Kiva B Internments at the Mine Canyon Site, New Mexico: a bioarchaeology and ancient DNA approach

Summary

Excavations at the Mine Canyon site, a PIII Chaco outlier near Farmington, New Mexico, revealed a cluster of thirteen individuals interred within Kiva B. Ancient DNA analysis of the individuals from the site demonstrated that six of the Kiva B internments belonged to the same derived form of Haplogroup A, suggesting a matrilineal relationship. Recent analysis of their burial positions suggests the Kiva B individuals are distinct from others at the site, further supported by a lack of grave goods. Additional analysis of pathology, dental calculus and decay, age distributions, and other morphological traits were also evaluated to further test whether these individuals are distinct. Synthesizing the data from this group of individuals, comparisons are made to modern and prehistoric populations in the desert Southwest. The results are discussed in terms of possible evidence of site abandonment, disease, and witchcraft.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

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