A geometric morphometric analysis of cranial vault modification in Ancash, Peru

Summary

Cranial vault modification is a cultural practice used throughout much of the Andes and study of body modifications is a powerful tool for understanding group identity, social structure, and status. Different modification types have been found in the prehistoric Ancash region of north-central Peru, although the significance of this practice has yet to be further explored in the area. As cranial modifications are variable by nature, quantitative assessment of different vault shapes allows for the determination of presence of modification and may also allow assessment of types as well as the degree of variation within modification type. Together, this information can help elucidate the potential identities being conveyed. Here, I present results from a small-scale metric study based on crania excavated throughout Ancash. Geometric morphometric methods were utilized in addition to traditional metric approaches in order to quantify the morphology using strategic landmark and semi-landmarks. Analysis of 100 modified crania shows significant variation in cranial shape between modified and unmodified individuals, but also between types of modification as well as, most interestingly, internal to each type. Geometric morphometric methods were particularly fruitful, and future research looks to encompass a large-scale examination of cranial modification in Ancash using this approach.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

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