Interpretations of Pre-Hispanic Ritual Violence at Tucume, Peru, From Cut Mark Analysis

Archaeological residues of ritual are often ephemeral, and reconstructing the dynamics of performed actions that create deposits can be difficult. Rituals associated with the dead are common across many cultures since all human,groups have specific means of disposing of corpses. Evidence of peri- and postmortem manipulation of human remains,such as cutting. dismemberment, or disarticulation can provide details of the sequence of actions performed related to the circumstances surrounding death and the possible social meaning of those behaviors. Cur marks observed on the upper chest and throat of 93 percent of 117 children and men found interred at the Temple oldie Sacred Stone at Tucume. Peru are consistent with three symbolic behaviors: cutting the throat, opening the chest cavity, and decapitation. This patterning of skeletal trauma demonstrates that a highly elaborate series of violent ritual behaviors. was carried out on a regular basis at tins location, beginning in the Late Intermediate Period (similar to AD. 1100) through to the end oldie Late Horizon Inca occupation of the site around A.D. 1532. The recent finds of bioarchaeological evidence of ritual violence across the Andes suggests that, although rare, these mortuary remains provide important clues to the elaborate nature of ritual behaviors at different sites

Variation In Large Ectocranial Lesions From Pre-Columbian Kuelap, Peru

This paper analyses a diverse collection of previously undescribed cranial lesions observed from 42 individuals from the pre-Columbian site of Kuelap, eastern montane, Peru. I describe the presence of cranial lesions, their location on the vault location, shape, and size of affected area, and evidence of remodeling. Seventeen percent of the total cranial sample demonstrates similar superficial cranial lesions including males (25/117, 21.4%) and females (14/74, 18.9%), and adolescents (3/27, 11%). Most lesions are narrow ovals or long and leaf-shaped, with depression of the external cranial vault. While some are well-healed and smooth-surfaced, others are more irregular with variable degrees of remodeling. The highest frequency is on the superior and posterior aspects of the vault, usually along the sagittal plane. Differential diagnoses are considered but no single pathology is clear for all cases. There are some common features consistent with active and healing osteitis and a few are directly associated with trepanation. General patterning suggests intentional treatment, perhaps even possible cauterization of scalp injuries or healed infections. These large cranial scars have not been observed at coastal Peruvian sites and may reflect specific regional conditions related to highland environmental factors, local medical treatments of cranial injuries, or population specific malformations

Tibial Surgery In Ancient Peru

This case study describes a unique anthropogenic modification of two individual skeletons excavated from the pre-Columbian site of Kuelap, Chachapoyas-Amazonas, in the northeastern highlands of Peru. While numerous examples of cranial trepanations using an adjacent drilling technique have been recovered from this site and region, this is the first example of such a surgical technique on a post-cranial element. Skeletal remains demonstrate that ancient Andeans were skilled and successful with many surgical treatments. Ethnohistoric documents suggest the Chachapoya shamans were known for their healing. In these cases, however, there is no evidence of long-term healing. This innovative medical procedure appears to have been an attempt at therapeutic intervention intended to treat an osteomyelitic infection of the distal tibial metaphysis

Ritual Violence In The Ancient Andes: Reconstructing Sacrifice On The North Coast Of Peru

The first comprehensive synthesis of a major topic in Andean archaeology, this volume reconstructs the complex and situational motivations underlying ritual killing and the broader range of pre- and post-killing rites that were integral to ancient liturgies of violence