Elites and Human Sacrifices at Paquimé: A Bioarchaeological Assessment

A Comparison of Musical Instruments from the Prehispanic American Southwest and Paquimé, Chihuahua

“…In addition to these, over 175 mostly headless turkey remains were found in the southern portion of the House of the Dead within Plaza 3-13, which contained turkey pens. It is thought by many that this was the center for a religious cult dedicated to ancestor veneration, and that the manipulation of human remains was likely a focus (Rakita, 2009;Waller et al, 2018).…”

“…Since Di excavations at Paquimé, sociopolitical complexity and ritual practice remain a significant emphasis within Casas Grandes scholarship. Key developments, many of which were initially hypothesized by Di Peso, include the identification of a proposed social class of priestly elite (termed shamans by some, i.e., VanPool, 2003), the identification of human sacrifice in the SW/NW as a dedicatory practice for elite individuals (Waller et al, 2018), and a focus on the significance of water (Walker and McGahee, 2006) and water-associative deposits (e.g., shell; Whalen, 2013). Most archaeologists who specialize in late prehispanic northern Chihuahua agree that there lived at Paquimé an elite class of individuals who lived better lives, had access to restricted spaces, and had obligations to perform ceremonies that underpinned agricultural success in the form or rainfall (see contributions in Minnis and Whalen, 2015).…”

Human securities, sustainability, and migration in the ancient U.S. Southwest and Mexican Northwest

“…The articulated remains at Burial 44-13 showed evidence of less nutritional stress and overall better health due to their higher status (Waller et al 2018:417). The disarticulated remains at Burial 44-13 also appeared to be of lower status (possibly of non-local origin) and had significant trauma that indicated ritual violence on the part of an elite class (Waller et al 2018 and sources therein).…”

Bioarchaeological Approaches to Southwestern Violence

“…and Watson 2018; Waller et al 2018;and Harrod 2018), we should be careful not to attribute historic reasoning and causes for these activities. Archaeologically, violence in the southwest is often given the label of warfare (e.g., Haas and Creamer 1997;LeBlanc 1999;Rice and LeBlanc 2001).…”