Abstract

MERLO, Noelia I.; MENDONCA, Osvaldo J.; BORDACH, María A.  and  RUIZ, Marta S.. Life and death in Pucará de Yacoraite: A study of human osteology. Cuad. Fac. Humanid. Cienc. Soc., Univ. Nac. Jujuy [online]. 2005, n.29, pp.113-142. ISSN 1668-8104.

This paper deals with the study of human skeletal remains excavated by Pedro Krapovickas between 1950 and 1960 inside the premises of the "Pucará de Yacoraite" (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy). Below two living floors, a set of immature and mature individuals was found. The objective was to characterize the life style of the individuals, taking into account possible relationships between economy of subsistence and degree of adaptation to the environment. Individual recognition of bones was achieved using abundance markers. Sex and age at death data were used to generate an exploratory demographic profile of the settlement. Stature estimation and pathological bone markers were also used to describe biological characteristics of the group. Results show a total of forty eight individuals of both sexes, with relatively medium to small adult stature, whose age at death reflexes high pre and perinatal mortality, and also a pick of adult mortality between twenty and thirty years. A vigorous use of the body in both sexes is observed, possibly related to a compromised social scenario.

Keywords : Funerary archaeology; Human osteology; Li; NW Argentina; Pucará de Yacoraite.

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