Bioarchaeological And Mortuary Patterns At Holtun, Guatemala: Integrating A Comparative Osteobiographic Approach
Published:
Key Terms: Ancient Maya, Bioarchaeology, Mortuary Archaeology, Personhood, Comparative Osteobiography
Abstract: Bioarchaeological analysis can help identify patterns of mortuary ritual and social experience of ancient Maya peoples. However, there is limited bioarchaeological and mortuary evidence for the relationship between the development of social complexity and social experience. Particularly, how is social organization reflected in patterns of burial practice and skeletal markers of stress. This thesis uses osteobiographies to contextualize the mortuary and biological profiles of 20 individuals interred at the Maya site of Holtun, Guatemala to examine bioarchaeological variation during the Preclassic (800 B.C. – 250 A.D.) and Late Classic (550 A.D. – 900 A.D.) periods. This work highlights the integration of comparative osteobiographic analyses from small samples into the exploration of individual identities and social experiences. Download thesis here
Citation: Palacios, H. M. (2021). Bioarchaeological and Mortuary Patterns at Holtun, Guatemala: Integrating a Comparative Osteobiographic Approach. (M.A.), University of Central Florida.