A Closer Look at the Use of Cueva de Sangre through Skeletal Remains
Author(s): Heriberto Marquez
Year: 2019
Summary
This is an abstract from the "Studies in Mesoamerican Subterranean Archaeology" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.
The use of caves is a part of an essential role in Maya cosmology and ideology. The Petexbatún Regional Cave Survey identified 22 caves and over 11 kilometers of cave passages between 1990 through 1993 at Dos Pilas, Guatemala. This study reexamines 205 human remains collected from Cueva de Sangre. Previous studies (Minjares, 2003) of the Cueva de Sangre skeletal material argue the site was used for the disposal of bodies based on the condition of the remains and their location within the cave. This seems to overlook the sacred role of caves and their use in numerous ritual practices. New data collected by this study identifies trauma and pathologies, allowing us to revisit the question of the cave's use by the ancient Maya.
Cite this Record
A Closer Look at the Use of Cueva de Sangre through Skeletal Remains. Heriberto Marquez. Presented at The 84th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Albuquerque, NM. 2019 ( tDAR id: 451106)
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Keywords
Geographic Keywords
Mesoamerica: Maya lowlands
Spatial Coverage
min long: -94.197; min lat: 16.004 ; max long: -86.682; max lat: 21.984 ;
Record Identifiers
Abstract Id(s): 25717