Size and Morphology of Canid Skeletal Remains from Moxviquil, Chiapas, Mexico

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The site of Moxviquil is located in the Jovel Valley of highland Chiapas, and contains a funerary cave from which human and faunal osteological remains have been recovered. The site’s occupation spans the Late Classic (AD 600–900) to Early Postclassic (AD 900–1250) periods. Approximately one-third of the remains belong to the species *Canis familiaris, represented primarily by dental elements. Canid teeth were used to identify the presence of both small coated dogs, or Techichi, and medium-sized hairless Xoloitzcuintli dogs, an ancient breed that was common to both Aztec and Maya cultures. Many of the canid teeth in this assemblage presented unique morphological features that are diagnostic of the Xoloizcuintli. Measurements were taken on the height, breadth, and width of the crown (where possible) on all *Canis familiaris teeth from the assemblage, and compared to specimens from complete canid crania in order to determine the average body size of each individual in the sample. The results were used to interpret the size and breed of the dogs represented in the sample. Maxillary first molar morphologies were used to identify both normal and abnormal cusp patterns suggesting that both Techichi and Xoloitzcuintli dogs were present at the site.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 30914