The Challenges of Bioarchaeological Research in Peru: Archaeological Field-School Project "Pachacamac Valley" (1991-)

Summary

The archeological study of human burials presents many special challenges. Deterioration begins or accelerates with the exposure to new environmental conditions after recovery. In many cases, the context has to be analyzed in situ by bioanthropologists to record information before the removal of the materials to the laboratory and storage area. Continuous participation of bioarchaeologists is also vital for subsequent analysis of the funerary context many months or years after the end of the excavations. The Archaeological Project "Valle de Pachacamac" has developed long term research of three main archeological sites located in the Lurin Valley: Tablada de Lurín (1991-2002), Pueblo Viejo-Pucará (1998-2012) and Pachacamac (2005-present). The project curates relatively sizable collections of human skeletal remains from Tablada de Lurín (~790) and Pueblo Viejo–Pucará (~850). The first bioarchaeological field school was started in Tablada de Lurín and has been ongoing since 1991. The three sites have diverse taphonomic features due to the seasonal environment and various methodological issues due to their different funerary traditions. In this paper we discuss the different challenges that the project has faced in order to preserve the materials and records of excavations and analysis in association with technological changes over the last 25 years.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Curating the Past: The Practice and Ethics of Skeletal Conservation

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15639