Guangala human remains from the torre marina site, coastal Ecuador

Abstract

Comparative skeletal and dental data from periods spanning pre- and post-contact Ecuador reveal trends in the health of populations through time and across geographic regions. This paper presents new data from the Late Guangala site of Torre Marina near La Libertad on the Ecuadorean coast. The sample is comprised of 79 individuals, of all ages, from 57 rasgos (features). Although fragmentary, the recovered remains provide information about the demographic composition of this coastal population as well as the prevalence of trauma and disease. The new data are presented for comparison alongside previously reported statistics from early Ecuador.