Book

Prehistoric cannibalism at Mancos 5MTUMR-2346

Princeton University Press • Princeton, Nj. • Published In 1992 • Pages:

By: White, T. D. (Timothy D.).

Abstract

White reanalyzed the human remains that had been excavated and reported on by Paul Nickens (P. R. Nickens, 1975. Prehistoric cannibalism in the Mancos Canyon, southwestern Colorado. Kiva 40:283-293) as a way to understand possible cannibalism in the Paleolithic . The Mancos Canyon remains were chosen for their good preservation, large sample size, and in situ recovery. White was also interested in how to recognize cannibalism in the archaeological record. This document presents details of his methods of analysis and presents the methods to use during analysis so that other researchers will have comparable material. In order to understand some of the damage seen on the remains White conducted experiments that determined cooking bones in clay pots can create similar damage, called pot polish. He reviews the literature on prehistoric cannibalism in the Southwest, including other authors proposed lines of evidence that are needed to verify cannibalism. Detailed descriptions of the Mancos assemblage and the types of perimortem damage seen on the bones are presented by skeletal element. White then compares the Mancos material with the human remains from Yellow Jacket 5MT-3, another cannibalism site, and the artiodactyl faunal remains from Badger House. In particular, this comparison shows how the human remains have been modified in a way consistent to the way Anasazi from nearby sites prepared faunal remains, including their bones, for maximum nutritional extraction and consumption.

HRAF PubDate

2012

Region

North America

Sub Region

Southwest and Basin

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Physical Anthropologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

Sarah Berry; 2011

Field Date

1969, 1972-1973

Coverage Date

900-850 BP (AD 1100-1150)

Coverage Place

5MTUMR-2346, Mancos Canyon, Colorado, United States

Notes

Tim D. White

Includes bibliographical references (p. 427-458) and index

LCCN

91023953

LCSH

Pueblo Indians--Anthropometry

Cannibalism--Colorado--History

Pueblo Indians--Antiquities

Mancos Site (Colo.)