Artificial cranial deformations in South America: A quantitative approach to cultural variation.

S. IVAN PEREZ, MARCELO CARDILLO Y PAULA N. GONZALEZ

Teoría, métodos y casos de análisis en arqueología evolutiva.

SB

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2008;

The present work studies the variation in shape of artificial cranial deformation among groups in southern South America using archaeological samples. For this purpose we employ geometric morphometric techniques and multivariate statistical methods. These methods allow us discuss the importance of different cultural models to better understand the pattern of cranial deformation variation observed among groups of southern South America. The results obtained show that this variation could be interpreted employing within-groups transmission of information, independent innovation, and ethnogenetic models. Moreover, in some areas the cranial deformation could be used during the later late Holocene to reinforce group identity or as territorial or social boundary demarcation. Particularly, it is important to point out the differences observed between Bolivian and neighbor groups, as well as between hunter-gatherers and agriculturist in the later late Holocene. The application of multivariate methods shows that any model fully explains the observed pattern of variation in shape. Likewise, the different models can be used to understand the observed variation in a satisfying way.