Distinguishing between natural and cultural taphonomic agents in skeletal assemblages from human sacrifice sites in Pre-Columbian northern coastal Peru

Abstract

The primary objective of this dissertation is to utilize current techniques of taphonomy and sample size estimations to differentiate between cultural/human-induced and natural perimortem and postmortem activities, with a specific focus on determining the sequence of events that occurred at four sacrificial sites from prehistoric Northern Coastal Peru with evidence for exposure and extensive postmortem treatment. Various scenarios have been proposed (but as of yet not closely examined) to explain the degree and type of the postmortem treatment of the sacrificial remains, including ritualistic placement of skeletal elements, to suspension and display of defleshed remains (Bourget 1997,1998,2001; Verano, personal communication). Temporally, the sites studied fall within the Early Intermediate Period, Middle Horizon, and Late Intermediate Period, and are associated with the Moche, Lambayeque, and Chimu cultures.