Abstract

LEIGH AUSEL, Erica  and  FAULSEIT, Ronald K.. Culturally modified human remains of Dainzú, Oaxaca. An. antropol. [online]. 2020, vol.54, n.1, pp.23-34.  Epub Jan 15, 2021. ISSN 2448-6221.  https://doi.org/10.22201/iia.24486221e.2020.1.68713.

Determining how human remains were viewed, disposed of, or manipulated after death can provide a useful tool in understanding past societies. In prehispanic Oaxaca, human bone was commonly handled after death, sometimes crafted into tools, adornments, or ceremonial artifacts. The following discusses culturally modified human remains from a domestic terrace located on Cerro Danush, a prominent hill at the archaeological site of Dainzú in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. The terrace’s layout and artifacts show it was inhabited by an elite familial group and occupied from the Classic (600 AD) to Early Postclassic (850-1300 AD) periods. Over 30 modified human bones were recovered, originating from juveniles and adults. These include drilled and carved mandibles, an engraved femoral shaft segment, circular discs from cranial vaults, and shaped and polished long bones. These are interpreted as buccal masks and weaving tools, likely utilized in ceremonial activities. The context of these remains within Dainzú and their association with the greater Oaxacan religious landscape is discussed. By providing detailed osteological analysis, this paper broadens our understanding of who was deemed acceptable for inclusion in ceremonial narratives and the use of modified human remains in this Oaxacan community, contextualizing human remains within the archaeological record.

Keywords : Bioarchaeology; Zapotec; Late Classic period.

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