Effects of Burial Environment on Osseous Remains

A Santería/Palo Mayombe ritual cauldron containing a human skull and multiple artifacts recovered in western Massachusetts, U.S.A.

“…Cauldrons can be purchased on-line from a variety of sellers (e.g., [15]). The cauldron in the present case is consistent in size and form with known examples from other forensic investigations [1][2][3]5,6]. Chains are often included with ngangas [2,5], and their symbolic function is to bind the spirit of the dead to the nganga.…”

“…Any herbal or tobacco offerings also may have decomposed prior to discovery, feathers may have floated away, and dried blood or wine would have decomposed or washed away. Similarly, any writing in a medium such as chalk or water-soluble paint [1,3] would have been lost while submerged. Many of the more uncommon items can be purchased from stores called botanicas [10] or on-line (e.g., [14,15]).…”

“…These remains likely were included in the cauldron still fleshed then later decomposed, and they may have been sacrifices. Animal remains are a common offering/ingredient in Palo Mayombe rituals and ngangas [3], and Wetli and Martinez [6] noted the inclusion of a preserved snake along with the more commonly encountered bird remains in a nganga which they analyzed.…”

“…Palo in Spanish means ''branch'' or ''wooden stick'', and Palo Mayombe derives its name from the incorporation of wood branches and herbs in ngangas [3]. The nganga or prenda cauldron (or sometimes a bag) contains ingredients representing the elements of the world: sticks, herbs, stones, soil, insects, bird or animal carcasses, and human remains.…”

“…Ritual objects and offerings from practitioners of Santería and Palo Mayombe are increasingly reaching medical examiner offices in the U.S.A. due to the spread of these related religions/sects and their sometimes use of animal and human remains [1][2][3][4][5][6]. This case report describes the contents of a ritual cauldron, called a nganga or prenda, containing ritual artifacts and human and animal skeletal remains and therefore of forensic anthropological interest.…”