The symbolism of Prehispanic twins from Ñuu Savi, Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca

Summary

In Mesoamerica twins were associated with a rich symbolism and imagery. The study of this topic has focused mainly on Nahua and Maya societies because of the large number of available stories and associated imagery. In archaeological contexts, finding twins is unusual. During the 2014 season of the Cerro Jazmin Archaeological Project two infants were found and excavated in a domestic terrace dating to the Ramos phase (300 BCE-300 CE). Osteological analyses indicate that they were two premature individuals who died at the same age (around 32 weeks gestation). The archaeological and osteological data, integrated with information from Mixtec codices and ethnohistoric chronicles allow us to investigate infant mortuary practices in the Mixteca Alta and the role that twins and their symbolism played among the ancient Ñuu Savi.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

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