Cultural Modification of Human Remains at Cerro Jazmín, Mixteca Alta

Summary

Bone modification in human remains is a common practice among ancient civilizations. In Mesoamerica important cultural modifications on human bone have been reported, such as cranial deformation, dental modification, groves in long bones, and mandibles used as ornaments. In Oaxaca, within the Valley of Oaxaca, some of these cultural modifications of human remains have been dated to the middle Formative period in the Rosario Phase (BC. 700/500). Meanwhile, cultural modifications, such as cranial deformation in the Mixteca Alta have been reported since the Late/Terminal Formative (BC. 250/ AD. 250). This study explores the diversity of bone modification at the Cerro Jazmín, Mixteca Alta, in the Late/Terminal Formative and Early Postclassic periods, and sees how these modified human remains could be related to social status from the context that were found. In addition, in the process of integrating these data, it will be necessary to identify the techniques used to modify the bones, hypothesizing the possible tools that were used. Evidence of bone modification at this site is based on recovered remains that display different types of cranial deformation, dental modification, and groves in long bones, cremation, and fragments of the cranium used as ornaments

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• The Cerro Jazmín Archaeological Project 2008-2015: discussing early urbanism and city life in Late and Terminal Formative Mixteca Alta, Mexico

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