Bioarchaeological indicators of interpersonal violence in Quebrada de Humahuaca and Calchaqui Valley ca. 1000-1430 A.D.

SELDES, VERÓNICA; GHEGGI, MARÍA SOLEDAD

Necochea

Encuentro; Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America III; 2009

Paleopathology Association/ UNICEN

Our aim is to evaluate the available bioarchaeological evidence to study the existence, intensity and kind of violent conflict present in populations that inhabited Northwest Argentina (NOA) ca. 1000-1430 A.D. We are interested in discussing the possible situations of interpersonal violence, the kind of lesions and their incidence on health status and lifestyle, considering current perspectives on Southern Andean populations that posit a scenario of real, symbolic and ritualized violence for the region. It is also important to consider the possibility of ancestor cult, which throughout the Andes constitutes a source of osseous remains manipulation, especially crania. We present the results of the analysis of 420 crania from different archaeological localities from Quebrada de Humahuaca, Calchaqui Valley and Puna of Salta, adding information of other investigations from the region. Premortem and perimortem fractures were taken as direct indicators of violence and trophy skulls, isolated crania and bodies without skulls were taken as indirect evidence. Low frequencies of interpersonal violence were observed, even more when compared with samples from previous temporal periods from the same region.