Children of Casas Grandes: A Molecular Examination of Subadults at Convento and Paquimé

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Bioarchaeological research has played a significant role in understanding the Casas Grandes region of Northwest Mexico. Excavations at the archaeological sites of Convento and Paquimé recovered at least 652 burials dating to AD 700–1450, providing a robust skeletal population for investigations, including research on population demographics, patterns of violence, and social stratification. While there is extensive literature on these individuals, research focusing solely on subadults is nonexistent. This study employs genetic and isotopic analyses on subadult remains from both Convento and Paquimé to provide estimations of biological sex and migration status. Permission for this work has been granted by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Historia (INAH) of Mexico, and all work has been completed with integration with the current residents of the region. The resulting information is used to address key issues of mobility and social organization. The integration of research of subadults with those of adults is necessary for a better understanding of past societies, and aids particularly in understanding the prehispanic Casas Grandes perception of childhood, violence, and social stratification.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36354.0