Scattered Skeletons

1
Scattered Skeletons Curated CorpsesCases of
Tricky Taphonomy

• Alana Cordy-Collins, Ph.D.
• Professor of Anthropology
• University of San Diego

2
The North Coast of Peru
3
Curated Corpses
4
Sipán 1988
Only disarticulated tomb occupants 3 adult
females
5
San José de Moro1991-1992
6
San José de MoroTomb of Elite Child
5-7 yrs cervical thoracic vertebral
skewing both hands absent
L 14-16 yr old female thoracic disarticulation
hand bones loose behind pelvis mandible
disarticulated rotated 180
7
San José de MoroTomb of Priestess 1
Foot of Tomb (N..end)
R partially disarticulated juvenile mandible by
L radius/ulna R arm radius only
8
San José de MoroTomb of Priestess 1
Head of Tomb (S end)
West adult female cervical most thoracic
vertebrae, most ribs, both hands feet, etc.
absent
East adult female cervical thoracic vertebral

disarticulation sternal slippage
Priestess fully articulated
9
San José de MoroTomb of Priestess 2
Head of Tomb (S end)
Priestess before complete excavation skeleton
intact articulated, however
Adult female with subtle disturbance of cranium
slumped over thorax
10
Dos Cabezas1994
11
Dos CabezasTomb B
Female 40 years all vertebrae ribs out of
position R humerus rotated 180
12
Scattered Skeletons
13
San José de MoroTomb of Priestess 2
Last interment 16-25 year old female
Penultimate interment 18-28 year old female
Majority of skeleton absent, L femur inverted, R
navicular inside maxilla
Both femora inverted L proximal humerus in
vertical position other disarticulations
14
San José de MoroTomb of Priestess 2
Foot of Tomb (N..end)
Partial female age 17-19
Gracile cranium age 18-30
Partial female age 18-20
15
Dos Cabezas Tomb B
Female, ca 40 years cranium, manubrium, R
clavicle, scapulae (R intact), humeri (proximal L
intact), 6 thoracic vertebrae parrot bone
Juvenile 14-16 years L R patellae, tibiae,
tarsals-phalanges, L fibula
Gracile ca. 25 year old radii,R ulna,
post-femorals, but missing R patella, L foot
16
WHY?
Ancestor worship? No written records for ancient
San José de Moro or Dos Cabezas The Inka are well
known for the practice

• Data review
• all relocated bodies are female or children
• no adult males have been found as either
• Curated Corpses or
• Scattered Skeletons

Hypothesis only females and children (female
children?) were sought as ancestral companions of
the newly and important dead
17
Dos Cabezas 2000

• Adult male
• Tomb looted in antiquity
• Normal accompanying female burial absent, no
  other grave goods present
• Male casually reinterred