. The evolution of human life history is characterized by the inclusion of childhood, which takes place between weaning and M1 emergence. Children still depend on adults for nutrition due to their small digestive system and their immature brains. By contrast, juveniles are not dependent because of M1 emergence, which enables shifting to adult type diet, and attainment of nearly adult brain size. In this study, developmental connections between M1 emergence and growth of cranial components were explored in two ways in order to understand the developmental basis of their evolutionary connections: (1) differences in growth trajectories of cranial components with respect to M1 emergence and (2) differences between individuals with and without fully emerged M1. Growth of anteroneural, midneural, posteroneural, otic, optic, respiratory, masticatory and alveolar cranial components was analysed in human skulls of individuals aged 0-20 years and in an adult reference skull. Volumetric indices were calculated to estimate size. Two subsamples were selected in order to focus on the transition between deciduous and permanent dentition: those with full deciduous dentition and before M1 reaches the occlusal plane; and those who present M1 in full emergence and no other cheek-tooth at the occlusal plane. The principal results were as follows. (1) Trajectories fitted using the whole sample are characterized by an inflection point that takes place before M1 emergence for neural components and around M1 emergence for facial components. (2) Associations between growth and age tend to be strong in those with full deciduous dentition, and weak in those who present M1 in full emergence. (3) Individuals who present M1 in full emergence are larger than those with full deciduous dentition. (4) Growth of components linked to the central nervous system is not linear until M1 emergence. Individuals who present M1 in full emergence are only larger than individuals with full deciduous dentition by 4-5% of adult size. (5) The alveolar component does not show increments between full deciduous dentition and M1 emergence. (6) When volumetric indices were standardized by age, the growth trajectories of individuals with full deciduous dentition and of those with M1 were not decoupled. In general terms, M1 emergence does not show a strong association with growth of the components that may explain differences in life histories. However, the main changes in neural and alveolar components occur in the first 3 years of life, which may be developmentally connected with M1 crown formation.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Developmental connections between cranial components and the emergence of the first permanent molar in humans

The age of emergence of the first molar (M1) is a developmental event correlated with many variables of primate life history, such as adult brain size. The evolution of human life history is characterized by the inclusion of childhood, which takes place between weaning and M1 emergence. Children still depend on adults for nutrition due to their small digestive system and their immature brains. By contrast, juveniles are not dependent because of M1 emergence, which enables shifting to adult type diet, and attainment of nearly adult brain size. In this study, developmental connections between M1 emergence and growth of cranial components were explored in two ways in order to understand the developmental basis of their evolutionary connections: (1) differences in growth trajectories of cranial components with respect to M1 emergence and (2) differences between individuals with and without fully emerged M1. Growth of anteroneural, midneural, posteroneural, otic, optic, respiratory, masticatory and alveolar cranial components was analysed in human skulls of individuals aged 0-20 years and in an adult reference skull. Volumetric indices were calculated to estimate size. Two subsamples were selected in order to focus on the transition between deciduous and permanent dentition: those with full deciduous dentition and before M1 reaches the occlusal plane; and those who present M1 in full emergence and no other cheek-tooth at the occlusal plane. The principal results were as follows. (1) Trajectories fitted using the whole sample are characterized by an inflection point that takes place before M1 emergence for neural components and around M1 emergence for facial components. (2) Associations between growth and age tend to be strong in those with full deciduous dentition, and weak in those who present M1 in full emergence. (3) Individuals who present M1 in full emergence are larger than those with full deciduous dentition. (4) Growth of components linked to the central nervous system is not linear until M1 emergence. Individuals who present M1 in full emergence are only larger than individuals with full deciduous dentition by 4-5% of adult size. (5) The alveolar component does not show increments between full deciduous dentition and M1 emergence. (6) When volumetric indices were standardized by age, the growth trajectories of individuals with full deciduous dentition and of those with M1 were not decoupled. In general terms, M1 emergence does not show a strong association with growth of the components that may explain differences in life histories. However, the main changes in neural and alveolar components occur in the first 3 years of life, which may be developmentally connected with M1 crown formation.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Phisical anthropology teaching in the Argentina of the early 20th century. Robert Lehmann-Nitsche and the disciples’ formation

La formación y entrenamiento de estudiantes será una de las principales estrategias en la definición e institucionalización de los espacios y las prácticas antropológicas. A fin de indagar las características de este proceso en el contexto antropológico argentino en el periodo 1911-1930 se analizarán las primeras tesis de antropología física presentadas en las universidades nacionales de Buenos Aires y La Plata, dirigidas por el antropólogo alemán Robert Lehmann-Nitsche (1872-1938). Su análisis, junto con la correspondencia privada de este último, nos permite plantear la ausencia de un plan sistemático a favor del mencionado proceso. Elementos como el aumento de la visibilidad profesional y la protección del prestigio social y académico obtenido serán los motivos principales de Lehmann-Nitsche al momento de decidir dichas tesis doctorales.Throughout the first decades of 20th century different scholars will be insist on the importance of students’ training and educating as a strategy to define and institutionalize the spaces of scientific practices. In order to analyze this process in the Argentinean anthropological context will consider the first physical anthropology dissertations submitted at the national universities of Buenos Aires and La Plata, supervised by the German anthropologist Robert Lehmann-Nitsche (1872-1938). The examination of these materials, together with Lehmann-Nitsche’s private letters, allow us to propose the absence of a systematic plan in order to institutionalize and professionalize the anthropological practices. Finally we consider the personal reasons that lead to Lehmann-Nitsche to supervise these dissertations, among them professional visibility and protection of the obtained social and academic prestige.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

The Aché people in the practice and discourse of Anthropology

Este trabajo analiza y discute las prácticas antropológicas establecidas en torno a los pueblos indígenas de Paraguay, específicamente sobre las comunidades Aché, entre fines del siglo XIX y comienzos del XX.Tomando como eje articulador el interés sobre los individuos, sus cuerpos o las partes corporales, desentramamos la biografía de los mismos dentro del Museo de La Plata a fin de presentar el complejo escenario en el cual estos se convirtieron en objetos de estudio. Finalmente se da cuenta de los reclamos efectuados por comunidades Aché sobre cuerpos y objetos presentes en las colecciones del Museo de La Plata. Se presta especial atención a los procesos de restitución, los cuales están signados por la salida de dichos objetos del ámbito institucional, la recuperación de sus vínculos con sus comunidades descendientes y el cambio de identidad en el seno de las mismas.This paper analyzes the anthropological practices about indigenous peoples of Paraguay, particularly the Aché people, between the late 19rh and the early 20th centuries. With special reference to the interest in individuals, their bodies or their body parts, we unravel their biography in the Museo de La Plata in order to illustrate the complex scenario in which they became objects with scientific purpose. Finally, we present the claims made by the Aché people about mortal remains and objects which are part of the Museo de La Plata’s collection. Special attention is given to the restitution process, marked by the output of these objects from the institutional sphere, the recovery of their links with their communities and the identity change within them.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse