Trade and Sacrifice: Osteometry, Skeletal Part Representation, and Paleopathology of Camelid Assemblages in the Central Andes

Summary

Chavín de Huántar is a complex ritual site widely recognized for its connections to other regional centers. While much of this regional interaction is understood based on common ceramic styles and designs as well as the presence of non-local material, much less is known of the actual mode of transportation. Llama caravans most certainly played a key role in the movement of goods across space during Chavín times. Were llamas for caravans raised in the proximities of Chavin? Were caravan llamas a prestigious item? Were caravan llamas consumed in different ways than other llamas or other camelid species? In this poster, I use osteometric analysis, paleopathology analysis, and skeletal part representation analysis to explore these issues. Preliminary analysis at Chavín indicates the presence, in some sectors of the site, of some unusually large sacrificed llamas with pathologies consistent with those of burden animals. In contrast, other sectors of the site include the presence of regular size llamas and alpacas with no pathologies in daily food residue contexts. The results have implications for better understanding economic and social aspects of ancient human behavior at this important site.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16576