Bioarchaeological and Mortuary Indicators of Social Order in Mimbres Society: Seated Burials, Occupational Stress, Health, and Trauma

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Cooperative Bodies: Bioarchaeology and Non-ranked Societies" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Mimbres culture of the American Southwest is most recognized for its beautiful black-on-white ceramics but recent research is revealing greater understanding of social organization, community interactions, and the response to social and cultural change. Bioarchaeological and mortuary data are contributing important evidence of power differentials and social relationships within communities. This paper presents data from burials and human skeletal remains to explore theories of cooperation within Mimbres communities. Of particular significance are burials exhibiting bodies in upright seated positions and the inclusion of high numbers of mortuary goods, particularly decorated ceramic bowls. Seated mortuary positioning is not typical for the region and may have been reserved for community members who held specific social roles or elevated standing. Previous research has linked household clusters and seated burials to social memory and land tenure. Skeletal observations of occupational activity, pathogen exposure, stature, and trauma also indicate that Mimbres people engaged in more cooperation than competition.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Cooperative Bodies: Bioarchaeology and Non-ranked Societies   •
• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24762