Keeping It in the Family?: An Investigation into the Relatedness of Individuals Found in an Ancient Maya Chultún

Summary

The ancient Maya site of Blue Creek, located in northern Belize, has revealed archaeological evidence suggesting regional occupation from the Preclassic through Terminal Classic periods. The excavation of one Late Classic group (550 C.E. - 830 C.E.), Kin Tan, by the Maya Research Project revealed a chultún containing the remains of five commingled individuals of various ages. Examination of these skeletal remains revealed some commonalities in postcranial non-metric traits among those interred within the chultún. Data were collected on 17 cranial and postcranial non-metric traits in order to determine whether the individuals within the Kin Tan chultún could be biologically related. Several common traits were observed (septal apertures, marginal tubercles, and suprameatal spines) in the sample, supporting the hypothesis that those individuals entombed within the Kin Tan chultún are potentially biologically related. This research helps to shed light on the mortuary rituals and funerary traditions of the occupants of Blue Creek.

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): 17316