Ancient Manganism in the Andes: A Bioarchaeological View

Summary

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

The ancient Chinchorro people of northern Chile used manganese as part of their mortuary rites (7000–3000 BP). Chinchorro artifacts (n = 12) reveals the presence of manganese up to 64% measured with portable X-ray fluorescence. In addition, bone chemistry analysis from Chinchorro mummies (n = 68) using atomic absorption spectrometry reveals for the first time the endogenous presence of manganese in their bodies. Approximately 84% (57/68) of individuals show manganese bone values beyond normal 1 ppm levels concentration, and of these, 20.6% (14/68) were overexposed to higher toxic levels (>10 ppm) of manganese. Overexposure to manganese causes a Parkinson-like syndrome producing psychomotor problems, including emotional lability, irritability, aggressiveness, involuntary movements and facial spasms, pathological laughter, and fix facial expression. Many of these symptoms are not visible in the mummies, but the high levels of endogenous manganese found, entice us to rethink the risk of ancient mineral mining and manganese over exposure in the Andes and elsewhere. The presented data will be useful to inform manganese exploitation as an important occupational hazard in antiquity during intense mineral gathering activities for ritualistic purposes.

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): 36466.0