Using Parry Fracture Data to Further Assess Violence in Andahuaylas during the Late Intermediate Period

Summary

Previous studies of crania showing recurrent trauma suggest high rates of violence in the Andahuaylas province of Peru during the Late Intermediate Period. Through an assessment of direct blow fractures to radius and ulna bones (lower arm bones), we further examined violence in the region, anticipating a high rate of parry fractures. The skeletal remains assessed come from Sonhuayo, a fortified habitation sector of Cachi, a Chanka site in the west-central portion of the Andahuaylas province. Since crania from the site were formerly investigated, locations and types of cranial trauma and parry fracture data can be synthesized to further define the methods and frequency of violence in Andahuaylas during the LIP. Indeed not all types of violence result in parry fractures. De factor our study determined rates of parry fractures to be quite low, while cranial trauma reflects frequent injury. The results suggest that close, defensible hand-to-hand combat was not the primary means of administering violence.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 21470