Living and Dying on the Fringes of the Sea. The Bioarchaeology and Archaeothanatology of the People of Vista Alegre, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Summary

In this paper, we provide a sinopsis of the two dozen burial findings from the archaeological site of Vista Alegre, Quintana Roo, recovered during a decade (2008 to 2017). Most of the mortuary contexts from Vista Alegre were documented using detailed in situ recording (archaeothanatology), followed by macroscopic and isotopic research in a collaborative effort between the Georgia State University and the Bioarchaeology Lab of the University of Yucatan. Put in context with other burial series from coeval coastal sites from the Yucatan, our present results showcase quotidien aspects of local lifestyle, diet and health risks, as experienced by the settlers of Vista Alegre. Here, sea products blended in with maize and other inland native staples as locals traded salt and other goods in the midst of growing social and economic networks along the shores of Yucatan. The second part of our talk addresses the deathways of locals, collective mortuary traditions and social identities of local folk, as showcased by cranial shaping and dental decorations.

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): 22237