Andean Indigenous Bodies: Methodological Approaches to Past Perceptions of the Body

Summary

This is an abstract from the "From Individual Bodies to Bodies of Social Theory: Exploring Ontologies of the Americas" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Any attempt to understand indigenous anatomy and perceptions of the body from an emic perspective in the Andes is a challenging endeavor, beginning with basic definitions that differ substantially from Western traditions. Furthermore, definitions changed across space and time throughout Andean prehistory, making it difficult to discuss the topic in a unified, monolithic manner. In the Andes, there are a variety of ontological data on this subject. These are based on ethnohistorical, linguistic, ethnographic, materiality and phenomenological studies that provide insights into an emic view of the Andean worldview, including perceptions of the body. In this paper, we present bioarchaeological case studies from different parts of the Andes as well as a study of Quechua terminology that illustrate the unique view and treatment of the "body" in this part of the world. In addition, we provide methodological recommendations in osteological research that need to be followed in an effort to provide a more nuanced interpretation of past worldviews anchored in the body.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• From Individual Bodies to Bodies of Social Theory: Exploring Ontologies of the Americas   •
• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 25521