Human corpse manipulation and the body as symbol: A case study from the Eastern Pampa?Patagonia transition (Argentina) during the Final Late Holocene

GUSTAVO MARTÍNEZ; GUSTAVO FLENSBORG; PABLO BAYALA

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology

Elsevier

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2012 vol. 31 p. 215 - 226

0278-4165

Human body manipulation and secondary burials have been widespread funerary practices all around the world. That is not the exception in archaeological contexts from Pampa and North-eastern Patagonia (Argentina). In this contribution two archaeological case studies (La Petrona and Paso Alsina 1 sites; ca. 800-250 years BP) coming from the lower basin of the Colorado River are presented and discussed. Bundles were recovered at both sites indicating an intentional manipulation of bodies. Secondary burials showed a repetitive pattern in the presence and association of bone elements into the bundles. Skeletonization of the bodies was produced by natural and anthropic origins, the latter displaying evidences of fleshing, cutting and scraping as well as red dying on bone surfaces. Individuals of both sexes and diverse age categories composed the bundles. The Pampean region and North-eastern Patagonia witnessed an important population dynamics during the last 1000 years BP. As part of this socio-economic scenario, processes of social interaction networks and complementarity between groups took place. It is proposed that the complexity observed in relation to the handling of bodies is part of a worldview were the body was seen as material culture, as a symbol, that played an important role in group identities in a cultural context underwent important organizational changes.