Preclassic Maya Burials at Cuello, Belize 9780860546177, 9781407347684

Table of contents :
Cover Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PART I: BACKGROUND
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2: DEFINITION OF TERMS AND METHOD OF ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 3: (SWASEY)/BLADEN (900-600 BC) BURIALS
CHAPTER 4: LOPEZ MAMOM (600-300 BC) BURIALS
CHAPTER 5: MIDDLE PRECLASSIC BURIALS - A SUMMARY
CHAPTER 6: COCOS CHICANEL (300 BC-250 AD) BURIALS
CHAPTER 7: NUEVO TZAKOL (250-600 AD) BURIALS
CHAPTER 8: PRECLASSIC BURIAL PRACTICES AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE AT CUELLO
CHAPTER 9: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CUELLO BURIALS AND OTHER PRECLASSIC LOWLAND MAYA BURIALS
APPENDIX A: CUELLO BURIAL DATA TABLES
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Citation preview

Preclassic Maya Burials at Cuello, Belize

Cynthia Robin

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BAR International Series 480

1989

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B.A.R.

122 Banbury Rd, Oxford, OX2 7BP, UK

GENERAL EDITORS A.R. Hands, B.Sc., M.A., D.Phil. D.R. Walker, M.A.

BAR S480,1989: 'Preclassic Maya Burials at Cuello,Belize'.

©

Cynthia Robín

The author’s moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher. ISBN 9780860546177 paperback ISBN 9781407347684 e-book DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9780860546177 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is available at www.barpublishing.com

T o My P ar en t s E dward a nd G l or ia R ob in W i th

L ov e _J

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List

of Tables

List of

vi

Figures

ix

Acknowledgements PART

I :

Background

CHAPTER

1 :

CHAPTER 2 :

PART

xi

I I:

Introduction Definition of Terms Analysis

Analysis

CHAPTER

3 :

1

of the Cuello

and Method of

Burials

( Swasey)/Bladen

( 900

CHAPTER 4 :

Lopez Mamom

- 300

CHAPTER 5 :

Middle Preclassic

CHAPTER

Cocos

6 :

( 600

Chicanel

- 600 BC)

Burials

( 300

BC

- 250 AD)

CHAPTER 8 :

Preclassic Burial Practices Structure at Cuello

Regional

CHAPTER 9 :

PART

IV:

Burials

- A Summary

Nuevo Tzakol

I II:

BC)

Burials

CHAPTER 7 :

PART

( 250

1 6

- 600 AD)

Burials

Burials

3 7 51 6 3 66 1 20

and Social 1 24

Comparisons

A Comparison Between the Cuello Burials and Other Preclassic Lowland Maya Burials

1 31

Appendices

APPENDIX A :

Cuello Burial

Data Tables

Bibliography

1 53 407

V

LIST OF TABLES ( TABLES 3 9 A ND 5 6 H AVE B EEN D ELETED)

1 .

( Swasey)/Bladen age/sex distribution of context

3 8

2 .

( Swasey)/Bladen age/sex distribution of skeletal position

4 2

3 .

( Swasey)/Bladen age/sex distribution of azimuth

4 2

4 .

( Swasey)/Bladen a zimuth by skeletal position

4 3

5 .

( Swasey)/Bladen age/sex distribution of type and number of grave goods

4 4

( Swasey)/Bladen age/sex distribution of total number of grave goods

4 7

7 .

( Swasey)/Bladen cranial

4 8

8 .

( Swasey)/Bladen secondary

9 .

Lopez Mamom age/sex distribution of context

5 2

Lopez Mamom age/sex distribution of skeletal position

5 5

1 1.

Lopez Mamom age/sex distribution of azimuth

5 6

1 2.

Lopez Mamom azimuth by skeletal position

5 6

1 3.

Lopez Mamom age/sex distribution of type and number of grave goods

5 8

Lopez Mamom age/sex distribution of total number of grave goods

5 9

1 5.

Lopez Mamom cranial

6 0

1 6.

Age/sex distribution of Cocos Chicanel population

6 .

1 0.

1 4.

shaping

Cocos Chicanel

1 8.

Summary of Cocos Chicanel of context

skeletal

age/sex distribution of context

1 9.

Cocos Chicanel

2 0.

Summary of Cocos of grave type Cocos Chicanel grave goods

4 9

shaping

1 7.

2 1.

interments

7 3

age/sex distribution 7 4

age/sex distribution of grave type Chicanel

6 6

7 6

age/sex distribution 7 7

grave type by total

number of 7 7

vi

2 2.

2 3.

Cocos Chicanel position

age/sex distribution of skeletal 7 8

Summary of Cocos Chicanel of skeletal position

2 4.

Cocos

2 5.

Chicanel

age/sex distribution 7 9

skeletal position by context

8 1

Cocos Chicanel

skeletal position by grave type

8 2

2 6.

Cocos Chicanel

age/sex distribution of a zimuth

8 3

2 7.

Summary of Cocos Chicanel of a zimuth

age/sex distribution 8 4

2 8.

Cocos Chicanel

azimuth by context

8 5

2 9.

Cocos Chicanel

azimuth by grave type

8 6

3 0.

Cocos Chicanel

a zimuth by skeletal position

8 6

3 1.

Cocos Chicanel

age/sex distribution of head

3 2.

Summary of Cocos of head f acing

3 3.

3 4.

3 5.

3 6.

3 7.

3 8.

Chicanel

Cocos Chicanel head and a zimuth

f acing

age/sex distribution 8 7

f acing by skeletal position 8 8

Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of type and number of grave goods

9 2

Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of total number of grave goods

9 8

Summary of Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of total number of grave goods

9 9

total

4 0.

Cocos Chicanel

arrangement of ceramic vessels

4 1.

Cocos Chicanel decoration

cranial

4 3.

9 0-91

Summary of Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of type and number of grave goods

Cocos Chicanel context

4 2.

8 7

number of grave goods by 1 00 1 06

shaping and dental 1 08

Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of primary and secondary i nterments

1 09

Summary of Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of primary and secondary i nterments

1 10

v ii

4 4.

45.

4 6.

4 7.

4 8.

4 9.

5 0.

51.

5 2.

5 3.

5 4.

5 5.

5 7.

5 8.

5 9.

6 0.

6 1.

Secondary burials from the Early Cocos Chicanel Mass Burial 1 consisting of 3 2 i ndividuals in a s imple grave in the center of the plaza f loor

1 11

Mode of interment and number of grave goods for the Early Cocos Chicanel Mass Burial 1 consisting of 3 2 i ndividuals in a simple grave in the center of the plaza f loor

1 12

Secondary burials from the Cocos Chicanel Mass Burial 2 consisting of at least 1 2 individuals i n a simple grave in the center of the plaza f loor

1 13

Mode of interment and number of grave goods for the Cocos Chicanel Mass Burial 2 consisting of 1 2 individuals in a simple grave in the center of the plaza f loor

1 14

Cocos Chicanel non-mass burial plaza secondary interments

1 15

Cocos Chicanel interments

f loor

ceremonial platform secondary 1 15

Cocos Chicanel north platform construction associated secondary interments

1 16

Cocos Chicanel interments

1 17

residential platform secondary

Cocos Chicanel residential platform mode of interment and number of grave goods

1 17

Nuevo Tzakol position

1 21

age/sex distribution of

skeletal

Nuevo Tzakol age/sex distribution of type and number of grave goods

1 22

Nuevo Tzakol age/sex distribution of total number of grave goods

1 22

Total number of Middle or Late Preclassic individuals excavated at 1 1 Lowland Maya s ites

1 33

Age/sex distribution of skeletal remains at Lowland Maya s ites in the Middle Preclassic

8 1 34

Age/sex distribution of skeletal remains at Lowland Maya sites in the Late Preclassic

1 1 1 35

Distribution of grave type in the Middle Preclassic at 8 Lowland Maya sites

1 39

Distribution of grave type in the Late Preclassic at 1 1 Lowland Maya sites

1 40

v iii

6 2.

6 3.

6 4.

6 5.

6 6.

6 7.

D istribution of skeletal position in the Middle Preclassic at 7 Lowland Maya sites

1 42

D istribution of azimuth at 7 Lowland Maya sites

1 42

in the Middle

Preclassic

D istribution of skeletal position in the Preclassic at 1 0 Lowland Maya sites Distribution of a zimuth in the at 1 0 Lowland Maya sites

Late

Late 1 43

Preclassic 1 44

Average number of grave goods per individual in the Middle Preclassic at 8 Lowland Maya sites

1 46

Average number of grave goods per individual the LatA Preclassic at 1 0 Lowland Maya sites

1 48

in

LIST OF FIGURES

1 .

2 .

3 .

Map indicating the location of Cuello and other principal Maya sites in Northern Belize

2

Part of the Cuello site map showing the main Classic ceremonial center with Platform 3 4 in the lower left hand corner and the main excavation trench marked with hatches

3

P latform 3 4 with a 5 m by 5 m grid superimposed i llustrating the excavation areas in the 1 975-87 f ield seasons; the 1 975 test pit excavation is in grid square 3 0/30; in 1 987 work continued in the northern one third of the main trench of 1 980

4

4 .

Tabular Erect

cranial

shaping

2 8

5 .

Tabular Oblique cranial

6 .

I llustration and definition of Romero dental f iling types found at Cuello

shaping

2 8

7 .

Cuello

8 .

Platform 3 4 with a 5 m by 5 m grid superimposed i llustrating Str. 3 5 and the location of the 1 979 burials; burials are shown by their excavated Feature ( not Burial) number; the main excavation trench i s outlined with a dark line

9 .

Project Harris Matrix

Formative Lowland Maya Chronology complexes where burials have been

i x

29 35-36

- only ceramic found are listed

6 9

1 32

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study i s based on burials excavated at Cuello between 1 975 and 1 987. The project in a ll seasons was directed by Norman Hammond, under a permit i ssued by the Government of Belize through the Department of Archaeology ( Joseph 0 . Pala:A .°, Elizabeth A . Graham and Harriot W . Topsey, successive archaeological commissioners). The Cuello Project was f unded principally by grants from The National Geographic Society, The Trustees of the British Museum, The Research Council of Rutgers University ( from 1 978), The Crowther-Beynon Fund of Cambridge University and other donors. Excavation of the burials was supervised by Duncan Pring ( 1975), Sara Donaghey and Frank Saul ( 1976), Sara Donaghey and Juliette Cartwright ( now Gerhardt) ( 1978 and 1 979), Juliette Cartwright, Mark Horton, and Michael Davenport ( 1980), Amanda C larke and Deborah Muyskens ( 1987), and especially by Jim Spriggs who was a lso responsible f or bone conservation. The burial plans were drawn mainly by Sheena Howarth and Jan Morrison; photographs are by Norman Hammond. Certain burials were not drawn individually; plans of these burials were extracted and enlarged from main excavation plans and redrawn by Matthew Gajewski. All skeletal data used in this monograph come from the analysis of Frank and Julie Saul at the Medical College of Ohio, Toledo and will be reported in detail elsewhere. Stratigraphic and architectural associations of burials f rom 1 975 to 1 980 come from Juliette Cartwright Gerhardt's MA Thesis Preclassic Architecture at Cuello, Belize, University of Texas, 1 985, published in 1 988. Ceramic identifications are the work of Duncan Pring ( 1975 and 1 976) and Laura J . Kosakowsky ( 1978 1 980, 1 987). Pottery profile drawings are by Louise Christianson, Susan Bird, Paul Stempen and Justine Hopkins. Helpful data on burial patterning was provided by unpublished studies by Jim Truncer ( n. d.) and Ann Pyburn and Laura J . Kosakowsky ( n. d.). Preparation of this monograph, based on my Henry Rutgers Honors Thesis f or a BA degree at Rutgers College, was aided by a grant from The Henry Rutgers Scholars Committee of Rutgers College, Rutgers University. Three individuals at the Deans Office, Dean James W . Reed, Assistant Dean E lsa Vineberg and Pat Wilder, were particularly patient and understanding throughout the duration of my work. The s ingle most important individual throughout the writing of this monograph was my thesis advisor, Norman Hammond. His continuing willingness to share unpublished i nformation and unselfish generosity i n giving advice and guidance on a ll aspects involved in the writing of this monograph will a lways be remembered. At a ll times, he was available to answer questions and l isten to i deas which often required many hours of discussion. I can hardly begin to thank him f or his support. xi

In writing this study I owe a great personal debt to Frank and Julie Saul for their friendship, advice and hospitality. They taught me all I know about the analysis of human skeletal remains and spent many hours explaining their knowledge of the Cuello skeletons to me. I greatly appreciate the hours of time spent by John Seidel in advising me on how to evaluate my data base. He provided guidance i n developing hypotheses and establishing the analytical design f or i nterpreting the Cuello burials. I a lso thank Horst D . Steklis, chairman of the Anthropology Department, for f acilitating my work at Rutgers University. I thank Ann Pyburn, Patricia Cook, Deborah Muyskens and John CavallQ f or l istening to my i deas and giving advice. I thank Mary Powers & Associates, Inc f or manuscript.

and Tony Mason help i n the

at Dresdner, Robin printing of this

No words can measure the thanks I owe Matthew Gajewski. He helped me with every aspect of the preparation of this manuscript from computer instruction to editorial advice and drafting. His assistance made my research so much easier. Numerous discussions and arguments on points of Maya history and archaeology i n general greatly inspired my writing. Most important, his emotional support and willingness to put up with my quirks over the past year are a testament to his kindness and love. Finally, I would l ike to thank my f amily, my parents Edward and Gloria Robin, to whom this book i s dedicated, my sister Diana, and my grandmother Ida Robin. They have a lways supported, i n every way possible, my endeavors i n archaeology, the greatest of which so f ar has been the writing of this manuscript. Their continuing guidance and support emotionally, f inancially and logistically over the years has allowed me to be where I am today. I would never have completed this work i f i t were not f or them.

x ii

CHAPTER

1

INTRODUCTION GENERAL OUTLINE

OF REPORT

During the 1 975 to 1 987 f ield seasons at Cuello, Belize, a total of 1 42 individuals were excavated. 1 24 date to the Preclassic period and comprise the largest known sample of Preclassic lowland Maya burials. This research will analyze the burial practices and social implications thereof at Cuello. The report is divided into three parts. Part I contains background information relevant to the study. This chapter, chapter one, will summarize the excavations at the Cuello site, the present burial study, previous work on Cuello burials and previous work on lowland Maya burials in general, thus utilizing previous research to set up hypotheses to be considered in Part II. Chapter two will define the terms used in this report, since confusion can arise as standard terminologies often do not exist. Part II contains the analysis of the Cuello burials. Chapters will f irst analyze the burials by ceramic phase, followed by comparisons of burial patterns through time and their underlying social implications. Part III will compare the Cuello burial data with Preclassic burials from other lowland Maya s ites. In Appendix A , a detailed description of each burial including drawings of grave goods and plans i s found. THE

CUELLO

S ITE

The Cuello site is located on the low interfluvial ridge between the Rio Hondo and the Rio Nuevo situated at 1 8 °0 5' N, 8 8 °3 5' W, 5 km west of the modern town of Orange Walk, Northern Belize ( Fig. 1 , below). During an intensive survey project undertaken in the Corozal District, directed by Norman Hammond, the Cuello site, a minor Maya ceremonial center, was identified as a potential area for research on the Formative period Maya ( Hammond, 1 975). Test excavations at Cuello in 1 975 on a large Platform ( Plat. 3 4) with a small 5 meter pyramid ( Str. 3 5) located on its western side i ndicated that it dated to the Late Formative ( Chicanel phase) and was constructed over an earlier Middle Formative ( Swasey/Bladen and Mamom phases) patio group ( Hammond, 1 980). P latform 3 4 is located just to the southwest of the main C lassic ceremonial center at Cuello ( Fig. 2 , below). Excavations at Cuello in 1 976, 1 978-80 and 1 987 focused on a large-scale area excavation of the western half of P latform 3 4 ( Fig. 2 ). Figure 3 shows Platform 3 4 with a site grid of 5 m by 5 m squares superimposed. The different areas of excavation during each of the Cuello f ield seasons are noted. The primary importance of these excavations i s that they provide the archaeologist with a large data base with which to study the development of Preclassic Maya culture, an area of Maya prehistory largely neglected until the late 1 960's. The elaborate art, hieroglyphics and monumental architecture of the Classic Maya civilization has caught the 1

C HETUMAL BAY R ROS

C2 ) 2 5 Km

P R INC IPAL MAYA S I TES i n N ORTHERN

B EL IZE

C ue I to P ro jec t 1 978 N ORTHERN ‹ 2› B EUZE

• • f ron t ier w i th M ex ico -- s ou thern l i m i ts o f 1 973 /7 1 . C oroza l P ro jec t s urvey

s v .h

F IGURE 1 : Map i ndicating the location of principal Maya sites in Northern Belize. Hammond, ed., 1 978, F ig. 1 .1) 2

Cuello and other ( Reproduced from

I N > /O WAR .Y

4 >

Me%, e>

": 4 1

. f i r4 1

e g

0"

8 e

w

.7 CUN NIY

1 9

CL IP

.

. 00 1 ,01 1 1 : 1

•

3 1 . b lAIN •TRENCH! -

C UELLO, B EL IZE

I f

1

•

r o

1 0

I

40 t

3 0

5 0

1 00

2 00 1

met ers

FIGURE 2 : Part of the Cuello s ite map showing the main Classic ceremonial center with P latform 3 4 i n the l ower left hand corner and the main excavation trench marked with hatches. ( Reproduced f rom Gerhardt, 1 985: 6 ) attention of the archaeologist and antiquary a like s ince the early Yucatan explorations of Stephens and Catherwood i n 1 839-42 ( Stephens, 1 841, 1 843). Until recently the Preclassic was viewed as a s ide i ssue in Maya history. Today, the Preclassic Maya, " those who l aid the f oundation f or the C lassic Golden Age" ( Matheny, 1 987), are receiving the attention of the Maya archaeologist. Numerous recent excavations have broadened our knowledge of the Preclassic at many s ites; Cuello ( Hammond, 1 977, 1 978, 1 980 and 1 987; Hammond et a l. 1 979), Cerros ( Robertson and Freidel, 1 986), E l Mirador ( Matheny, 1 987), Colha ( Hester et a l.,1982), and Altun Ha ( Pendergast, 1 982) among others. These i nvestigations have not only aided us in understanding the development of what i s known as the C lassic Maya civilization, but they have a lso led archaeologists to question some of their underlying assumptions about the Preclassic. Excavations i n P latform 3 4 have i ndicated the local development of an e lite stratified society i n the Preclassic ( Gerhardt, 1 985, 1 988). Excavations at the l arge Preclassic urban center of E l Mirador led Matheny to question the Preclassic/chiefdom versus C lassic/city-state organizational d ichotomy and suggest that c ity-state organization was a development of the Preclassic ( Matheny, 1 987). 3

9 070

9 0

J d

8 0

7 0

6 0

/ / 0 0

/

J

0

0 00 A0 , n I A 00GCII

5 0

r a c e r4 O 00 » 3 7 ,ll 00 f 0or0 3 0

0

2 0

1 0

1 0

0 0400 0 1 0 0 0 04°0 0 0 0 0 04 S 0 0 I I 0 2 0

3 0

4 0

A B

e t sz 2

se s 1 0 M

e xc . a rea 1 978

u nexc . e xc . 1 976

e xc . 1 960

5 0

1 0

e xc . e xtended 1 979

b au lk

A s i te d atu m 2 2 .00M .

FIGURE 3 : Platform 3 4 with a 5 i n by 5 m grid superimposed i llustrating the excavation areas in the 1 975-87 field seasons; the 1 975 test pit excavation i s in grid square 3 0/30; in 1 987 work continued in the northern one third of the main trench of 1 980. 4

Despite recent a ttention to the Preclassic, research in this important area of Maya history i s still small and our understanding of this period i s still in i ts beginning stages. As Thompson s tated " It may be questioned whether any Formative : C lassic boundary i n terms of calendar years or cultural markers i s still f easible" ( Thompson, 1 966). One very important data base available to the archaeologist to study the s ocial development of a society and the roles individuals played i n that society i s their burial customs. The relationship between the status, wealth and power of an individual i n life an the type of burial he/she receives ( ie. number and type of grave goods, location of burial, etc.) has long been recognized as a tool f or the understanding of Maya social structure. Early endeavors to relate Maya burial patterns with social structure were greatly hindered by the lack of properly excavated and recorded burials ( Ricketson, 1 925). Often burials were either not recorded or just mentioned a s hearsay in excavation reports. CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE CUELLO BURIALS At Cuello a total of 1 42 i ndividuals ( both single and multiple i nterments) have been excavated. An exemplary burial recording s trategy designed by James Spriggs was implemented i n the 1 978 f ield season and continued through the 1 987 f ield season. This consisted of a uniform f ield burial record sheet used to record each burial. All information on context i ncluding location, relation to important f eatures or other burials and grave type, grave goods, skeletal position and orientation, comments on condition of the grave and the skeletal remains, the types of bones recovered or unrecoverable, a tentative age and sex for the individual, phasing and references to relevant burial plans, photographs and s ite note book pages were recorded on this sheet so that no information on the burials would be lost in the f ield ( Spriggs and Van Bueren, 1 984). Postexcavation analysis on the burials, i ncluding age and sex determination, cultural modifications, disease and trauma, was undertaken by Frank and Julie Saul, pioneers of the study of Maya l ife history as recorded i n skeletal remains, who were a lso members o f the 1 976 Cuello excavation staff. "Archaeologists are often f orced to l imit themselves to basic data on age, sex and cultural manipulations of the skull or teeth at best or no data at worst" ( Saul, 1 972). As Frank Saul states this i s a ll too often the situation encountered by Maya archaeologists studying burial customs. Two recent attempts to synthesize Maya burial patterns, Ruz ( 1965, 1 968) and Welsh ( 1988) have encountered this problem. The obvious importance of having proper age and sex data on skeletal remains i n the i nterpretation of social structure i s c learly i llustrated by Rathje's study of Classic Maya socio-political s tructure as i nterpreted from the burial remains at Uaxactun and Barton Ramie. His hypothesis of change from a system of recruitment of Maya political and religious officials from the entire population in the Early Period ( pre 6 00 AD at Uaxactun and pre 7 00 AD at Barton 5

Ramie) to one of limited hereditary rule in the Late Period ( post 6 00 or 700 AD) hinged on testing the location and amount of grave goods associated with male mature adults versus male young adults ( Rathje, 1 970). In order to fully utilize burial data in the understanding of social structure and the roles different ages and sexes played in society, not just a delineation of burial customs, analysis of skeletal remains by specialists such as the Sauls is a necessary prerequisite. Often f ield determinations made by non-specialists are insecure or need further refinement. It was the case at Cuello that many initial age and sex determinations made in the f ield were changed or further defined by the Sauls. The high quality of excavation, recording and analysis of the Cuello burials has enabled this study not to have to deal with many of the problems, i e. insufficient data on context, lack or inadequate ( not listing quantities) description of grave goods, lack or only non-specialist determinations of skeletal age and sex, etc., encountered by many previous studies such as Ricketson ( 1925), Ruz ( 1965, 1 968) and Welsh ( 1988). Of the 1 42 individuals excavated, 1 24 belong to the Preclassic period, comprising the largest known sample of Preclassic Maya burials. At Altun Ha 58 Preclassic individuals have been excavated ( Pendergast, 1 982; Welsh, 1 988). At the sites of Mountain Cow ( Thompson, 1 931), Barton Ramie ( Willey et al., 1 965), Holmul ( Merwin and Vaillant, 1 932), Seibal ( Sabloff, 1 975; Smith, 1 982), Altar de Sacrificios ( Smith, 1 972), Uaxactun ( Ricketson and Ricketson, 1 937; Smith, 1 950), Tikal ( Coe and McGinn, 1 963; Coe, 1 965) and Dzibilchaltun ( Andrews and Andrews, 1 980) around 20 or less Preclassic individuals have been excavated ( also: Welsh, 1 988). Both quality of excavation and size of the Cuello sample provide us with a unique opportunity to examine the role of the Preclassic individual in society through the analysis of their burial practices. The main underlying assumption in this present research i s that burial practices are non-random and reflect the social structure and ideology of a society. This supposition i s supported by archaeological burial studies ( Ricketson, 1 925; Ruz, 1 965, 1 968; Rathje, 1 970; Welsh, 1 988) and ethnographic studies ( Tozzer, 1 941). Rathje's statement that, "burials and associated artefacts were not randomly distributed, but varied in direct relation to other aspects of [ Classic] Maya society" ( 1970: 3 60) can also be tested against the evidence of the Preclassic. PREVIOUS

RESEARCH ON THE

CUELLO BURIALS

There are two main categories of information derived from the analysis of burials ( Spriggs and Van Bueren, 1 984), the f irst being the physical ( ie. age, sex, cultural manipulations, disease, trauma) aspect of the life history of an individual, and the second being the patterning of 6

content and context. This second category, a cultural analysis of burials ( ie. the relationship between burial customs and social structure), i s the f ocus of this paper. A brief synopsis of the Cuello burials excavated from 1 976 to 1 980 i n the main trench ( Fig. 2 , above) i s included in Appendix B o f Gerhardt's MA thesis on the Cuello architecture ( 1985). Two previous studies f ocus solely on the cultural aspects of the Cuello burials; Pyburn and Kosakowsky ( n. d.) and Truncer ( n.d.). Pyburn and Kosakowsky analyze the mortuary ceramics excavated i n the 1 980 f ield season. They compare the Cocos Chicanel phase mortuary ceramic assemblage ( the only phase f rom which a s izable ceramic mortuary assemblage was recovered) with the Cocos Chicanel phase refuse ceramic assemblage in order to test the nature and relationship of these two ceramic a ssemblages. No evidence f or a specialized mortuary ceramic a ssemblage was seen. The only s ignificant difference f ound between these two assemblages was that the average diameter f or mortuary vessels was l arger than those of refuse vessels, reflecting the use of mortuary vessels to cover/hold skeletal remains. Truncer's s tudy analyses the Cuello burials excavated i n 1 980, but a lso i ncludes some 1 978 and 1 979 burials at his discretion. He divided his sample i nto f our phases, Swasey - Early Preclassic ( at the writing of Truncer's paper; the recent refinement of the Swasey phase i nto Swasey and B laden by Kosakowsky ( 1983, 1 987) and recent reassessment of both Swasey and Bladen by Hammond ( pers. comm.) and Andrews ( 1988) placing both Swasey and B laden in the beginning of the Middle Preclassic had not occurred), Lopez Mamom Middle Preclassic, Cocos Chicanel - Late Preclassic and Nuevo Tzakol - Early C lassic. Within each phase he analyzed the burials according to f ive criteria; location of burial, age, sex, position and bearing of the body, and presence and kinds of offerings. Truncer summarizes the burial patterns at Cuello relating them to Ruz's ( 1965) synthesis of Maya burials as f ollows: He f inds that there i s no predominant orientation of skeletons at Cuello. Thus differing f rom Ruz's f indings that in the Chicanel phase northern orientations predominate and that i n Belize a southern orientation predominates. Thus as Truncer states, this indicates regional or even s ite specific variation of Maya burial practices. Truncer f inds that the seated position predominates ( 44%) i n the Chicanel phase, again conflicting with Ruz who suggests that f lexed burials predominate over extended i n the Chicanel phase but does not even mention seated burials. Also Truncer f inds that the seated position occurs i n burials of a ll ages and s exes and having any range of grave goods which conflicts with Thompson ( 1963) who suggests that f or the Early Classic the seated position i s restricted to wealthy i ndividuals. These f indings may i ndeed not conflict but just may indicate temporal differences in the social and i deological meaning 7

of a particular burial practice. Truncer f inds that s imple graves predominate at Cuello throughout the Preclassic and Early C lassic, again conflicting with Ruz who notices the absence of s imple graves i n the Early C lassic. He a lso concludes that generally there i s n o correlation between grave goods, position and age or sex a nd that the same types of grave goods are available f or a ll ages and sexes from the Preclassic to the Early Classic. This again conflicts with Ruz who states that grave goods prior to the Chicanel phase were scarce, poor or l acking. Though the lack of grave goods noticed by Ruz may i ndicate the l ack of the excavators recording grave goods that were not e laborate ( ie. monochrome pottery predominates i n Preclassic graves whereas polychrome pottery i s often f ound i n Classic graves) not the actual lack of grave goods. But in correlation with Ruz's f indings Truncer discusses the use of grave goods, especially pottery to protect the body of an i ndividual, which Ruz calls a universal burial practice among groups that have attained high culture levels. This practice i s also supported by Pyburn and Kosakowsky's work on the mortuary ceramics ( see above). Truncer locates f our positions where an inverted pot i s used to protect the body; over the skull, shoulders, pelvic area and knees. This i ndicates the importance of looking at not only the number and type of grave goods but a lso the position of the grave good on the body. As many excavators i n the past have not recorded the position of the grave goods on the body this aspect of burial analysis cannot a lways be undertaken ( Ruz, 1 965; Truncer, n. d.). Truncer's paper does not attempt to discuss the social implications of the Cuello burial practices, though he notes the potential use f or burial data i n understanding social structure in his conclusion. Some of Truncer's conclusions are supported by this present study ( Part I I), but others are not. Two f actors make i t difficult to utilize Truncer's work in this present research. First, the present reassignment of all but one of the Swasey phase burials to the B laden phase, or i n some cases from B laden to Ma i nom; second, changes i n age and sex assignment from the preliminary f ield analyses used by Truncer. PREVIOUS

RESEARCH ON PRECLASSIC

LOWLAND MAYA BURIALS

In order to understand completely the mortuary patterns at Cuello it will be necessary not only to study the s ite as an i solated entity but also within i ts regional context. Thus the f ollowing section i s meant as a summary, by no means exhaustive, of previous work on Preclassic burial patterns. It i s l imited to summary of works synthesizing Maya burial customs, of which there are f ive; R icketson ( 1925), Ruz ( 1965, 1 968), Rathje ( 1970) and Welsh ( 1988). It will not i nclude i ndividual s ite burial reports, which vary greatly f rom purely descriptive to analytical a nd comprehensive. It i s unfortunate that previous research greatly lacks any s izeable samples of Preclassic burials, c learly i llustrating the dearth of archaeological i nvestigations in the Preclassic period, as i n the case of Ruz, or i s l imited to only C lassic 8

burials, as i n the case of Rathje. Where Welsh does have a sample of over 1 00 P reclassic burials, he chooses not to differentiate his s ample a long temporal parameters, lumping Preclassic, C lassic a nd Postclassic period burials together because: I t was discovered that grave context was an i mportant f actor i n burial. The type of building s elected f or a burial seems to have depended upon an individual's wealth and status. The type of grave and the number and variety of grave goods a lso depend upon this wealth and status. Correlations c learly demonstrate this. Thus, the type and wealth of graves f ound, depend on the type of buildings excavated. Site excavation s trategy can therefore create a sample error. Consequently, a s imple description of grave type would be meaningless unless correlated with grave context. The s ame would apply to the distribution of grave wealth. But a related consequence i s that correlation with ceramic phase becomes difficult since any distribution can result, not f rom any chronological trend, but from the type of structures that were excavated dating to that period. Therefore, no correlations with ceramic phase were made ( Welsh, 1 988: 5 ). Welsh's point about the importance of grave context i s well taken. To compare the wealth of burials at s ite A where only ceremonial buildings were excavated with site B where only outlying house mounds were excavated without considering grave context does not take a ll possibilities into account. Even within a single s ite grave context as related to site excavation strategy plays an important role i n determining what s egment of the population i s represented by the burial sample, and i f a temporal change i s seen i n burial practices i t cannot a priori be considered to be a temporal change without considering o ther reasons i ncluding excavation bias. C learly i f one sees a temporal change in burial practices indicated by an i ncrease i n the wealth of grave goods, but one a lso notes that a ll the burials from the earlier time period came f rom excavations i n outlying settlement and those from the latter period came from ceremonial buildings within the s ite center, one can conclude that this i s i ndeed not necessarily a temporal change but a function of choice of grave context f or the i nterment of different wealth and status individuals within the s ite. But it certainly does not f ollow that a ll temporal change reflects excavation bias and never reflects t emporal change. Certainly i f one doesn't even attempt to examine burial practices along temporal parameters, a lways i nvestigating a lternate possibilities, one loses a very important component of burial patterns and that i s the relationship between temporal changes in burial patterns and temporal changes i n social structure. Thus unfortunately the temporal i nformation that could be gained from Welsh's study i s not analyzed. As Ruz's study i ndicates, Preclassic burial patterns in some ways differ not 9

only from C lassic ones but between different phases of the Preclassic. This i nformation becomes lost i n Welsh's study as the quantity of C lassic burials by f ar outweighs the Preclassic ones. Thus whether his c onclusions are i n any way valid for the Preclassic i t would be i mpossible to tell without doing a complete reanalysis of his Preclassic burials. Ricketson was the f irst person to synthesize Maya burial patterns and to discuss the correlation between different burial practices and the wealth and status of the i ndividual i nterred. But i n 1 925 archaeological work was very exploratory in nature, and the poor quality of i nformation known on Maya burials at the time precluded any meaningful conclusions about Maya burial practices ( Ricketson, 1 925). The next i ndividual to synthesize Maya burial patterns was Ruz ( 1965, 1 968). Though Ruz acknowledges that excavation techniques were greatly i mproved i n 1 965, he still had to deal with many s imilar problems, non-existent or poor recording of grave goods, context, age and sex etc. Ruz analyzed around 1 000 burials from 6 0 s ites. He divided these sites into f our regional areas; Peten-British Honduras, Copan-Motagua, Usumacinta-Grijalva and Northern Yucatan Peninsula. Within each region he described the burials found at each site, discussing separately and comparing burials f rom different ceramic phases. H is conclusions f or the Preclassic burials of the Peten-British Honduras r egion can be summarized as f ollows: At the s ite of Uaxactun, his l argest sample was 1 09 burials from the Middle Preclassic to the Late C lassic periods. In the Middle Preclassic Mamom phase, a ll the burials ( five only) were adults i n s imple graves. Both f lexed and extended skeletal positions occurred and there was no prevalent head orientation. Grave goods were scarce, poor and l acked pottery. In the Late Preclassic Chicanel phase, the burials ( fifteen) were roughly half adults and half juveniles. Though s imple graves continue, cists a ppear i n the Chicanel phase. Also both f lexed and extended positions occur, but f lexed was more prevalent. There was a definite head orientation to the north. Grave goods i ncluded jade, shell and pottery. I n the Early C lassic T zakol phase, the burials ( twenty-eight) were two thirds adults one third juveniles. Simple graves disappear and cists, graves ( defined by Ruz as l arge coffins constructed of masonry s labs) and f uneral chambers i ncrease. Only males were i nterred i n e laborate f uneral chambers with the exception of two double burials which each contained one female and one baby or f etus. Ruz f inds that a ll secondary burials are e ither f emale or juvenile. The f lexed position i s i ncreasingly prevalent though important burials retain the extended position and a lmost a ll burials have grave goods. Ruz discusses the Holmul I phase ( Late Preclassic or Protoclassic) chultun burials at T zimin Kax and states that, " offerings are l acking or unimportant" ( 1965: 4 47). As these 1 0

burials vessels comments Thompson of grave

were i nterred with a number of early polychrome and shell ornaments ( Welsh, 1 988: 2 53), Ruz's must reflect the l ack of importance placed by on publishing these grave goods rather than the l ack goods.

Ruz describes the state of Maya burial data as not enough and i nadequate in presentation but he still tries to derive some generalizations about Maya burial customs f rom his study. He notes a general tendency that burials were protected by the position of a grave good, i e. pottery, shell or stone, over the skull or pelvic area. Another tendency i n grave good position was that i t was common to place a jade bead in the mouth. This concurs with Landa's observations that jade or corn was placed in the mouth of the deceased i n order in ensure s afe passage into the underworld ( Tozzer, 1 941). Ruz notes a l arge number of secondary burials in his s ample and suggests that sacrificial victims were i nterred with high ranking i ndividuals to help them i n the afterlife, or that sacrifices were made at important Maya political and religious ceremonies. The overall P eten-British Honduras burial pattern in the Preclassic i s of only s imple graves in the Middle Preclassic, still predominating in the Late Preclassic when more e laborate types begin to occur. These e laborate types only come to predominate in the C lassic. Burials of the Preclassic periods predominantly l ack, or only have sparse grave goods. No predominant position or orientation i s used. Stricter constraints on position, orientation and type of burial found i n different contexts generally begin in the Early Classic; Peten burials are predominantly oriented north ( beginning in the Late Preclassic at Uaxactun) and to the s outh in British Honduras. Many of Ruz's conclusions on the lack of orientation or position in the Preclassic versus the Classic may only be due to the small s ize of his Preclassic burial sample: further testing with l arger samples will decide this point. His conclusion that Preclassic period burials are lacking i n or have sparse grave goods may i ndeed reflect the lack of recording of less e laborate grave goods, not a lack of them. Certainly Ruz's work i s helpful in setting up hypotheses that can be tested by l arger samples of Preclassic burials; i ts main l imitation i s that i t i s descriptive i n nature but not analytical. In 1 970, i n contrast to Ruz's historically based, s ite specific, descriptive discussion of Maya burial customs, a hypothesis-testing statistical analysis of C lassic Maya burial data was devised by Rathje ( 1970). His hypothesis, based primarily on a consideration of archaeological data from ceremonial center excavations at Uaxactun i n the Peten and house platform excavations at Barton Ramie in Belize was this; a system of achieved socio1 1

political wealth and status indicated by socio-politico mobility between rural and urban z ones existed in the Early Period ( pre 7 00 AD at Barton Ramie and pre 6 00 AD at Uaxactun) and ended in the Late P eriod when a system of restricted hereditary rule was established. Rathje tested this hypothesis against over 1 000 burials from 1 2 s ites. His data i ndicates that i n the Early Period there was a lack of mature adults ( 44%) buried in house mounds at Barton Ramie and that young adults had the greatest amount of wealth i n terms of grave goods. In the Late P eriod, i n house mounds, burials of mature adults increase to 5 9% and they hold more wealth in terms of grave goods than those of young adults. In the ceremonial center at Uaxactun in the Early Period mature adults have the most wealth. Rathje suggests that an explanation f or this pattern may be that in the Early Period individuals from rural areas who died as young adults i n the process of accumulating wealth were i nterred in their house platforms. Those who l ived to be mature adults and had accumulated enough wealth to attain administrative power moved to the ceremonial centers and subsequently died and were buried there. In the Late Period political mobility between rural and urban areas ended. Political power was based on a system of hereditary rule, thus mature adults were f ound i n l arge numbers in house mounds. Grave goods of status ( ie. polychrome pottery, j ade, etc.) are more restricted to ceremonial centers i n the Late Period, thus house mounds have more such i tems i n the Early Period and less such i n the Late Period. Rathje supports his hypotheses through chi-squared s ignificance tests of his burial data but a recent reanalysis by Welsh ( 1988) has cast doubt on both Rathje's model and his analysis. Welsh gives the actual numbers, not just the percentages f or the relationship of mature adults to other age groups, as Rathje ( 1970) does. In the Early Period, out of 3 6 burials 1 6 were mature adults. Considering the f act that the Early Period sample i s small ( admittedly only small burial samples exist and archaeologists are obliged to work with them) and half the s ize of the Late Period sample, i t i s quite l ikely that Rathje's i ncrease, a s i t i s not very l arge, could be accounted for by s ample s ize. Welsh a lso indicates, again supporting his percentages with actual numbers, that in the Early Period at Barton Ramie young adults have f ewer grave goods than mature adults. Also he states that the richest individual from the Late Period was a young adult, not a mature adult. In this l ight Rathje does not seem to have much evidence to support his model ( Welsh, 1 988: 1 545 ) . As Welsh himself notes, the discrepancies between his and Rathje's studies may be due to differing statistical c lassifications. But his work certainly i ndicates that Rathje's c lassification system, not h is data set, may have supported his hypothesis. Though statistical

the above objection may amount number game, Welsh convincingly 1 2

solely to a refutes the

legitimacy of Rathje's hypothesis based on archaeological and i conographic data. Palaces, Rathje's residences of the hereditary based e lites, do not, as Rathje states, begin i n the Late Period, as palaces dating from the preclassic have been f ound at E l Mirador ( Matheny, 1 987; Welsh, 1 988). Iconographic work by Schele and Miller ( 1986) and analysis of Maya human sacrifice by Schele ( 1984) indicate that "the f orms, symbols and r ituals of Maya kingship had developed throughout the lowlands by the Late Preclassic" ( Welsh, 1 988: 1 56). Also Welsh's own study of C lassic Maya burials bears out ( see below) the thesis that hereditary rule was an ancient system of Maya social structure, not a development of the Late C lassic Period. Finally, Welsh discusses the f act that from the ethnographic study of the Quiche Maya the system of rotational l eadership, which Rathje postulates f or the Early Period, was only developed in the colonial era after the Quiche Maya could no longer support hereditary rule ( Welsh, 1 988). This i s yet another example that statistical tests test only the validity of the correlations between numbers, but they cannot test the validity of the categorization of those numbers. The most recent synthesis of Maya burials i s by Welsh ( 1988), who examined 1 170 graves from 1 6 s ites. Most of his data came from the Classic period but 8 of his sites contained some Preclassic burials. The major drawback to this research, i ts lack of chronological definition, has a lready been noted. Welsh carefully i nterweaves his analysis of burial practices with ethnographic and recent i conographic research on Maya human s acrifice and ancestor worship, making hypotheses about Maya social structure supported by recent research i n these areas. His analysis in the areas of the nature and types of human sacrifice and the contextual l ocation of graves indicate a tradition of human sacrifice and ancestor worship on both the f amily and ruler levels of Maya society beginning in the Preclassic, originating f rom a system of hereditary e lites. Though Welsh's analysis produces 2 0 "Pan Maya" burial customs, very f ew are chronologically defined and many of those that are, are obvious. Those that might have bearing on suggesting hypotheses f or the Preclassic burials at Cuello are as f ollows: 2 )

Intramural

inhumations are the norm

4 )

The wealthiest burials were located i n temples, ceremonial platforms or household shrines

6 )

More complex grave types, crypts and tombs are correlated with temples, household shrines and ceremonial platforms and a lso with wealthier grave goods 1 3

7 )

Primary

8-11)

single

interments were most prevalent

Human sacrifice forms:

can

be

divided

into

four

A )

Multiple primary burials of a mother and child or adult(s) and child(ren)

B )

Multiple burials, with one or more secondary interments whose sacrificial nature i s indicated by their lack of grave goods

C )

Adult or juvenile skull burials located by temple altars or stelae of temples

D )

Sacrifice by severe mutilation found plazas and ceremonial platforms

in

1 2)

Skull removal may not indicate sacrifice ancestor skull worship as some burials without skulls have many grave goods

1 3)

The use of a bowl common practice

1 5)

Eight examples from 5 sites shell over their skulls

1 6)

There i s a preferred skeletal position at most sites. Skeletal position correlates with grave type and dimension at 7 of the 1 6 sites, with f lexed in simple and small cist graves and extended in larger crypts and tombs

1 7)

All sites except Altun Ha have one predominant orientation

1 8)

Grave goods are generally the Maya lowlands

1 9)

Clay f igurine whistles are usually found with children. Frequently jade beads were placed in the mouth or the bones were painted red

2 0)

Male and Female burials are comparably furnished. Adults are only minimally better furnished than children ( Welsh, 1 988: 215-7).

to

protect

the

had

skull

burials

uniform

but

i s

a

with

throughout

Whether these "Pan Maya" customs are just "Pan Classic Maya" customs because Welsh's sample i s mostly Classic or also "Pan Preclassic Maya" customs can' t be estimated without reanalyzing his Preclassic data. For instance, Welsh states that south i s the predominant orientation in temple contexts at Altun Ha and east i s the predominant orientation in residences ( Welsh, 1 988: 2 18, 2 88-290). Looking at the 1 4

Preclassic s ample f rom Altun Ha, a ll f rom ceremonial platform Structure C -13, 1 9 o f a sample of 5 8 have known orientations, which are: 3 -east, 6 -southeast, 2-south, 3 -west, 3 -northwest and 2-north; thus s uggesting that no predominant orientation i n the Preclassic a t Altun Ha exists, and supporting Ruz's conjectures. Again, this may only result from small sample s ize. Based on this review of previous syntheses of Maya burial studies, e leven hypotheses are suggested below to be considered i n the a nalysis of the Cuello data in Part I I of this report. 1 )

The wealthiest location

burials

2 )

Simple graves Preclassic

3 )

More complex grave types are associated with wealthier grave goods ( and context i f one i s true)

4 )

Skeletal position i s type ( and wealth and are correct)

5 )

There i s a predominant orientation ( azimuth)

6 )

Grave goods are uniform

7 )

Grave goods f ollow particular rules of placement/protection on the body, j e.,

are

most

a )

protecting the

b )

jade bead

C )

red paint on bones

are

restricted

common

i n

correlated context i f

skull

in

the

with grave one and two

skeletal

position

and

or pelvis

in mouth

8

Male adults, f emale adults and juveniles are comparably f urnished with grave goods. Only c lay f igure whistles have a specific age/sex a ssociation with juveniles

9 )

S ingle primary

1 0)

Skeletal

i nhumations

mutilations

are most prevalent

implying

both

human

s acrifice and ancestor worship are common 1 1)

A system of hereditary burial c ustoms

1 5

rule

i s

implied

i n

CHAPTER 2 DEFINITION OF TERMS AND METHOD OF ANALYSIS THE

CUELLO SAMPLE

Of the 1 42 individuals excavated at Cuello, 1 4 individuals ( burials 1 29-142, Appendix A ) will be excluded from this analysis. These 1 4 individuals were all excavated in 1 980 as part of a settlement sampling program ( Hammond, 1 980). This program entailed determining randomly selected units for test excavations from a one square kilometer area around Platform 3 4. The 1 4 settlement burials are not included in this analysis for two main reasons. First, they lack the chronological definition of the burials from Platform 3 4. In many cases a more precise date than "Classic" ot "Late Preclassic / Early Classic" could not be obtained for these burials. None of the settlement burials are definitely attributed to the Preclassic period, and this study focuses on the Preclassic burial practices and correlative social structure at Cuello. Secondly, and more important, in the majority of cases only part of the grave and skeletal materials was within the l imits of the test pit. Thus for many position and azimuth i s unknown, the total number and type of grave goods cannot be determined, and for the most part aging and sexing was uncertain because little of the skeletal remains were recovered. It was decided that inclusion of these burials would not aid in the analysis. Two other f eatures are l isted in Appendix A . Burial 1 43 i s considered a possible human grave a lthough only a small part of the probable grave cut lay within the limits of the Platform 3 4 excavation. The cut strongly resembled that of a grave, but as so l ittle of it was excavated and no skeletal remains were recovered, we can only l ist burial 1 43 as a possible human interment of the Late Preclassic. Burial 1 44 appeared to be a typical cist grave located in a Cocos Chicanel house platform, but excavation revealed no skeletal remains or staining from totally decayed skeletal remains: only small and medium sized stones were found. 31 "empty graves" have been found at Dzibilchaltun in crypt type graves in residences and vaulted residences during the Late Classic to Postclassic, Copo 1 ( 600-800 AD) to Zipche 2 ( 1100-1200 AD). These empty graves were sometimes completely devoid of artefacts but more often contained a number of artifacts ranging from simple ceramics to jade and shell ornaments. Andrews and Andrews seem to suggest that in most cases, no foul play was involved in these empty burials, and that the skeletal material originally occupying these graves was too decayed to be recognized upon excavation ( Andrews and Andrews, 1 980). One other empty grave has been found at Mountain Cow in an eastern household shrine on Plaza XII at Tzimin Kax ( Thompson, 1 931; Welsh, 1 988). The grave type is unspecified and no artifacts were included. Welsh suggests that possibly these empty graves were never f illed or robbed ( Welsh, 1 988: 3 6). But this, of course, cannot be 1 6

ascertained CERAMIC

from the archaeological

record.

PHASE

Analysis of the Cuello burials by ceramic phase will be completed in order to compare and contrast similarities and differences of burial practices and their underlying social implications through time. The Cuello burials are representative of four ceramic phases: 1 )

( Swasey) /Bladen

Mamom

- Early Middle 900-600 BC

- Late Middle 600-300 BC

Preclassic,

2 )

Lopez

Preclassic,

3 )

Cocos Chicanel - Late Preclassic,

4 )

Nuevo Tzakol

- Early Classic,

3 00 BC-250 AD

250-600 AD

At this point a comment about the Swasey/Bladen phases is necessary as they have been the focus of much debate since initial definition of the Swasey phase was published ( Hammond, 1 977; Hammond et al, 1 979). During the 1 975/76 Corozal Project an unknown ceramic complex situated stratigraphically below the Lopez Mamom phase was discovered at Cuello. These pre-Lopez Mamom ceramics were named Swasey. Swasey complex ceramics were first systematically analyzed by Duncan Pring in his Ph. D. dissertation ( 1977). An initial series of radiocarbon samples, collected in the 1 975 f ield season, were run at both the UCLA and Cambridge University radiocarbon dating l aboratories. Six acceptable dates for the Swasey phase roughly ranged from 2 ,000-1,000 bc or 2 ,6001 ,250 BC ( Hammond et al., 1 976). This indicated that the Swasey phase was the f irst known evidence of an Early Preclassic ceramic using Maya group in the lowlands. This Early Preclassic Swasey phase of over 1 ,000 years was very controversial, both for its length and apparent unchanging nature, and for the typology and elaboration of the pottery ( cf. Coe, 1 980: 3 4-35). In 1 983 Laura Kosakowsky's analysis of the Cuello ceramics subdivided the Swasey phase pottery into two distinct ceramic phases. The new phase which comprised the latter part of the original Swasey phase was called Bladen ( Kosakowsky, 1 983, 1 987). A recent reassessment of the Swasey phase by Andrews ( 1988) combined with a stratigraphic reassessment by Hammond ( pers. comm.) and Kosakowsky's work now clearly i llustrates the similarities between Bladen, Bolay ( Colha) and Xe ( Peten) ceramics. A Early Middle Preclassic date of 900-600 BC for Bladen ceramics i s now supported by Andrews', Hammond's and Kosakowsky's reassessment. Five Swasey/Bladen radiocarbon dates from the 1 979 f ield season, run at the La Jolla and Cambridge University laboratories, indicated dates of 7 93 to 408 BC ( Andrews, 1 988; Linick, 1 984).

1 7

One question remains debated today. Andrews sees little difference between Swasey and B laden ceramic complexes and places both in the Early Middle Preclassic with approximate dates of 800-500 BC ( Andrews, 1 988). Hammond suggests a s lightly earlier date of circa 1 100 BC for the beginning of the Swasey phase based in part on a Swasey obsidian hydration date of 1 127 BC and the stratigraphic location of Swasey below B laden complex ceramic levels at Cuello ( pers. comm.). Only one burial from Cuello possibly dates to the Swasey phase ( burial 6 2, Appendix A ); thus the precise beginning date for the Swasey phase i s not really relevant here. Burial 6 2 contains no pottery vessels and thus is placed in the Swasey phase only because of its stratigraphic position, which i s itself somewhat ambiguous ( see Chapter 3 ). A collagen sample from this burial ( OxA-619) produced a calibrated date of 7 81-405 BC ( uncalibrated 2 460 + 80 bp or 5 10 + 80 bc) ( Hammond, pers. comm.). This date indicates that burial 6 2 could fall into the range of 900-600 BC, though the Oxford laboratory suggested that its date may be too late because of low collagen in the sample. In the present research this one possible Swasey burial will be included with the Bladen phase burials as part of the Early Middle Preclassic ( as above). One other accelerator date on Lopez Mamom burial 5 ( OxA3 62) produced a calibrated date of 7 60-390 BC ( uncalibrated 2 390 + 9 0 bp or 4 40 + 90 bc) ( Hammond, pers. comm.), within the conventional range for Lopez Mamom listed above. SEX AND AGE Within each ceramic phase individuals' sex and age has been determined through independent assessment by both Frank and Julie Saul following traditional methods of skeletal analysis ( Saul, 1 976; Saul and Saul, pers. comm.; also in prep.). The reader unfamiliar with techniques of skeletal analysis, as suggested by Frank Saul, is referred to the f ollowing texts; "Hooton ( 1946), Krogman ( 1962), Brothwell ( 1963, 1 965), J . E . Anderson ( 1962) and McKern and Stewart ( 1957)" ( Saul, 1 972: 3 4). Abbreviations are used for age and sex data, as defined by Frank and Julie Saul, throughout the tables and appendices of this text. Adult individuals can potentially be sexed. Thus all adult i ndividuals will by described by " sex / age". Five categories of sex exist; M

- Male

M?

- Possibly male

F

- Female

F ?

- Possibly

f emale 1 8

- Unknown The age of an OA

adult

i ndividual

- Old Adult,

categorized as

f ollows;

5 5 years +

M-OA - Middle/Old Adult, MA

i s

- Middle Adult,

3 5

4 5 - 5 4

Y-MA - Young/Middle Adult,

years

3 0

YA

- Young Adult,

A

- Adult of uncertain age,

Thus a male middle adult

2 0

- 5 5 years

- 4 0 years

- 3 4 years 2 0 years +

i s abbreviated as

"M/MA".

Two of the Cuello individuals are adolescents, age 1 51 9. One i s a male ( burial 6 7, Appendix A ) and one i s of unknown sex ( burial 2 7, Appendix A ). In summary data tables ( e. g. Table 1 8, Chapter 6 ) these adolescent burials will be included with the Adult burials due to the small sample s ize, but in non-summary tables ( e. g. Table 1 7, Chapter 6 ) they will be recorded separately. Juvenile i ndividuals cannot presently be sexed, though possible techniques f or sexing juveniles are being explored ( Saul and Saul, 1 976). Juvenile i ndividuals are divided into three age ranges and obviously have no sex prefix. The three juvenile age categories are; Birth-4 years, 5 -9 years and 1 01 4 years. In a few c ases the Sauls have been able to age individuals more precisely than the categories l isted above ( e.g. burial 1 27 i s aged 1 .5 to 2 .5 years, see Appendix A ). For the purposes of analysis these burials will be placed in the category l isted above to which they belong ( e. g. burial 1 27 will be included with the other juveniles aged Birth-4). In two cases the age of an individual crosses over two categories; burial 6 7 i s aged 1 5 to 2 0 years and burial 9 1 i s aged 1 8 to 2 5 years. For the purposes of analysis these burials will be p laced in the category l isted above i n which the majority of their age range falls; burial 6 7 will be i ncluded with other adolescents aged 1 5 to 1 9 and burial 9 1 will be i ncluded with young adults ( 20-35 years). GRAVE

CONTEXT

The burials were i nterred in every architectural structure type r epresented at Cuello. A complete analysis of Cuello architecture was performed by Juliette Gerhardt ( 1985, 1 988). According to Gerhardt the structures at Cuello f all into f our f unctional types; house platforms, ancillary platforms, ceremonial platforms and unknown-function platforms. Structures were categorized i nto these f our 1 9

groups

on the

f ollowing criteria:

House P latforms f ollowing f eatures:

some

combination

of one meter or less

of

the

1 )

P latforms

i n height

2 )

Evidence of a superstructure approximating the plan of i ts supporting platform

3 )

Associations

4 )

P its

5 )

Primary f loor

of utilitarian artefacts

or s imple graves l ocation

f acing

onto

the

patio/plaza

House platforms vary from apsidal to circular and rectangular i n plan, 5 .30m by 5 .90m to 7 .60m by 1 1.45m i n area and 0 .10m to 1 .00m i n height. Ancillary f ollowing

P latforms f eatures:

-

some

combination

of

the

1 )

Located in the corners of the f loor between house platforms

2 )

Located set platform

3 )

Built i n the same manner as house platforms, only generally smaller and l ower; where dimensions overlap between the two types location was the overriding f actor

back

from

or

patio/plaza

l inked

to

s house

Ancillary platforms vary f rom circular to oval i n plan, 3 .40m by 4 .00m to 5 .80m to 9 .60m in area and 0 .10m to 0 .60m in height. Ceremonial P latforms following f eatures:

-

some

1 )

Greater than

2 )

Located f loor

3 )

Associated with an e laborate burial

4 )

Pyramidal

i n

one meter

combination

the

center

of

the

in height of

the patio/plaza

or cache

substructures

Three of the ceremonial structures at Cuello were pyramids. Two were platforms l ocated i n the center of the patio/plaza f loor which Gerhardt suggests may be oratories. The remaining ceremonial platform l ocated on the west side of the plaza, may originally had a r esidential use, but a great i ncrease i n i ts s ize and subsequent superposition by 2 0

the three pyramids suggests i t had a ceremonial use at least in the later part of i ts use. Three structures where very l ittle was exposed evidence was too fragmentary were c lassified by Gerhardt " Unknown P latforms" ( Gerhardt, 1 985: 2 05 - 2 09; 1 988).

or as

It i s unfortunate that Gerhardt's architectural study uses burials, as many Maya architectural studies do, as a f actor in her structural typology. But it i s important to note that the inclusion of a burial was never the only or deciding f actor i n c lassifying a structure and a ll four structural types contain burials. Burials are a lso f ound in ( Swasey)/Bladen patio f loors, the Cocos Chicanel phase plaza f loors and i n Early Cocos Chicanel north platform associated occupation surface/fill layers. GRAVE TYPE Welsh notes that a problem exists i n Maya grave typologies i n that every site and excavator utilizes s lightly differing grave typologies. Also many typologies confuse the definition of a burial, i e. all the contents of a grave, and the grave i tself. A grave typology should based only on the morphological characteristics of the grave ( Welsh, 1 988). It certainly would be advantageous i f Maya archaeologists would use one c lassification scheme of grave types. Consequently the comprehensive grave typology created by Welsh will be used here. Welsh defined six grave types; simple, chultun, c ist, crypt, tomb and unclassified or unknown. Three of these types, s imple, cist and crypt, occur at Cuello. They are defined by Welsh as follows ( not a ll of Welsh's varieties occur at Cuello so only those that do are l isted below ): Type

I )

S imple:

Interment i n an unlined hole or pit apparent cut

or without an

Varieties: 1 )

s imple

2 )

pit

Type

- without

apparent grave cut

- unlined hole

I II)

or pit

Cist:

Part or completely stone l ined, capped or f loored, but never a ll. Use of stone differentiates cists from s imple graves and incompleteness differentiates them from crypts. Varieties: 2 1

1 )

haphazard cist - randomly but intentionally piled or placed stones 2 ) partial c ist - piled or p laced stones only partially l ining, covering or below the skeleton 3 )

head cist - stone or plaster only around the skull

4 )

capped pit - part or completely covered with capstones, may or may not have some l ining

5 )

uncapped cist - part or with stones, no capping

Type

IV)

l ining placed

completely

stone

l ined

Crypt:

Completely or mostly l ined,

a lways capped

Varieties: 1 )

s imple crypt - completely or mostly l ined with vertically placed stones, with capstones ( Welsh, 1 988: 1 6-18).

There i s one variety of grave f ound at Cuello not distinguished by Welsh. It i s not a stone grave but i s l ined and capped with plaster, often painted red. A new variety called " plaster crypt" would f it neatly i nto Welsh's scheme. The use of plaster both l ining and capping the grave has the same protective and separative function as a stone l ining and capping. Likewise, a " plaster crypt" can be differentiated from a cist in that it i s both l ined and capped, and from a s imple grave in that plaster i s used to protect and separate what i s inside the grave from what i s outside the grave. Thus in the same manner stone crypts and plaster crypts are differentiated from simple and cist type graves. SKELETAL POSITION AND AZIMUTH The bodies within a grave can be placed in several types of position. Seven skeletal positions are represented at Cuello: 1 )

Extended - skeleton lying parallel to the base of the grave with torso through f eet i n an extended position

Varieties: a )

Supine

- lying on back or

b )

Prone

C )

On Left S ide

- lying on

f ace up

stomach or f ace down

2 2

d )

On Right S ide

2 )

F lexed - torso of skeleton l ies parallel to the base of the grave, the legs are f lexed

Varieties: 3 )

s ame as

f or extended burials

Seated - torso of skeleton i s approximately perpendicular to the base of the grave

Varieties: a )

F lexed

b )

Crossed

C )

Kneeling

4 )

Semi-reclining - torso of skeleton i s approximately at a 4 5 angle to the base the grave

Varieties:

- with

l egs

same as a and b

f lexed up near torso

f or

seated

burials,

of

varieties

5 )

Unknown - the skeleton was originally placed i n the grave i n one of the above known positions but this can't be determined now due to the fragmentary and decayed nature of the skeletal remains

6 )

Skull - only the skull of the was ever p laced i n the grave

7 )

D isarticulated - the skeleton upon original placement i n the grave was so severely disarticulated i t was never i ntended to retain a position resembling that of the human body

i ndividual

I t i s important not to confuse mode of burial, i e. primary or secondary i nterment, with skeletal position. Of course a skull a lone or skeleton whose position i s disarticulated can only be a secondary i nterment. A skeleton whose position i s extended, f lexed, seated, semi-reclining or unknown may e ither be primary or secondary. But the mode of burial i s not an i ssue in determining skeletal position. Many categorizations of skeletal position would omit types s ix and seven and p lace these two types i n the unknown category. But i t i s very important to differentiate between those burials which were originally placed i n the grave i n a specific position r esembling the complete human f orm, but that this position cannot be determined now due to poor preservation, and those burials, types six and seven, whose original i ntentional position i n the grave never resembled that of the complete human f orm.

2 3

Many different terms are used to mean the direction a skeleton i s either f acing, i n the case of seated and semireclining burials or oriented i n the case of extended and f lexed burials. In the f ollowing analysis the word " azimuth" meaning the horizontal direction of a skeleton as expressed by the angular distance i n degrees between a f ixed point, true north, and the head or upper body ( where the head was decapitated) of the skeleton. The a zimuth of each skeleton, whenever observable, was recorded i n the f ield by measuring the direction of a l ine running f rom f eet ( extended positions) or the pelvis ( flexed positions) to the head or postulated head area where there was no skull, or by measuring the direction the torso was f acing f or seated and semi-reclining positions, using a compass. Burials were f ound with many a zimuths at Cuello: one must simplify the specific degree measurement into broader orientations. Then the question arises of how many directions the Maya recognized. Ethnographic sources i ndicate that the Maya held both the cardinal and i ntercardinal directions as being important organizational f actors i n the universe.

i s

From the Popul Vuh we are told that the divided i nto f our angles and f our corners:

earth

and

sky

Great were the descriptions and the accounts of how a ll the sky and earth were f ormed, how i t was f ormed and divided i nto f our parts; how i t was partitioned, and how the sky was divided; and the measuring-cord was brought, and i t was stretched in the sky and over the earth, on the f our angles, on the f our corners, as was told by the Creator and the Maker, the Mother and the Father of Life... ( Tedlock, 1 985: 8 0; L eon-Portilla, 1 973: 1 23). But what are quadrants?

the

directions

of

these

f our

angles

and

It was the custom i n a ll towns i n Yucatan that there should be two heaps of stone, f acing each other at the entrance of the town, an a ll f our s ides of the town, that i s to say, at the East, West, North and South... ( Tozzer, 1 941: 1 39; Leon-Portilla, 1 973: 1 24). Others i ndicated that i t was not the cardinal directions but the i ntercardinal ones that the Maya held as important: The Maya spatial orientation of the f our corners of their universe i s not based upon our cardinal directions of north, south, east and west, but probably to e ither our i ntercardinal points ( northeast, northwest, southwest, southeast), or toward two directions i n the e ast and two i n the west, that i s to say, sunrise at winter and summer solstices, and sunset at the s ame two solstices ( Vogt, 1 964: 3 90; Leon-Portilla,1973: 1 30). 2 4

Archaeological evidence f rom Maya s ite planning i ndicates the i mportance of both cardinal and i ntercardinal directions. The Cuello burials occur i n every direction and do not c luster around either cardinal or intercardinal points. Consequently i t i s valid to s implify the varying specific degree measurements of the a zimuth of the Cuello burials into e ight directions; north, 3 37.5 ° to 2 2.5 ° , northeast, 2 2.5 ° to 6 7.5 ° , east, 6 7.5 ° to 1 12.5 ° , southeast, 1 12.5 ° to 1 57.5 ° , south, 1 57.5 ° to 2 12.5 ° , southwest, 212.5 ° to 2 57.5 ° , west, 2 57.5 ° to 2 92.5 ° and northwest, 2 92.5 ° to 3 37.5 ° . Often the head of the skeleton was turned to f ace a specific direction. This measurement will be called "head f acing". In most cases the skeleton was too decayed to actually measure the direction the head was f acing, but when possible i t-was recorded. The general directions the head may be f acing are the same as above f or a zimuth, but in addition, a head may f ace up or down. GRAVE GOODS The grave goods at Cuello have been divided into ten types based on the material f rom which i t was made; ceramic, bone, jade, greenstone, shell, obsidian, chert, ground stone, ? mica ( or nacre) and red ocher. Within each material category where variation i n ornament types, decoration, or utilitarian versus r itual use exists the category was further delineated. Ceramic objects are by f ar the most common artifacts associated with the Cuello burials, the majority of which are l ocally made monochrome pottery utilitarian vessels. Functional types i ncluding bowls, l arge buckets, dishes, plates, o llas and " chocolate pots" are represented in the burial assemblage. Pottery i s either placed whole or almost whole i n the grave with the body or i t was ritually smashed above the body. Some vessels are decorated with various incised l ine decorations, a glyph band ( one example, Nuevo Tzakol burial 6 7), or a modeled humanoid f ace ( one example, B laden burial 3 ). A miniature jar i s associated with B laden burial 1 . One dichrome Quamina Group, Unamed variety bowl i s associated with B laden burial 1 23. Polychrome ceramics are f ound associated with Classic settlement burials ( see Appendix A ), but none were associated with burials included i n the present analysis. Aside from pottery, occasional ceramic artifacts, r ings and a ceramic bird ocarina, are f ound i n the burial a ssemblages. Thus three types of ceramic objects have been defined; vessels, r ings and ocarinas. Two types of deer bone objects are f ound; bone hooked tools and bone tubes. The f unction of the bone hooked tools i s unknown but i t i s speculated that they were used i n basketry or netting. The second category, bone tubes are similar to " tubular bone objects" f ound at Barton Ramie ( Willey, 1 965). At both Cuello and Barton Ramie they are associated with burials and both have a glossy surface from 9

handling. The Cuello " tubular bone objects" are a ll decorated. F ive have s imple pop designs, one i s decorated with a serpent f orm and another with squared-off scroll/rain cloud motifs ( burials 5 0 and 5 1, Appendix A ). These objects greatly resemble f an handles i llustrated i n the Dresden Codex ( Thompson, 1 954; Truncer, n . d.). They are s aid in the Katun prophecies to be symbols of rulers. Some had serpent ( a symbol for the heavens) decoration ( Rays, 1 933; Truncer, n . d.). The r itual motif, surface g loss and shape of the " tubular bone objects" at Cuello i ndicates their use as f an handles and possibly as r itual/ religious symbols f or Cuello rulers. Jade, the substance of greatest value to the ancient Maya, has been f ound at Cuello s ince the end of the Early Middle Preclassic and documents the existence of long distance trade beginning at least that early. Most of the jade at Cuello i s the typical green colored Maya jade, the nearest source of which i s 3 50 kilometers away from Cuello in the Motagua valley of the Guatemalan highlands ( Hammond et a l, 1 977). Two types of jade objects f ound at Cuello are beads and pendants/ornaments. There i s one jade spangle pendant ( burial 1 14, Appendix A ) which i s made of a blue colored jade, resembling blue jade spangle pendants f rom the Olmec s ite of La yenta. The source of this blue jade i s unknown but this pendant quite possibly originates f rom 6 00 kilometers to the west of Cuello on the Gulf Coast/Isthmus of Tehuantepec region ( Hammond, 1 980). The term " greenstone" i s generally used to i ncorporate the l arger category of green colored stones of which jade i s one. Here " greenstone" will only be used f or non-jade green stones which of course are not as valuable as jade but have the same color. Non-jade greenstone i s a lso a long distance trade i tem, the nearest possible s ources of which are the Maya Mountains 1 50 kilometers away and a lso the Guatemalan Highlands ( Hammond, pers. comm.). Two types of greenstone objects found i n the Cuello burial a ssemblage are beads and axes. Marine shell can be obtained l ocally from the Caribbean, 5 0 kilometers to the east of Cuello ( Hammond et a l., 1 979). F ive types of shell objects are f ound associated with burials: rings, beads ( lone, not part of a necklace etc.), pendants/ornaments, bracelets/necklaces and unprovenienced groups of beads ( usually f ound in f lotation or with s everely disarticulated skeletons; thus i t was i mpossible to tell i f the beads comprised one or more necklaces etc.). Obsidian, a l ong distance trade i tem, has been f ound at Cuello from the Early Middle Preclassic, but does not appear in the mortuary assemblage until the Late Middle Preclassic. The source f or the early obsidian i s San Martin Jilotepeque to the southwest i n the Guatemalan highlands some 2 75 kilometers away. Prepared utilitarian obsidian blades are f ound i n burial contexts. No examples of obsidian l ancets which are associated with r itual bloodletting ( Schele, 1 984) 2 6

were a ssociated with the burials. The chert artefacts at Cuello come from one of two r egional sources, e ither Richmond Hill, seven kilometers away, or Colha, twenty-seven kilometers away ( Hammond, 1 977; Hammond et a l., 1 979), as well as i n the immediate locality. One chert artefact i s a tabular chert block ( burial 1 , Appendix A ). This i s the only example of chert i n its raw f orm associated with a burial. All the other chert artefacts are prepared tools, j e. blades, daggers or points. There will be only one category of chert artefacts, including both r aw material blocks and prepared tools, s ince there i s a low f requency of chert a s a grave good. Ground stone artefacts of pink-hued sandstone and quartzite are l ong distance trade i tems procured from the Maya Mountains about 1 50 kilometers south of Cuello ( Hammond, 1 977). Functional types of ground stone included in the burial assemblage are manos and metates and celts. Again there will only be one category of ground stone artefacts because of the low f requency of ground stone as a grave good. One piece of ? mica ( or nacre) was f ound with a shell pendant f rom Cocos Chicanel burial 6 8 ( Appendix A ). Mica certainly does not originate from the Maya lowlands. The nearest source i s most l ikely the Maya Mountains as mica i s one constituent of granite ( Hammond, pers. comm.). Red ocher can be obtained locally from hematite nodules i n l imestone, and a lso from the Guatemalan Highlands. It i s f ound both painted on bones and i n prepared rolls associated with skeletons. The color red i s associated with the east, the location of the r ising sun It i s suggested by Ruz that the use of red ocher i n burials may have been a symbol f or resurrection ( Ruz, 1 965). In addition to analyzing the specific types of grave goods, the total number of grave goods per i ndividual as an i ndication of total i ndividual wealth and status in terms of grave goods will be analyzed. It certainly must be questioned whether the total number of grave goods i s a good i ndication of i ndividual wealth as different types of grave goods definitely have different wealth values. But, as Welsh ( 1988) a lso states, to put a subjective value judgement on a particular grave good would only i ntroduce an unmeasurable bias i nto the analysis as one certainly can' t determine the rank importance o f grave goods used by the Maya. One possible way to weigh grave good scores would be to weigh l ong distance trade i tems as being more valuable than local ones. This assumes that the value of a good can be correlated with d ifficulty i n obtaining that good. But in the case of the Maya not only are luxury i tems, such as jade, l ong distance trade i tems, but so are everyday utilitarian i tems such as manos and metates. Consequently, i t would be i mpossible to create a wealth ranking of grave goods without i ntroducing bias. I t i s a lso often the case at Cuello that those i ndividuals with the l argest number of grave goods are 2 7

also those i ndividuals with the most long distance trade items or elaborate local i tems which one might want to weigh as more valuable goods ( see Part I I). Thus, admitting that it certainly i s not a perfect test but the only possible way without introducing unknown bias, total i ndividual wealth as indicated by the total number of grave goods will be examined. Finally, the position of grave goods on the body will be analyzed. As Ruz ( 1965) suggests, certain correlations between protection and placement of grave goods exist. Grave goods were not randomly distributed i n the grave but, placed in a meaningful way on and around the body. CRANIAL SHAPING AND DENTAL DECORATION The present day categorizations of cranial shaping as described by Saul ( 1972) and Comas ( 1960) are derived from an initial study by Imbelloni and Dembo ( 1938). Cranial shaping can be divided into two types, tabular and orbicular. Tabular shaping i s obtained through fronto-occipital pressure between boards and orbicular shaping i s obtained by pressure from bandages or elastic bands placed circularly around the head. Only tabular shaping has been f ound among the ancient Maya. Tabular ( and a lso orbicular) shaping can be d ivided into two varieties, erect and oblique. Tabular erect shaping i s produced through pressure by boards on the upper squamous part of the occipital ( Fig. 4 , below ). Tabular oblique shaping i s produced through pressure by boards overall on the occipital ( Fig. 5 , below ).

F IGURE 4 : Tabular Erect F IGURE 5 : Tabular Oblique Both Figures 4 and 5 are mid-sagittal diagrams of Tabular type cranial shaping. ( Reproduced f rom Comas, 1 960: 3 92-3, originally reproduced from Imbelloni and Dembo, 1 938) Both Tabular erect and oblique cranial shaping are intentional shaping. But not a ll cranial shaping i s definitely intentionally produced, as these two are. Lambdoidal f lattening could be caused by the use of a 2 8

cradleboard. Frontal f lattening or tumpline f lattening ( as i ts name suggests) c ould be caused by using a tumpline or s imilar apparatus f or carrying l oads. Thus lambdoidal f lattening and tumpline / Frontal f lattening are considered unintentional cranial shaping ( Saul, 1 972). The possibility that unintentional cranial shaping i nspired the development of i ntentional cranial shaping i s suggested by Frank Saul ( 1972; a lso S aul and Saul in prep.) based on the skeletal remains from Altar de Sacrificios where the earliest examples of cranial shaping i n the Preclassic were a ll unintentional lambdoidal f lattening. This i s a hypothesis which will be examined in the present analysis. Romero ( 1970) has c lassified types of dental decoration, both f iling and i nlays, i n the Americas. Only dental f iling occurs in the Cuello s ample. Four different types of f iled teeth were f ound at Cuello. Two exactly match Romero types B 2 and F 4 : Of the other two types of dental f iling, one resembles both Romero F 3 and F 4 while the other resembles both Romero C 2 and C 6 ( Fig. 6 , below). Dental f iling does not occur at Cuello until the Cocos Chicanel phase whereas the more common cranial shaping occurs at Cuello s ince the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase. Landa

B 2 :

f iling on one of the angles

C 2 :

f iling on both angles of the crown symmetrically

g

- C 6 :

of the crown only

f iling on both angles of the crown symmetrically

F 3 :

f iling on both the occlusal edge of the crown asymmetrically

F 4 :

f iling o n both the occlusal edge and the angles of the crown asymmetrically

F IGURE 6 : I llustration and f iling types f ound a t Cuello.

and the

definition of Romero ( from Romero, 1 970)

2 9

angles

dental

indicates that dental decoration i s a custom of women only ( Tozzer 1 941: 1 25), but dental decoration has been found on the teeth of males, f emales and children ( Smith, 1 972; Romero, 1 970). At Cuello cranial s haping i s associated with males and possible f emales and dental decoration i s associated with males and f emales. What i s the function of intentional cranial or dental modifications among the Maya? A survey of the function of tooth f iling worldwide suggests four functions; adornment, expression of mourning, i nitiation rites and the imitation of animal teeth ( Comas, 1 960). For the Balinese tooth f iling i s a necessary prerequisite to qualify f or cremation ( Smith, 1 972). Funerary urns from Oaxaca show both "gods" and " attendants" with dental f iling ( Romero, 1 970). Also archaeological evidence from burials indicates that both dental f iling and cranial shaping are associated with any range of individuals f rom rich to poor. At Copan, Barton Ramie and Altar de Sacrificios, tooth f iling i s associated with individuals having no grave goods to many grave goods. Dental inlays of jade and hematite ( not f ound at Cuello) are only associated with i ndividuals having many grave goods at Altar de Sacrificios. Cranial shaping similarly to dental f iling i s associated with poor to wealthy individuals at Altar de Sacrificios ( Smith, 1 972). The evidence from ethnography, archaeological excavations and Maya art lead both Smith and Romero to suggest that both dental f iling and cranial shaping are not indicative of wealth and status. This, again, i s another hypothesis that will be tested i n the present analysis. MODE AND NUMBER OF

INTERMENTS

PER GRAVE

The mode of a burial describes the condition in which an individual was placed in the grave. Two modes exist; primary and secondary. A primary i nterment indicates that the individual was originally placed i n the grave completely articulated and had not been mutilated in any way. Any l ack of a particular part of the skeleton or disarticulation of the bones i s solely due to post-depositional activity. A secondary i nterment i s one i n which the body of the individual has been mutilated in some way before being placed in the grave. Many different types of mutilations are exhibited by secondary interments. Ethnographic sources ( Tozzer, 1 941) and iconographic work ( Schele, 1 984) i llustrate that secondary mutilations indicate human sacrifice and ancestor worship in the Maya. Unfortunately i t i s impossible to tell from the physical evidence whether a particular mutilation was the actual cause of death or occurred after death as part of a postmortem ritual. Secondary mutilations can be p laced i nto two broad categories: secondary mutilations indicative of human sacrifice, and secondary mutilations i ndicative of ancestor worship only and not human s acrifice. Secondary mutilations i ndicative of human sacrifice are exhibited i n three ways i n the archaeological data. 3 0

One, severe mutilations rendering the individual completely disarticulated so that the body parts placed in the grave do not resemble a complete human body. The painted murals from Bonampak clearly i llustrate sacrifice by severe mutilation. Beneath these three captives on the step sit some poorly articulated body parts. A severed head rests on a bed of leaves, unbloodied and tidy. To i ts left may be other parts of the body, perhaps a pair of legs. This gruesome dismemberment may be reflected i n Maya tombs,... ( Miller, 1 986: 1 24). Two, sacrifice by decapitation i s evidenced in the archaeological record by secondary interments in which the skull has been decapitated and placed in the grave with the rest of the body. Sacrifice by decapitation i s known from the Quiche Maya Popul Vuh l egend. And this i s the sacrifice of Hunahpu and Xibalanque. One by one his legs, his arms were spread wide. His head came off, rolled f ar away outside. His heart, dug out, was smothered in a leaf, and a ll the Xibalbans went crazy at the sight ( Tedlock, 1 985: 1 53). Thus the lords of the underworld kill the hero twins by decapitation and heart removal. Decapitation i s the most common means of sacrifice documented in the archaeological record ( Schele, 1 984), a lthough heart removal may not be detectable. Three, sacrifice of a decapitated head in a dedicatory f ashion. Though Landa only describes sacrifice by heart removal; If the heart of the victim was to be taken out, they led him with a great show and company of people into the court of the temple, and having smeared him with blue and put on a coroza, they brought him up to the round altar, which was the place of sacrifice, and after the priest and the officials had anointed the stone with a blue color, and by purifying the temple drove out the evil spirit, the Chacs seized the poor victim, and placed him very quickly on his back upon the stone, and a ll f our held him by his legs and arms. At this time came the executioner, the Nacom, with a knife of s tone, and struck him with great skill and cruelty a blow between the ribs of his left side under the nipple, and he at once plunged his hand i n there and s eized the heart l ike a raging tiger and snatched i t out a live and, having placed it upon a plate,... ( Tozzer, 1 941: 1 18-9). Tozzer associates this Postclassic tradition of heart 3 1

sacrifice with the C lassic ( and Preclassic) tradition of decapitated head sacrifice where s ingle heads/fleshed skulls were placed i n bowls as sacrificial dedicatory offerings to a particular building or event ( Tozzer, 1 941; Schele, 1 984; Welsh, 1 988). There i s one type of s econdary mutilation that i s not indicative of human s acrifice but possibly, ancestor worship. This i s i ndicated i n the archaeological record by an individual whose skull has been r emoved from the grave. Landa discusses the Postclassic tradition of ancestor worship and states: They used to cut off the heads of the o ld lords of Cocom, when they died, and after cooking them they c leaned off the f lesh, and then sawed off half the crown on the back, leaving the f ront part with the jaws and the teeth. Then they replaced the f lesh which was gone f rom these half-skulls by a kind of bitumen, and gave a perfect appearance characteristic of those whose skulls they were. They kept these together with the statues with the ashes a ll of which they kept i n the oratories of their houses with their i dols, holding them i n very great reverence and respect,... ( Tozzer, 1 941: 1 31). Thus the removal of skulls f or worship as discussed by Landa may i ndeed be part of the postmortem r itual of ancestor worship and as Welsh a lso concludes, secondary i nterments only involving the removal of the skull should not necessarily be seen as i ndicative of human sacrifice but, only of ancestor worship ( Welsh, 1 988). There certainly exist s ome differences between the types of mutilations, both sacrificial and ancestor worship, described i n ethnographic s ources and depicted in Maya art and those f ound in archaeological examples. But Maya human sacrifice has been convincingly argued based on i conographic work by Schele ( 1984). Though Soustelle ( 1984) suggests that evidence f or Maya human s acrifice i s not as strong as some studies make i t out to be, with f ew s cenes of human sacrifice on Maya sculptured panels, l intels and stelae. But certainly there are depictions of human s acrifice on ceramics ( Schele, 1 984; Tedlock, 1 985; Coe, 1 973). Some controversy still exists on the nature of Maya human sacrifice. Welsh notes that there i s no evidence of C lassic Maya human sacrifice associated with the death r itual, only with l ife r ituals such as " entering into succession" ( Welsh, 1 988). But, despite these discrepancies, Welsh i llustrates the widespread occurrences of skeletal mutilations among Maya burials, strongly suggesting their s acrificial nature. Unfortunately s ince s acrifice per s e cannot be determined from the physical evidence one can only suggest a correlation between the widespread mutilations i n the archaeological data and the i ndications of human sacrifice and ancestor worship from ethnographic and i conographic sources. 3 2

Further support f or the practice of Maya human sacrifice can be gleaned from an analysis of the number of interments per grave. The quantity of individuals in a grave can be s ingle, double, triple or mass ( ie greater than three; at Cuello two mass burials exist, one with thirty-two and the other with twelve i ndividuals 1 , burials 2 9-60 and 6 8-79, Appendix A ). Single i nterments may be either primary or secondary. Double i nterments may be both primary, both secondary or one primary and one secondary. Only one triple burial exists at Cuello and a ll three interments are secondary. Both mass burials contain both s ingle and double interments. One arrangement of severely mutilated secondary i nterments i s specific to mass burial. These are body bundles of three to n ine severely mutilated individuals tightly packed indicating that they may have been shrouded and placed i n the l ap of another i ndividual or in a pile between other individuals i n the mass burials. Five such body bundles exist. Mutilation i s not the only means of s acrificing an i ndividual. Certainly sacrifice could occur without leaving any evidence of secondary mutilation on an i ndividual in the archaeological record. In the Yucatan Landa notes that after the death of both parents s acrifices were made of either children of s laves, orphans or offspring of deceased male relatives and s lave women ( Tozzer, 1 941). Thus double primary burials of an adult and a child or another adult can indicate human sacrifice as well as those that contain secondary i nterments. Another instance where multiple interments either primary or secondary may be involved in human sacrifice was observed by Z amora in Alta Verapaz, where s laves were sacrificed to accompany their lord i n death ( Tozzer, 1 941). Welsh suggests that double burials with a primary interment with many grave goods, and a secondary interment with l ittle or no grave goods, document in the archaeological record the practice of sacrificing individuals to honor or a id others ( Welsh, 1 988). The large number of i ndividuals i nterred in one grave in both Cocos Chicanel mass burials contextually i ndicates a sacrificial nature f or a ll the i nterments, both primary and secondary, i n these mass burials.

1M I s cellaneous l oose h uman b one f ound t hroughout t he f ill o f t his m ass b urial n ot i n a ssociation w ith a p articular i nd iv idual o r b ody b undle w as c ollected a nd r ecorded a s c ontext ( 1187). P hysical a nalysis b y S aul a nd S au l ( pers. c omm .; a lso i n p rep .) i nd icates t hat t his m iscellaneous b one c onsists o f e ight t eeth o f a t l east t hree i nd iv iduals , a ll m ale a nd a f ew p ostcran ial " scraps" o f a t l east t wo a dult i nd iv iduals. A s r ecorded i n t he f ield t hese b ones m ay b elong t o a ny o f t he i nterments i n t his m ass b ur ial o r m ay n ot e ven b e a ssociated w ith t his m ass b urial a s t hey w ere f ound i n t he f ill. S au l a nd S au l i n t heir p hysical a nalys is o f t he C uello b ur ials ( in p rep .) h ave i ncluded t he a bove m entioned i nd iv iduals ( a m in imum o f t hree m ale a du lts , t wo y oung a du lts a nd o ne y oung/m idd le a du lt) i n t he ir c ount o f i nd iv iduals f or t his m ass b urial ( thus u sing a c ount o f 1 5 i nd iv iduals). B ecause t he c ontext o f t he i nd iv iduals r epresented b y c ontext ( 1187) i s s o u nclear, t hese t hree i nd iv iduals a re n ot i ncluded i n t he p resent a nalys is; t hus a c ount o f 1 2 i nd iv iduals f or t his m ass b urial w ill b e u sed i n t his a nalysis.

3 3

METHOD OF ANALYSIS In Part I I the Cuello burials will be analyzed by ceramic phase followed by comparisons of each phase. The different burial custom topics will be analyzed within each section in the same order as they were defined in this chapter. Statistical tests will not be employed primarily because of sample size and a lso because correlations can be observed without statistical manipulation, rendering the use of complex mathematical procedures unnecessary in the present analysis.

CHRONOLOGY The Harris Matrix ( Fig. 7 ) shows stratigraphic phases 0 to XIV. Phases 0-II are associated with ceramics of the Swasey Complex, phases I II-IIIA are associated with B laden pottery, together dating before 6 00 BC; phases IV-IVA are associated with Lopez Mamom ceramics dating to 6 00-300 BC and phases V-XIII are associated with Cocos Chicanel ceramics dating to 3 00 BC-250 AD. Phase X IV extends into the Early Classic period ( Nuevo Tzakol ceramics) after 2 50 AD. The Matrix does not show individual burials within Structures a lthough burials within the Platform f loors are shown by their excavated Feature ( not Burial) number. The stratigraphic position of any burial can be ascertained from the detailed descriptions in Appendix A .

3 4

P Y R A M I D S E Q U E N C E

S t r u c t u r e 3 5 /

7 9 1 8 9 8 9

S t r u c t u r e 3 2 9

t h w e s t s I d e o f P a t i o

P L A T F O R M F L O R S

"

a I t

1

FIGURE

u 0 1

g ,

7 : Cuello Project Harris Matrix S t r u c t u r e 3 5 4 P

F c 7 1 ''

S t r u c t u r e 3 5 2 ?

2

N o r t h s i d e o t P l a t f o r m 3 4

S T R U C T U R E S

P R O J E C T 1 9 7 ' 8 0

5 9 3 9 7 0 1

C O N S T R U C T I O N P H A S E

I

I I •

—4 t y , a > o

I

I

I t

J

I I

I

z

L 7 1 ,

1

‘ ;

' )

I I I 3 I

•

E

^

2 4 8 1 7 6 / 1 9 7

CHAPTER 3 ( SWASEY)/BLADEN

( 900-600

BC)

BURIALS

POPULATION Eleven individuals i n ten graves date to the Early Middle Formative. Of these f our are male, three middle adults and one young/middle adult; f ive are f emale, three young adults and two adults; one i s possibly a f emale adult; and one i s a juvenile aged one to four. The small sample s ize of eleven i ndividuals precludes making any judgment on the ( Swasey) /Bladen phase population. However, both sexes and juveniles are represented even in this small sample, suggestive of a f amily-type residential burial group. CONTEXT Architectural growth in the Early Middle Formative can be divided into three construction phases ( Gerhardt, 1 985, 1 988). Initial occupation in phase I ( presently defined based on ceramics as Swasey) consisted of a house platform ( Str. 3 29) and an ancillary platform ( Str. 3 29) built directly on the o ld ground surface. In phase IA, the eastern of these two buildings ( Str. 3 28) was abandoned and covered over by a cobble surface. Gerhardt suggests that further phase one structures l ie outside the excavation area. A s imple grave containing a s ingle primary interment of a f emale young adult ( burial 6 2) was dug into bedrock. During the 1 976 excavations i n Square B ( 35/35), i n the center of the main excavation trench, this deep pit into bedrock was thought to be a natural depression and was partially excavated. It was not until the 1 980 f ield season that burial 6 2 was discovered. Review of the 1 976 stratigraphy i ndicated that a phase I I f loor sealed the cut i nto bedrock. Unfortunately, this grave contains no ceramics. As previously stated ( chapter 2 ), a collagen sample date from this burial would place i t at the end of the B laden phase or the beginning of the Lopez Mamom phase. It i s impossible, considering time e lapsed and erosion, to reconstruct with complete certainty the circumstances of burial 6 2. Based on s tratigraphy, i t appears to have been cut from the Swasey phase one cobble surface i nto bedrock, though radiocarbon evidence suggests i t may have been initially cut from later B laden house platforms 3 25 or 3 20 or Lopez Mamom house platform 3 15 which l ie stratigraphically above burial 6 2. During phase I I ( presently defined based on ceramics as Swasey), the f irst definite patio group was built. It consisted of three house platforms lying on the north ( Str. 3 25), west ( Str. 3 27) and south ( Str. 3 26) sides of the plaster surfaced patio f loor. No phase I I burials were f ound. In phase I II ( presently defined based on ceramics as B laden) the patio group was expanded to include f our s tructures. I n the beginning of phase I II, three house 3 7

platforms ( Strs. 3 20, 3 21 and 3 23) were superimposed on those of phase I I, but i n addition, another platform ( Str. 3 24) was built approximately i n the center of the patio group. This platform i s different as i t i s c onstructed directly on the patio f loor, not e levated l ike the o ther house platforms. Unfortunately very l ittle of this p latform l ay within the excavation trench. No postholes or other f eatures were f ound on i ts surface. Its oval shape i ndicates that it was not the front step of a house platform and Gerhardt ( 1985; 1 988) speculates i t may have had a ceremonial f unction as an oratory. This i nterpretation could be questioned since the cobble surface and patio f loor throughout the Early Middle Formative was very pitted with c lay, s tone and ceramic l ined pits, which suggests that this area was the f ocus of domestic activities such as cooking and washing. In phase I IIA the patio f loor was resurfaced f or the third time. This resurfacing . completely covered the c entral platform, but another small oval platform ( Str. 3 22) was built s et back from the patio f loor between the western and northern house platforms. This platform i s considered to have an ancillary function. Table 1 below i llustrates the relationship between age and sex and context of an interment. F ive s ingle primary burials ( 114, 1 16, 1 18, 1 20 and 1 23) were placed i n the southern house platform, one grave c ontaining a secondary burial ( 2) was placed i n the western house platform, one double burial ( 7 and 8 ) was p laced i n the northern house platform, and another s ingle primary burial ( 9) was cut into the patio f loor just i n f ront of the northern platform. One f inal B laden i nterment ( burial 3 ) i s dated only by the ceramic style of i ts mortuary vessels. Burial 3 i s cut into bedrock under Str. 3 9 which i s l ocated 2 00 meters southeast of the patio group in the settlement area. Thus, burial 3 , CONTEXT SEX/AGE HOUSE PLATFORM

TOTAL

1

3

*

M/MA

2

M/Y-MA

1

-

1

F/YA

2

1

3

F/A

2

-

2

F ?/A

1

-

1

1 -4

1

-

1

TOTAL

9

2

1 1

One M/MA TABLE

COBBLE SURFACE/ PATIO FLOOR

1 :

i s

settlement burial

3

( Swasey)/Bladen age/sex distribution of context 3 8

as a B laden settlement burial, i s not directly comparable with other B laden s ite center burials. All of the graves in the house platforms were cut i nto internal structural f ill or f loor l ayers. The inclusion of burials of both sexes and juveniles in ( Swasey)/Bladen house platforms i s indicative of f amily-type residential burials as i s a lso demonstrated f or C lassic period small residential groups at Tikal ( Haviland, 1 985). Landa stating;

describes

the

way

common

people

were

buried

by

They buried them inside or i n the rear of their houses, casting into the grave with them some of their i dols, and i f he was a priest, some of his books. And i f he was a sorcerer, they buried with him s ome of his stones f or witchcraft and i nstruments of his profession. Usually they abandoned the house and left i t deserted after the burials, except when there were a great many persons in i t, so that they with their society lost some of their f ear which remained in them on account of the death ( Tozzer, 1 941: 1 30). ( Swasey) /Bladen burial information does not support this statement. Burials were placed in platforms followed by their continued use. In the case of Structure 3 23, three burials ( 116, 1 20 and 1 23) were f ound in this structure. Two burials ( 114 and 1 18) in Structure 3 23 are the only two ( Swasey) /Bladen phase house platforms burials that could be considered terminal burials ( linked to abandonment). No ( Swasey)/Bladen burials are initial construction burials. Continued reconstruction of a platform i s a f eature of architectural construction throughout the Preclassic and Classic at Cuello, as i s documented for Lowland Maya Preclassic to Postclassic architecture on the whole. Consequently, the f act that both intermediate ( je., during successive reflooring episodes) and terminal burials exist in ( Swasey)/Bladen house platforms, with a predominance of intermediate burials, suggests that burials were placed opportunistically i n residential structures upon the death of an individual throughout residential construction or upon termination. This s ame conclusion i s reached by both Smith and Willey i n considering both Preclassic and C lassic burials at Altar de Sacrificios ( Smith, 1 972) and Barton Ramie ( Willey et a l., 1 965). Though, as both Willey and Smith correctly state, there i s no way to discern i f a structure was abandoned f or a short period of time after the i nclusion of a burial. However, the archaeological evidence does not seem to support Landa i f, by abandonment, he meant long term departure f rom or termination i n use of a structure due to a burial. Though some contain burials,

Early Middle Formative structure do not none of these structures l ay completely 3 9

within the excavation trench. Thus, i t i s possible that the unexcavated portions of these s tructures a lso contained burials. Consequently one i s unable to speculate whether certain structures were i solated f or burial purposes while others were not in the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase. As the cobble surface/patio f loor, with the possible exception of ceremonial/unknown Str. 3 24, i s the f ocus of domestic activity for the Early Middle Formative patio group, f emale burial 6 2 ( possibly in the cobble surface) and male burial 9 ( in the patio f loor) may a lso be considered domestic l inked burials. The problem surrounding the discovery of burial 6 2 was discussed above, and i t i s impossible to s ay that this burial i s truly associated with the outside cobble surface and not a later house platform. Also though s ingle primary burial 9 i s cut into the f inal ( Swasey)/Bladen phase patio f loor, i t i s located at the f oot of Str. 3 20. Its c lose proximity to this structure may indicate that i t i s a domestic burial linked to this house platform, though not located within i t. Alternatively, burial 9 i s the only Middle Formative seated burial, the most common skeletal position in the Late Formative. He has at least seven grave goods 2 , f our ceramic vessels, two jade pendants; one c law shaped and another " duck bill" shaped broken from a l arger piece, and red ocher which was f ound on the bones of this individual. As suggested by Smith f or Altar de Sacrificios burials # 8 8, 1 05, 1 08, 1 24 and 1 28, i t i s considered that this red pigment was originally smeared on the skin, which s ince decayed and l eft the red color on the bone ( Smith, 1 972). All Altar de Sacrificios burials with red pigment on their bones are associated with non-domestic temple or ceremonial buildings. Red i s seen as a symbol f or resurrection i n men ( Ruz, 1 965). The s lightly anomalous location of burial 9 i n the patio f loor, his seated position and red ocher on his bones, i n conjunction with the f act that burial 9 i s a male middle adult individual with a high number of grave goods including long distance trade i tems, may indicate that this burial i s an early example of the L ate Formative association of male burials with ceremonial burial i n the plaza f loor. The custom of burying an important male l ineage ancestor ( burial 9 i s a middle/old adult) in the center of the patio/plaza f loor i s not an uncommon custom among the Maya ( Tourtellot, 1 983; Norman Hammond pers. comm.). It i s suggested by Hammond, in contrast to Gerhardt's i nterpretation, that the Middle Formative patio f loor may have had a public as well as domestic use. The only support f or this contention during the ( Swasey) /Bladen phase would be possible ceremonial structure 3 24 and one interpretation of burial 9 being l inked to public r itual ancestor worship.

2 B urial 9 w as e xcavated f rom t he s ection o n t he l ast d ay o f t he 1 976 f ield s eason , t hough a ll c are w as t aken t o r etrieve a ll g rave g oods f rom t he s ection , i t i s p ossib le t hat g rave g oods m ay h ave r emained u nexcavated i n t he s ection . T hus s even s hou ld b e c onsidered a m in imum n umber o f g rave g oods.

4 0

All other evidence s upports the i dea that the patio f loor was solely a l ocus of d omestic activity and, thus, the a lternate explanation of burial 9 as domestic burial l inked to Str. 3 20. GRAVE TYPE Nine of the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase graves are simple and a ll c rL 4 -a in male a nd f emale adults. Only one, located in Str. 3 23, i s a c ist and contains a juvenile aged 1 to 4 . This i s a " haphazard c ist" variety, where a grouping of stones were intentionally placed a long the northern edge of the grave only a nd may have been originally used as capstones. Small s ample size does not permit conjecture as to the age/sex distribution of s imple and c ist graves. This data supports the hypothesis that s imple graves are the predominant grave type i n the Early Middle Preclassic, but also i llustrates that cists do occur. A total of seven grave goods are associated with the juvenile i n the cist grave. Only two s imple graves have higher grave good associations than this. Again, small sample s ize dictates that no interpretation of the relationship between total number of grave goods and grave type can be made here. SKELETAL POSITION AND AZIMUTH Extended, f lexed, seated and disarticulated skeletal positions occur i n the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase ( Table 2 below). Within the extended and f lexed burials supine ( 3) i s more common than lying on the left s ide ( 1). Extended ( 2) and f lexed ( 3) positions are more common than seated ( 1). Small sample size considered, this concurs with Ruz's f indings at Uaxactun i n the Middle Preclassic that both f lexed and extended positions were most common without a preference f or either one. Male burial 9 i s the only Middle Preclassic example at Cuello and other Lowland Maya s ites of the seated position. Males are seated ( 1) and f lexed ( 2) and f emales are extended ( 2) a nd f lexed ( 1). All extended burials are i n the supine position while f lexed burials are both supine, on the l eft s ide and unknown. All ( Swasey)/Bladen phase skeletal positions occur i n house platform burials except f or seated. Seated ( burial 9 ) and supine extended ( burial 6 2) positions occur i n the Cobble Surface/Patio F loor and the settlement burial ( 3) i s very tightly f lexed. 3 There i s no apparent r elationship between age and sex or context and skeletal position i n this sample of ( Swasey)/Bladen i ndividuals.

3 E xcavators c onsidered t hat S ettlement b urial 3 w as a t ight d isarticu late b undle o f b ones. P ostexcavation a nalysis b y N orman H ammond a long w ith a c lose e xam ination o f t he b urial p lan ( Append ix A ) s uggests t hat t his i nd iv idual m ay h ave b een p laced i n t he g rave i n av ery t ightly f lexed p osition , w ith b oth a rms a nd l egs p ressed u p a gainst t he b ody i n s uch a w ay t hat t he b ones , u pon d iscovery , a ppeared t o b e p arallel t o e ach o ther. S ince i t i s u nclear w hether t his i nd iv idual w as p urposefu lly m utilated/d isarticu late a s s uggested i n t he f ield , i t w ill h ere b e c onsidered a t ightly f lexed b urial. O n ly t hose i nd iv iduals w ho h ave b een c learly i dentified a s p urposefu lly m utilated/d isarticu lated w ill b e p laced i n t he d isarticu lated c ategory .

4 1

SKELETAL POSITION S EX/ AGE

SUPINE SUPINE LEFT SEATED UNKNOWN DISTOTAL EXTENDED FLEXED FLEXED FLEXED ARTICULATED

M/MA

1

1

1

3

M/Y-MA

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

1

F/YA

1

-

-

1

-

-

1

3

F/A

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

2

F ?/A

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

1 -4

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

TOTAL

2 .

1

1

1

1

3

2

1 1

S ettlement b urial 3 TABLE 2 : position

( Swasey)/Bladen

age/sex

distribution

of

skeletal

F ive ( Swasey)/Bladen phase i nterments have a known a zimuth. A zimuths of north, e ast, s outheast and west are r epresented i n the s ample, with no preference f or any d irection a nd n o a ssociation between a ge and s ex and a zimuth ( Table 3 below). Males have a zimuths of east and west and f emales have a zimuths of north, southeast and west. I n a ll c ases e xcept o ne ( burial 7 with a s outheast a zimuth i n a s imple grave with a northeast/southwest axis) the a zimuth of the i nterment f ollows the axis of the grave ( where grave cut i s d iscernable). Burial 62 in the cobble surface has a north a zimuth. The o ther f our i nterments w ith known a zimuths are f rom house p latforms. None of the house platform burials are axial. A zimuths of e ast and southeast are f ound i n a house platform ( Str. 3 25) located north on the patio f loor and west i s f ound i n a house p latform ( Str. 3 23) l ocated AZIMUTH SEX/ AGE

NORTH

EAST

M/MA

SOUTHEAST

1«

1

1

F/YA

1

F/A TOTAL

1

S ettlement burial 3 :

TOTAL 1

M/Y-MA

TABLE

WEST

1

1

1

2

1

1

2

5

3

( Swasey)/Bladen age/sex distribution of azimuth 42

southwest on the patio f loor. between location or a zimuth a zimuth exists.

Thus, no apparent correlation of a structure and skeletal

For only one ( Swasey)/Bladen phase i nterment could the direction the head was f acing be discerned. This i s supine f lexed male burial 1 23 with an a zimuth of west whose head was propped up by a raised area/pillow in the grave cut so that i t looked east or toward i ts feet. No apparent association between skeletal position and a zimuth exists ( Table 4 below). Ruz's conjecture as to the lack of constraints on skeletal position and azimuth in the Middle Preclassic are upheld by the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase Cuello sample. However small sample size may be masking such correlations.

SKELETAL AZIMUTH

SUPINE EXTENDED

NORTH

FLEXED

POSITION

SUPINE

LEFT

FLEXED

FLEXED

UNKNOWN

1

TOTAL

1

EAST

-

. 1

SOUTHEAST

-

-

-

1

-

1

WEST

1

-

1

-

-

2

TOTAL

2

1

1

1

1

6

Settlement burial TABLE

4 :

7

7

1

2

3

( Swasey)/Bladen azimuth by skeletal

position

GRAVE GOODS -TYPES OF GRAVE GOODSExcept f or the Cocos-Chicanel phase, the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase grave good assemblage i s the most diversified at Cuello ( Table 5 below). The ( Swasey)/Bladen phase ceramic mortuary assemblage i n particular i s the most e laborate Formative ceramic burial assemblage at Cuello ( Pyburn and Kosakowsky, n . d.). Types of grave goods f ound in the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase are local pottery; a ceramic bird ocarina; bone hooked tools; jade beads and pendants; greenstone beads; shell rings, beads, pendants, necklaces/bracelets and unprovenienced bead groups; chert tools; and ground stone. The presence of jade and greenstone in the burial assemblage i ndicates the procurement of long distance trade i tems f rom as f ar as 3 50 kilometers away in the Guatemalan highlands, f or use as luxury i tems at Cuello beginning in the Early Middle Formative. A utilitarian long distance trade i tem, a ground stone grinding object made of pink sandstone, was 4 3

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Only two of the eleven ( Swasey)/Bladen interments have no grave goods. One of these i s a f emale secondary burial ( 8), consisting of leg bones only, accompanying female burial 7 who i s associated with four grave goods. The other i s primary f emale burial 1 20 whose grave was only partially excavated as i t extends outside the excavation area. Two other burials, 9 whose grave goods were previously discussed and 1 18 who i s associated with two grave goods, a Consejo Red, Estrella variety bowl and a chert celt, also were not completely contained within the excavation trench. Though every effort was made to retrieve grave goods from section because of the f ear of later looting, the possibility that grave goods may still remain in section does exist. Thus the types and total numbers of grave goods ( 0 for burial 1 20, 2 f or burial 1 18 and 7 for burial 9 ) f or these individuals should be considered minimum grave good counts in the f ollowing analysis. Table 5 i llustrates the relationship between age and s ex and type of grave goods. Ceramic objects are the most common grave goods associated with the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase burials. Eight of the e leven individuals in this sample have ceramic vessels, s ix of whom have two or more ceramic vessels. Pottery, a ll locally made, i s associated with both sexes and the one juvenile. One Chicago Orange, Chicago Variety spouted jar decorated with a modeled humanoid f ace i s associated with a male middle adult ( burial 3 ). One non-pot ceramic object, a f ive toned ceramic bird ocarina i s associated with the juvenile ( burial 1 16). This i s the only ceramic ocarina f ound in the Cuello burial assemblage. Its association with a juvenile individual supports the hypothesis based on both Ruz ( 1968) and Welsh ( 1988) that ceramic f igurine whistles are f ound exclusively i n association with juvenile burials in the lowland Maya area. Other locally obtainable grave goods in the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase mortuary assemblage are made of shell, chert, bone and red ocher. Shell rings, single beads and unprovenienced groups of shell beads are associated with f emales only. Shell necklaces/bracelets, of which there are only two examples, are associated with one male and one f emale. Shell pendants ( only one example) are associated only with juveniles. Shell objects are s lightly more commonly associated with f emale adults ( three out of f ive f emales have shell) than male adults ( one out of four males have shell). Also, the only juvenile burial i n the sample contains a shell object. Ceramic and f requently in assemblage. All assemblage, with

shell objects are the only grave goods found the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase grave goods other grave goods are only found once in the the exceptions of jade, which i s found three 4 5

times,

and

red ocher,

One chert burial 1 18.

celt

which i s

i s

f ound twice.

associated

with

male

middle

adult

Two hooked implements of deer medapodial, which were possibly used f or basketry or netting, are associated with a male young/middle adult ( burial 1 23). Fragments of prepared red ocher are f ound associated with the juvenile burial ( 116). Also, red ocher was painted on the bones of male middle adult burial 9 ( see previous discussion). Jade, a luxury l ong distance trade item, i s associated with one male, one f emale, and the one juvenile. One jade object associated with f emale adult burial 1 14 i s of particular interest. I t i s a blue jade spangle pendant, one of few blue jades f ound at Cuello. The source for this blue jade i s unknown but, as i t resembles blue jade spangle pendants from La yenta, i t i s possible that i t originated in the Gulf Coast/Isthmus of Tehuantepec region some 6 00 kilometers to the west of Cuello ( Hammond, 1 980). A bead of greenstone, not as associated with f emale burial 1 14.

valuable

as

jade,

i s

One utilitarian l ong distance trade i tem, a ground stone grinding s lab, i s associated with a male individual ( burial 1 23). Individuals of a ll ages and sexes even in this small sample seem to have access to both l ocal and long distance trade i tems though, i n regard to the specific type of object, some restrictions exist. This may only be due to the fact that most types of grave goods only occur once i n the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase burial assemblage. Where grave goods both local and non-local occur in at l east three different grates ( ie. ceramic vessels, shell ornaments and jade ornaments) they are associated with both sexes and the one juvenile. Only when grave goods are unique, or in the case of red ocher occurring twice, are they restricted in age/sex association. This, despite small s ample s ize, seems to indicate that access to grave goods both local or non-local, common or unique, cuts across both age and sex boundaries in the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase. -TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODSThere i s a f airly even spread of total number of grave goods from 0 to 9 ( Table 6 below). However, there i s a hiatus at s ix grave goods. This could i ndicate a nonarbitrary cutoff point to separate out the members of the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase sample with the highest number of grave goods, though as the spread of grave goods between 0 to 9 i s f airly constant, any cutoff point would be somewhat arbitrary. The f our i ndividuals having more than s ix grave 4 6

goods are a juvenile aged one to f our, a f emale adult, and two males, one middle adult and one young/middle adult. Further supporting the use of s ix grave goods as a nonarbitrary cutoff point, i s the f act that at least one long distance trade i tem i s i n the grave goods assemblage of each TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE SEX/ AGE

0

1

2

3

4

M/MA

_

-

1

_

_

M/Y-MA

-

-

-

-

-

F/YA

-

1

-

1

F/A

1

-

-

F?/A

1

-

1 -4

-

TOTAL

2

6

7

8

9

TOTAL

-

1

_

-

3

-

-

-

-

1

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

_

1

-

-

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

1 1

Settlement burial

5

GOODS

1*

3

TABLE 6 : ( Swasey)/Bladen age/sex distribution of total number of grave goods of these f our individuals and a lso these four individuals are the only ones with long distance trade i tems included in their graves. Thus, wealth and status in terms of both total number of grave goods and access to long distance trade i tems cuts across age and sex boundaries even in this small sample. If generalizations on social structure can be attempted based on e leven individuals, it could be suggested that the distribution of grave goods in the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase points to a system of hereditary wealth as both young and o ld, male and female have "wealthy" grave assemblages. The only two i ndividuals with no grave goods are female or possibly f emale. But, i t i s a f emale, who i s the only ( Swasey)/Bladen phase i ndividual to be associated with a secondary/sacrificial victim. Contrary to the conclusions of Ruz, the Early Middle Formative burials at Cuello are all f airly well furnished. About two thirds ( or 7 ) of the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase individuals examined have at l east three grave goods. -POSITION OF GRAVE GOODSFor a ll eight of the individuals with ceramic vessels the location of the vessels i s known. Seven of the eight individuals have one bowl inverted/protecting the skull. Each of these vessels i s a medium to l arge sized bowl. Burial 114, the one exception to the pot over skull 47

association, only has one ceramic vessel upright to the r ight of the body at hip level. This vessel i s an o lla which i s not the vessel type most commonly associated with the inverted-over-skull position. Where more than one ceramic vessel exists, they are placed upright ( possibly i ndicating f ood storage), on the s ide or i nverted ( again possibly indicating protection) by the skull or between the skull and shoulders, beside the body, and around the lower body; pelvis, legs and f eet area. In only one case i s a pot f ound at arm level. These vessels are of all functional types, bowls , o llas, jars and " chocolate pots". The use of bowls specifically being positioned to protect the skull supports Ruz's and Welsh's conclusions that this i s a prevalent association among the lowland Maya. Its origins in the Early Middle Formative are i llustrated by i ts high frequency i n the Cuello ( Swasey)/Bladen phase sample. Neither the jade bead nor the greenstone bead was f ound in the mouth of an individual, discussed by Landa as being a common practice among the Maya ( Tozzer, 1 941). These beads are placed around the body most l ikely functioning as adornment. CRANIAL SHAPING AND DENTAL DECORATION Of the eleven ( Swasey)/Bladen phase i ndividuals, only f ive had skulls which were adequately preserved and the presence or absence of cranial shaping could be determined ( Table 7 below). Of these f ive, only two i ndividuals, burial 2 , a f emale young adult, and burial 1 23, a male young/middle adult, definitely have normal skulls ( Saul and Saul, pres. comm.; a lso in prep.). Two f emale skulls ( Table 7 below) exhibit unintentional types of cranial shaping due e ither to the use of a cradleboard as an i nfant or a tumpline to carry heavy loads. Only one skull of a male i ndividual exhibits an intentional cranial shaping of the tabular oblique variety. This small sample precludes any conclusions on the age/sex distribution in the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase. Burial 1 18, the only individual with i ntentional tabular erect shaping i s only associated with two grave goods. Though nothing really can be said based on one individual, this one case does support Romero's hypothesis that cranial shaping i s not l inked to grave wealth and s tatus.

B#

AGE/ SEX

TYPE OF CRANIAL SHAPING

1 18

M/MA

Tabular Oblique

6 2

F /YA

Lambdoid

7

F /YA

Possible tumpline

TABLE

7 :

f lattening and tumpline shaping

( Swasey)/Bladen cranial

4 8

shaping

shaping

There are no examples of ( Swasey)/Bladen phase sample. MODE AND NUMBER OF INTERMENTS

dental

decoration

i n

the

PER GRAVE

Two of the e leven ( Swasey)/Bladen phase individuals are definite secondary i nterments ( Table 8 below). In the case of double burial 7 and 8 , burial 7 i s a primary f emale young adult associated with two ceramic vessels and shell beads and burial 8 ( Table 8 ) i s a secondary f emale adult without grave goods, consisting of disarticulated l eg bones only, accompanying burial 7 . This could indicate that burial 8 was sacrificed to honor and accompany burial 7 in death, a custom observed by Landa, Roman and Z amora ( Tozzer, 1 941). This s acrifice would be l inked to reinforcing the personal s tatus of the primary i ndividual i n the grave. One other s econdary i nterment burial 2 exhibits a s imilar type of s econdary mutilation. Burial 2 consists of a completely disarticulated group of l ong bones extending from a decapitated skull ( Table 8 below). These mutilations may indicate s acrifice. As burial 2 i s a s ingle i nterment, i ts possible sacrifice would be public/ceremonial in nature rather than f or the personal honor of another individual. B#

SEX/ AGE

S INGLE OR MULTIPLE

CONTEXT

NATURE OF SECONDARY INTERMENT

2

F /YA

Single

House P latform

D isarticulated with the skull i n the center and long bone piles extending northwest and west with one l ong bone to the south; left and r ight tibiae show signs of postmortem damage

8

F /A

Doublewith B #7 a primary F /YA

House P latform

D isarticulated only

TABLE

8 :

( Swasey)/Bladen

s econdary

leg

bones

i nterments

Burial 2 i s cut i nto the third f loor of Str. 3 21. Though i t i s not i nitial to this structure, i t may be dedicatory to subsequent reconstruction and enlargement. If the secondary mutilations of burial 2 do i ndicate sacrifice, one must consider the possibility of a public/ceremonial f unction f or western Str. 3 21 as well as domestic. It i s interesting to note that, i n the Late Formative, the western platform/pyramid i s considered by architectural standards to have a ceremonial f unction. Only s ingle secondary burials are ever f ound i n this western structure throughout the Preclassic and Early C lassic, while mostly single primary burials are f ound i n other residential platforms. Possibly, 4 9

though architecturally similar to o ther Middle Preclassic residential structures, the different types of burials in the western platform may indicate a difference between i t and other Middle Preclassic residential constructions ( see further discussion i n Chapter 4 ). Though s ingle primary inhumations are the norm, two secondary mutilations in two f emales i llustrate the origin of human sacrifice at Cuello beginning in the Early Middle Formative. SUMMARY The possibility that many of the trends exhibited by the ( Swasey) /Bladen phase burials may be due only to small sample size cannot be emphasized enough, though certain trends or lack of trends are indicated. The l ack of conformity of skeletal position and a zimuth indicated by Ruz for the Preclassic periods i s confirmed. Though the predominant grave type i s s imple, one cist type grave i s f ound. Both intentional and unintentional cranial shaping occur, but no instances of dental decoration do. The standard mode and number of an interment i s a s ingle primary i nhumation ( 8), though secondary i nterments both single ( 1) and associated with another primary interment ( 1) are f ound. The social relations suggested by the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase burials are of a f amily-type residential group. Wealth in terms of both total number of grave goods and access to long distance trade i tems i s not restricted by age or sex. This possibly i ndicates a hereditary system of wealth. Long distance trade routes certainly begin i n the Early Middle Preclassic f or the procurement of jade, greenstone and ground stone. Human sacrifice both " personal" and " public/ ceremonial" are suggested by this s ample to occur in the Early Middle Formative at Cuello.

5 0

CHAPTER 4 LOPEZ MAMOM

( 600-300

BC)

BURIALS

POPULATION Ten i ndividuals i n ten graves date to the Late Middle Formative. Of these, s ix are adults, f our males, one f emale and one of unknown s ex and f our are juveniles. Of the f our males, one i s a middle/old adult, one i s a middle adult, one i s a young adult and another i s an adult but could not be aged more specifically than that. The f emale i s a young/middle adult. The i ndividual of unknown sex i s a young adult a lso. Three of the juveniles are aged 1 0 to 1 4 and one i s aged 5 to 9 . Again, small s ample s ize precludes making any judgment on the Lopez phase population from ten i ndividuals ; but the i nclusion of both sexes and juveniles even i n this small sample i s suggestive of a f amily-type residential burial group as i n the previous ( Swasey)/Bladen phase. CONTEXT Architectural growth, the continuation and enlargement of the patio group, i n the Lopez phase consists of two phases ( phase IV and IVA ). In phase IV the patio f loor was enlarged a long i ts s outhern edge. This i s the f ourth patio f loor and i t had f ive buildings a long i ts southern, western and northern edges. House platform ( Str. 3 16) was constructed over Str. 3 23 on the south s ide of the patio f loor. In a new location, an ancillary platform ( Str. 3 18) was constructed on the southwestern s ide of the patio f loor beside Str. 316. On the northern and western s ides of the patio f loor both house platforms ( Strs. 3 20 and 3 21) remained i n use, though ancillary platform ( Str. 3 22) which l ies set back between these two was replaced by a smaller ancillary platform ( Str. 3 19). One s ingle burial ( 18) was cut i nto the i nitial f loor of ancillary platform ( Str. 3 19). One s ingle burial ( 124) was p laced i nto the i nitial construction f ill of the southern house platform protruding i nto the remaining stub of the f inal f loor of Str. 3 23. One s ingle burial ( 5) was cut into the f inal f loor of the northern house platform. Another s ingle burial ( 22) was cut into the center of patio f loor IV and then sealed with a plaster patch i ndicating i ts contemporaneity with the continued use of patio f loor IV. In phase IVA the patio f loor was resurfaced for the f ifth time. Unlike previous patio f loor refloorings, i t was completed i n two major stages. The patio f loor was again enlarged this time by two meters on i ts northern edge. The southern Structures 3 16 and 3 18 continued in use, while the western and northern house platforms were replaced by house platform Strs. 3 17 and 3 15 respectively. Gerhardt i ndicates that the middle f loor of northern house platform ( Str. 3 15) supported the f irst masonry superstructure at Cuello. Ancillary p latform ( Str. 3 19) was covered over by a thick occupation surface/primary midden l ayer. After Strs. 3 15 and 5 1

3 17 were constructed, patio f loor V was laid and its northwestern edge was beveled to abut the occupation surface/primary midden above Str. 3 19. Towards the end of phase IV the second stage of patio f loor V was completed. The plaster was renewed in front of Str. 3 15 and plaster was extended to cover the occupation surface/primary midden on the northwestern side of the patio. Str. 3 17 was replaced by a much larger house platform ( Str. 314), which supported a masonry superstructure. Gerhardt suggests that Str. 314 may be the eastern end of the earliest house platform ( Str. 3 55) below the Late Formative pyramid, though unfortunately there i s no stratigraphic connection between the main excavation trench and the pyramid excavation to show this definitively. One s ingle primary burial ( 108) was cut into an internal f loor of Str. 316. One single secondary burial ( 1) was cut into an internal f loor of Str. 317. Two single primary burials are found in Str. 3 15; one burial ( 4) is located in the third internal f loor just below the doorway of its masonry superstructure, and another burial ( 6) is inserted into the f ill under the front step of this platform which was constructed during the same reconstruction episode as the third f loor. Another single primary burial ( 20) was f ound in the occupation surface/primary midden beyond the initial northwest boundary of patio f loor V , though possibly it may have been cut from the later extension of patio f loor V . All of the graves in house or ancillary platforms were cut from internal f ill or f loor layers. Table 9 below summarizes the relationship between age and sex and context.

CONTEXT S EX/ AGE

HOUSE PLATFORM

ANCILLARY PLATFORM

PATIO FLOOR

OCCUPATION S URFACE

TOTAL

M /M OA M /MA M/YA M /A MALE ADULT

1 1 1

-

1 -

_

1 1 1 1

3

-

1

-

4

F /Y-MA

-

1

-

-

1

? /YA

1

-

-

-

1 *

1 0-14 5 -9

2 1

-

-

1 -

JUVENILE

3

-

-

1

4

T OTAL

7

1

1

1

1 0

Possibly TABLE

9 :

cut

from patio

Lopez

f loor

Mamom age/sex distribution 5 2

of

context.

3 1

The i nclusion o f burials of adults of both s exes and juveniles i n Lopez house p latforms i s i ndicative of f amilytype residential burials a s a lso seen i n the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase at Cuello. As i s a lso characterized by the preceding ( Swasey) /Bladen phase house platform burials, the Lopez phase burials were included i n house and ancillary platforms f ollowed by their continued use. Two burials could be l inked to the initial construction of a structure, two could be l inked to the termination i n use of a structure and four could be l inked to the continued use of a structure. Both burials ( 18 and 1 24), that could be l inked to the i nitial construction of a s tructure, are s ingle primary i nterments. This s uggests that these i ndividuals died a natural death, a long with the other Lopez phase house and ancillary platform burials, and were placed opportunistically i n residential platforms at whatever construction phase was being undergone at the time of death of the i ndividual. As a lso seen i n the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase not a ll s tructures i nclude burials. It i s more so the case in the Lopez phase, considering the enlargement of the patio f loor, that the majority o f each s tructure remains outside the area o f the main excavation trench. Thus, i t i s very l ikely that burials are included in these structures, but l ie outside of the excavation area, implying that no special selection of certain structures f or burial purposes existed. Gerhardt compares the growth of the Cuello patio group i n the Lopez phase to that of Group B at Altar de Sacrificios i n the Late San Felix phase ( 500-300 BC). Smith suggests a ceremonial f unction to Group B at this time ( Smith, 1 972). At Cuello, Gerhardt suggests that the f irst patio f loor of the Lopez phase patio group i s l ess the l ocus of domestic activities than the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase patio f loors. There are only two pits of postulated cooking or washing f unctions cut into p atio f loor IV. Also, this i s the f irst patio f loor with a burial ( 22) which i s certainly a ssociated with the communal patio f loor area. Burial 2 2 i s a single primary burial of a male middle/old adult located in the center of the patio. Patio center burials of an important male l ineage ancestor are not an uncommon ritual f orm among the Classic Maya ( Tourtellot, 1 983; Hammond, pers. comm.). In the Late Preclassic at Cuello the use of the plaza f loor a s a f ocus of communal r itual activity i s especially a ssociated with r itual/sacrificial male burials. Consequently, what may be happening at Cuello i n the Lopez phase i s the conversion of the patio group from a domestic l ocus to a ceremonial l ocus. Further support f or this l ies i n the f act that the subsequent patio f loor V contains no pits associated with domestic use. At this time a ll domestic activity i s relegated to ancillary platforms. Patio f loor V i s cut by one j ade cache, though by no burials.

5 3

Burial 2 0, a s ingle primary juvenile, located i n the occupation surface/primary midden but possibly cut f rom the northwestern extension of patio f loor V , i s most l ikely a domestic l inked burial. This northwestern area has been a locus of domestic activity i n the L opez phase, f irst with the construction of ancillary Structure 3 19 and then with i ts use as a refuse area. The c lose proximity of burial 2 0 to both house platforms 3 17 and 3 15 suggest that i t may a lso be l inked to the domestic burial activity of one of these house platforms, just not located within them. GRAVE TYPE The predominant grave type ( 9 out of 1 0 graves) i n the Lopez phase continues to be a s imple grave. Only one individual, a male middle adult buried in a house platform ( burial 5 ) has a c ist type grave. This i s the same variety cist: capped pit; partially covered by an intentionally placed l imestone s lab, as the ( Swasey) /Bladen phase cist grave of a juvenile. Burial 5 i s a ssociated with a total of f ive grave goods. Only one i ndividual, a young adult of unknown sex, i s associated with more grave goods than this. Burial f ive i s one of two, the other being male young adult burial 4 , Lopez burials associated with long distance trade i tems. Small sample s ize precludes making any judgment on the association between grave type a nd grave good wealth. SKELETAL POSITION AND AZIMUTH Table 1 0 below i llustrates the r elationship between age and sex and skeletal position. Sixty percent of the Lopez burials are extended. F ifty percent are supine extended. This may be s lightly higher because one male adult ( burial 2 0) l ay only from waist up within the main excavation trench, so a ll that can be said i s that he i s supine. All the other male Lopez phase burials are supine extended, which, i f this i s a pattern and not a result of small sample size, would indicate that burial 2 0 may a lso be extended. With the exception of burial 2 0, a ll adult Lopez phase burials are extended, males and unsexed i ndividuals are supine extended, and the one f emale i ndividual i s l eft side extended. Three of the juveniles have a known skeletal position. One i s supine extended and the other two are f lexed. There certainly seems to be a preference f or extended positions over f lexed position i n the Lopez phase sample. The extended position, both supine and prone, i s the predominant position at B arton Ramie i n the Middle and L ate Preclassic ( Willey, 1 965). However, at Uaxactun ( Ruz, 1 965), in the Mamom phase both extended and f lexed occur without preference and i n the Chicanel phase the f lexed position becomes predominant. D iversity i s i ndicated i n these s ites, suggesting that at some s ites Ruz's conjecture as to the l ack of constraint on skeletal position i n the Middle Preclassic does not hold true, though the small s ample size of Middle Preclassic burials must be considered.

5 4

SKELETAL POSITION SEX/ AGE

SUPINE

SUPINE

LEFT.

EXTENDED

EXTENDED

FLEXED

UNKNOWN

TOTAL

M/O-MA M/MA

-

1 1

-

-

-

1 1

M/YA M/A

1 .

1 -

-

-

-

1 1

MALE ADULT

1

3

-

-

-

4

F/Y-MA

-

-

1

-

-

1

?/YA

-

1

-

-

-

1

1 0-14 5-9

-

1 -

-

1 1

1 -

3 1

JUVENILE

-

1

-

2

1

4

TOTAL

1

5

1

2

1

1 0

whether

extended

Only upper body excavated position i s not known TABLE 1 0: position

Lopez

Mamom

so

age/sex

distribution

of

or

f lexed

skeletal

L ike Uaxactun, there i s no prevalent a zimuth in the Lopez Mamom phase. Azimuths i n a ll directions occur as was previously noted f or the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase at Cuello ( Table 1 1 below ). Males have a zimuths of north, east, south and west. The one f emale has an a zimuth of south and the one unsexed adult has an a zimuth of north. Juveniles have azimuths of southeast, southwest and west. The range of azimuths i s so great that no two i ndividuals of the same sex or age have the same a zimuth, supporting Ruz's conjectures of a l ack of constraint on a zimuth i n the Preclassic. None of the Lopez phase residential platform burials are axial. In a ll cases the a zimuth of the individual i s the same as the axis of the grave ( where grave cut i s discernable), as a lso seen i n the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase. But which was the controlling f actor certainly cannot be determined f rom the archaeological evidence. Azimuths i n the northern house platforms are north and west, in the western house platform are north, i n the southwestern house platform are s outhwest and east and i n the northeastern ancillary platform are south. No relationship between l ocation and azimuth of a platform and that of a burial i s seen in the Lopez phase.

5 5

AZIMUTH SEX/ AGE

NORTH

EAST

SOUTH-

SOUTH

SOUTH-

EAST M/M-0A M/MA M/YA M/A MALE ADULT

1 1

WEST

TOTAL

WEST

1

-

1 -

-

1 -

1 1 1 1

1

-

1

-

1

4

F/Y-MA

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

?/YA

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

10-14

-

-

1

-

1

-

2

5-9

_

-

_

-

-

1

1

JUVENILE

-

-

1

-

1

1

3

TOTAL

2

1

1

2

1

2

9

TABLE

1 1:

Lopez Ma i nom age/sex distribution of

a zimuth.

For only two Lopez phase interments could the that direction the head was f acing be discerned. Burial 1 8, a f emale young/middle adult was lying on her left s ide extended, with an azimuth of south and her head turned to f ace the west. Burial 2 2, a male middle/old adult was f ound lying supine extended i n the center of the patio f loor, with an a zimuth of south and his head looking up, s lightly f acing to the east. As previously seen in the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase, no apparent association between skeletal position and a zimuth exists ( Table 1 2 below). SKELETAL

POSITION

AZIMUTH SUPINE

SUPINE EXTENDED

LEFT EXTENDED

FLEXED

TOTAL

NORTH

-

2

-

-

2

EAST

1

-

-

-

1

SOUTHEAST

-

1

-

-

1

SOUTH

-

1

1

-

2

SOUTHWEST

-

-

1

1

WEST

-

1

-

1

2

TOTAL

1

5

1

2

9

TABLE

1 2:

Lopez Mamom a zimuth by 5 6

skeletal

position

GRAVE GOODS -TYPES

OF GRAVE GOODS-

The mortuary a ssemblage of the Lopez phase i s sparser than that of the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase. This assemblage includes, local pottery, jade beads, shell; beads, necklaces/bracelets, unprovenienced groups of beads, chert and red ocher. Jade i s the only long distance trade item found in Lopez mortuary contexts. Table 1 3 i llustrates the relationship between age and sex and types of grave goods. Three ( burials 6 , 1 08 and 1 24), a male adult and two juveniles, out of the ten Lopez phase burials have no grave goods. All of these were only partially contained within the main excavation trench and, thus, more grave goods may remain further in section. Two other individuals, burial 2 0 with 3 grave goods, two shell bracelets and one shell necklace, and burial 1 15 with 5 grave goods, a Chicago Orange, Warrie Camp Variety olla, a Consejo Red, Estrella Variety bowl, a Guitarra Incised, Grooved Incised Variety bowl, a shell bead and a chert bifacial celt, also l ay only partially in the excavation area. The grave good counts for the above individuals may represent minimum counts as further grave goods may l ie in section. One must consider that many of the Lopez phase buildings l ay only partially within the excavation trench when assessing the decrease in total number and complexity of the Lopez phase mortuary assemblage compared to the preceding ( Swasey)/Bladen phase assemblage. Six out of the seven Lopez phase burials with grave goods have whole local ceramics, associated with males, females and juveniles. A miniature jar partially f illed with ground red ocher i s associated with a young adult of unknown sex. All seven of these Lopez phase individuals are associated with some kind of shell ornament. Shell beads are associated with males, juveniles and the unsexed adult. Shell bracelets/necklaces are associated with males, females and juveniles. Unprovenienced groups of shell beads are associated with males and f emales. Other grave goods, chert and jade, are f ound less frequently. Two j ade beads are associated with two males, a young and a middle adult. A block of tabular chert replaces the head of the unsexed adult individual. A chert celt i s associated with a juvenile aged 1 0 to 1 4 and a male middle/old adult. Individuals of a ll ages and sexes have access to a range of local goods, though only males have l ong distance trade items ( jade). Considering that i n this sample there i s only one f emale, this c an only be seen to represent the lack of f emales i n the s ample, not an increase in importance of males.

5 7

+ A I

i 1 i i

I

I

I

11 1 1

1

1

• z r

r 1

I

1

I

I

I I

i

1 1

1

I

f X

A P I 1 . 1 3 M r4 P 4 C ) 0

0

r 1

Il l

r 4

,

1 I I

I r 4 r 4 r 4

C I

I

r q

r 4

I

I 1

r 4

c n

e

I

I

N rI

r 4

r ,

r n

r %

1

•r 4

r 4

I r 4 r q r 4

V I

I

r 4

V I r 4

e

o p

1 1r -1 1

r1

1

1

r11

e -1

C V

1 r 4

r 4

r 4

r 4

I 1

1

1 1r 1

N

1

1

N r 1

1 I 1r 4

r 4

1

1

( ‚ 4 r 1

r 1

I I I

1 1

I

1 1

I

1

r 4

1

r n

r 4

1

II

1

I

C V

t y p e a n d n u m b e r o f

11 1 1

r 4

r 4

C I

. 31

c a

c l 0 r 4 t o

A 4

0 I

eg

4

• • • •

H

k 1 , . I

A

1 > 4

0 4 > 4

•

• C ‘ •

1 * 4

58

• C P

1 1 Z

o 1 1 • U ) v .c )

1 .3

Al

0

r 4 1 C h

P l › .

•

4 E4

4

>

0 I . 1 I I

D b

0 E i

4

0 2 0 : 1

E 4 C o

-TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODSThe total number of grave goods associated with an individual r anges f rom 0 to 7 ( Table 1 4 below). There i s greater differentiation i n the Lopez phase sample between TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODS SEX/AGE

M/M-OA M/MA M/YA M/A MALE

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

TOTAL

1

-

-

-

1 -

1 1 -

-

-

1 1 1 1

-

-

-

1

2

-

-

4

A l ltual

F/YA

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

1

? /YA

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

1 0-14 5 -9

1 1

-

-

1 -

-

1 -

-

-

3 1

JUVENILE

2

-

-

1

-

1

-

-

4

TOTAL

3

-

-

2

1

3

-

1

1 0

TABLE 1 4: Lopez Ma i nom age/sex distribution of total of grave goods.

number

individuals with and without grave goods than the f airly even spread observed in the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase. The majority of Lopez phase burials with grave goods have a total wealth range of 4 + 1 grave goods. This includes both males, f emales and juveniles. The two males with f ive grave goods are the only individuals associated with long distance trade i tems. There i s a hiatus at s ix f ollowed by a s ingle burial ( 1) with seven grave goods. Unfortunately this individual i s unsexed. Also, burial 6 has no long distance trade i tems in i ts mortuary assemblage and i s possibly a sacrificial individual. There i s no c learcut differentiation between those with the "wealthiest" mortuary assemblages in this sample. Again, this may be the result of small sample s ize. Seventy percent of the Lopez phase burials have at l east three grave goods. Though these burials are not on the whole as well and diversely furnished as the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase ones, they do not conform to Ruz's picture of scarce and poor assemblages. Certainly as ceramics are a very common grave good, they are not l acking. -POSITION OF GRAVE GOODSThree of the s ix individuals with at least one ceramic grave good have a ceramic bowl i nverted over their skull. One of the three i ndividuals l acking the pot-over-skull 5 9

association ( burial 1 ), i nstead, has a block of tabular chert replacing i ts missing skull. Another ( burial 4 ) has only one non-bowl ceramic vessel, a neck jar of unidentified type upright by the right s ide of i ts head. The third i ndividual ( burial 2 2) has one Consejo Red, Estrella Variety bowl which i s located on i ts side above the l eft shoulder. Though the relationship between at least one ceramic bowl and the inverted/protecting over skull position i s not an absolute relationship, i t still i s a prevalent association throughout the Middle Preclassic. Otherwise ceramic bowls, o llas, bottle shaped vessels and jars are f ound i nverted, upright or on their s ide, near the legs, the side of the body or the shoulder. Jade beads are only f ound by the e lbows and i n association with shell jewelry. One shell bead was f ound i n the mouth of burial 1 15. This could be associated to the Postclassic custom observed by Landa where jade or corn was placed in the mouth of the deceased to be used as money i n death ( Tozzer, 1 941). CRANIAL SHAPING AND DENTAL DECORATION Of the nine Lopez phase burials with skulls i ncluded i n their graves, only three were preserved adequately enough to determine cranial shaping ( Saul and Saul, pers. comm.). One male young adult has a normal skull, one male middle adult has unintentional l ambdoidal f lattening, and one male middle/old adult has i ntentional Tabular shaping of uncertain variety because the vault of this skull was too crushed to determine variety ( Table 1 5 below). Though only males show intentional or unintentional shaping, the small sample from which they came i s only made up of males.

B#

SEX/ AGE

TYPE OF CRANIAL SHAPING

2 2

M/M-0A

Tabular Uncertain Variety

5

M/MA

Lambdoid

TABLE

1 5:

f lattening

Lopez Mamom cranial

shaping

There are no occurrences Lopez phase sample. MODE AND NUMBER OF

of

dental

decoration

i n

the

INTERMENTS

All Lopez phase i nterments are s ingle i nhumations. Nine out of ten are primary. The one secondary i nterment ( burial 1 ) is that of an unsexed young adult located i n an i nternal f loor of the west house platform. The skull of this i ndividual was decapitated/removed though his teeth were p laced in the grave i ndicating that the skull must have been at least partly f leshed after i ts r emoval so the teeth could be extracted. No evidence of differential preservation 6 0

suggests that the skull was ever placed i n the grave. The missing skull was r eplaced i n the grave by a block of tabular chert. Ethnographic evidence ( Tozzer, 1 941) suggests that the purposeful r emoval of a skull might be l inked to the Postclassic tradition of ancestor worship as observed by Landa. The youth o f burial 1 does not argue f or his being an ancestor. This l eaves the possibility that burial 1 may have been sacrificed by decapitation as a votive offering f or the western platform Str. 3 17. It i s i nteresting to note that the only other Middle Formative patio group s ingle burial to exhibit secondary mutilations a lso l ies in the western platform. Architecturally, this western platform/pyramid i s considered a ceremonial platform i n the L ate Preclassic and Early C lassic ( Gerhardt, 1 985, 1 988; a lso see Chapters 6 and 7 in this text). In the Late Formative in western ceremonial p latform Str. 3 52, a secondary/sacrificial adolescent i s axially placed. I n the Early C lassic, a secondary juvenile skull-only burial i s placed at the top midpoint of f inal pyramid Str. 3 5. Thus, only secondary burials are known in the western platform throughout the Formative and Early C lassic. All other Middle Formative platforms contain primary burials ( the one exception i s secondary burial 8 which i s considered a " personal" s acrifice f or burial 7 ). Gerhardt suggests that the Late Middle Formative western platform, Str. 3 14, i s the earliest western platform to extend i n width a s f ar west as the f inal Early C lassic pyramid Str. 3 5. Strs. 3 17 and 3 21 do not extend out as f ar to the west, though they are the two earliest western platforms i n this s equence. Architecturally, platform Str. 3 52 i s the f irst c eremonial western structure as defined by Gerhardt. She ascribes a residential f unction to the smaller Strs. 3 21, 3 17, 3 14=355, 3 54 and 3 54. Though no great architectural distinction exists between the western platforms and the other platforms i n the Middle Preclassic, the difference i n burial practices between these two groups possibly suggests that the western platform was used for public/ceremonial purposes i n the Middle Formative as well as i n the Late Formative. Adult secondary mutilated i ndividuals, either single or multiple ( but not i n association with a primary i ndividual), are f ound i n public/ceremonial l ocations ( ie., ceremonial p latforms, temples, household shrines and plazas), at Mountain Cow, Baking Pot, Uaxactun, Altun Ha, D zibilchaltun, Altar de Sacrificios, Seibal, Copan and Tonina. This i llustrates, f rom the archaeological record, a connection between s econdary mutilated adults and public ritual sacrifice. In two cases, secondary mutilated adults are f ound i n residential contexts; skull fragments of an unsexed adult are f ound i n Bench 3 , Room 3 , of Palatial residence Str. 3 14 at Altun Ha and s ix grave containing secondary mutilated i ndividual(s) are l ocated i n residential platforms at 6 1

D zibilchaltun. Three of the D zibilchaltun examples come from Middle Formative residential platform 6 05 of the Miridor Group. In the Middle Formative at D zibilchaltun the normal mode of interment i s a secondary burial. Thus, i t may be suggested, that in the Middle Formative at D zibilchaltun, secondary i nterments represent a common s ite " style" of burial and not sacrifice. Andrews and Andrews ( 1980) do not consider these mutilated skeletons sacrificial in their discussion of burial practices at D zibilchaltun. At Cuello in the Middle Formative primary i nhumations are the norm. Though secondary mutilated adults are not exclusively associated with public/ceremonial activity i n the Maya lowlands, i t i s possible that they represent public/ceremonial sacrifices at Cuello. SUMMARY Many of the trends observed f or the Lopez phase may be due to small s ample s ize. The l ack of conformity in skeletal a zimuth continues i nto the Lopez phase, but skeletal position appears to be more standardized. S ixty percent of the burials are extended. All males ( with the exception of one male who was only excavated f rom waist up so his position i s not completely known) are supine extended. Also, continuing from the ( Swasey)/Bladen phase, the predominant grave type i s simple though one cist i s f ound. Both intentional, unintentionally shaped and normal skulls are f ound, though no cases of dental decoration are. The standard mode of interment i s a s ingle primary i nhumation, though one s ingle secondary inhumation i s f ound. The social relations suggested by the Lopez phase group i s largely one of a f amily-type residential group. One of the better f urnished burials, a male middle/old adult buried i n the center of the patio f loor could be associated with r itual ancestor worship and marks the beginning of change in the patio group from a primarily domestic to a primarily ceremonial precinct. A decapitated unsexed young adult ( burial 1 ) may be an example of human sacrifice.

6 2

CHAPTER 5 MIDDLE

PRECLASSIC BURIALS

- A SUMMARY

The i nclusion o f adults of both sexes and juveniles in the Middle Preclassic house platforms at Cuello i llustrates their f amily-type residential nature. The Middle Preclassic s ees the development of the patio courtyard type settlement group at Cuello which develops out of i nitial occupation on low platforms constructed directly on the o ld ground surface. Only one burial ( 62) possibly dates to this i nitial occupation phase. Unfortunately, i ts circumstances of discovery and a collagen sample date placing i t further on i n the Cuello sequence do not a llow a consideration of this i nitial occupation phase based on the burial evidence. In the f irst true patio group the patio f loor i s seen as a locus of domestic -activities. Continued reconstruction and use of both platform and patio areas are f eatures of the Cuello construction sequence as they are for other Maya Preclassic, C lassic and Postclassic s ites. Throughout the l ife of the patio group structures are ritually destroyed and constructed by cutting away the f acade of the o ld structure and then building a new l arger and higher structure over the remaining stub of the o ld structure. Throughout the i nitial construction, use, r eflooring, remolding and termination of a structure, burials are incorporated i nto i ts i nternal structural f ills and f loors indicating the opportunistic p lacement of i ndividuals upon death within residential contexts. Often more than one burial was placed in a structure. This contradicts the observations of Landa who suggests that buildings were abandoned after the burial of an i ndividual ( Tozzer, 1 941). By the end of the Middle Preclassic patio group the patio f loor i s becoming l ess the f ocus of domestic activity. The f inal patio f loor V no longer has any marks of domestic activity ( in the f orm of pits) on its surface. A jade cache i s the only f eature to cut i ts surface. One burial of a male middle/old adult i n patio f loor IV may be evidence of the f irst use of the patio area f or communal ritual activity in the i nvocation of ancestor worship. Though two other burials are l ocated i n the c ommunal areas, their close proximity to house platforms i ndicates their domestic association to these buildings. The majority o f the platform architecture around the Middle Preclassic patio i s residential, but two Middle Preclassic s econdary/mutilated burials ( 1 and 2 ) i n the western platform may be examples of votive offerings to this platform. Thus, the possibility that the western platform may have had a public/ceremonial f unction i n the Middle Preclassic as well a s the Late Preclassic could be i ndicated by the secondary mode of i ts burials. The predominant mode of burial i n the Middle Preclassic i s a s ingle primary i nhumation. In the Early Middle Preclassic, human s acrifice may be evidenced i n three graves. 6 3

One ( burials 7 and 8 ) a f emale primary inhumation with f our grave goods i s accompanied by a s econdary mutilated f emale without grave goods consisting of leg bones only. This scenario i s i ndicative of the " personal" sacrifice of one i ndividual, a relative, child or s lave, to honor / accompany another i ndividual in death as observed by Landa and Zamora ( Tozzer, 1 941). Possible sacrifice by severe mutilation ( burial 2 ) and decapitation/removal of skull ( burial 1 ) i s a lso indicated i n the Middle Preclassic sample. The origins of human sacrifice in the Middle Formative at Cuello i s suggested by these three secondary burials. The overall depiction by Ruz of Middle Preclassic burials being sparsely or poorly f urnished and especially l acking i n ceramic grave goods i s not corroborated by the Cuello s ample. Two thirds of the Middle Preclassic burials have over three grave goods. Ceramics and shell are the most common offerings. Both local and non-local i tems are i ncluded in the burial assemblage from the Early Middle Preclassic. Jade and greenstone are procured from over 3 50 kilometers away in the Guatemalan highlands and pink s andstone i s f ound 1 50 kilometers to the south i n the Maya mountains. Jade continues to be f ound i n the Late Middle Preclassic assemblage. The burial assemblage i s s lightly more diversified in the Early Middle Preclassic than i n the Late Middle Preclassic, though small sample size may be an important f actor in this. Men, women and children have access to wealth in terms of total numbers of grave goods throughout the Middle Preclassic. In the Early Middle Preclassic wealth in terms of access to long distance trade goods i s not restricted by age or sex. In the Late Middle Preclassic, two male burials are the only ones to contain long distance trade items. This only i ndicates the l ack of f emales i n the s ample. On the whole, a hereditary system of wealth and status i s supported by the f act that both men, women and children can have high total numbers of grave goods or no grave goods as well as access to long distance trade i tems i n the Middle Preclassic. The association between a ceramic bowl and i ts placement inverted / protecting the skull i s prevalent throughout the Middle Preclassic as noted f or the C lassic periods by Ruz ( 1965) and Welsh ( 1988). Only seven skulls from Middle Preclassic i ndividuals were adequately preserved to observe the presence or absence of cranial shaping ( Saul and Saul, pers. comm.; a lso i n prep.). Three, two males and a f emale, were normal, three, one male and two females, were unintentionally shaped and two, both males, were intentionally shaped. The small s ize of this sample does not a llow us to test the hypothesis put f orward by Frank Saul that the development of i ntentional shaping may have been inspired by unintentional shaping. Though the s ample i s small, Romero's suggestion that cranial shaping i s not associated with wealth and status i s supported here. No examples of dental decoration were found i n the Middle Preclassic sample. 6 4

The predominant grave type i s a s imple grave though two c ist type graves were f ound. Both of these were capped pit varieties. Skeletal a zimuth as suggested by Ruz remains unrestricted throughout the Middle Preclassic. Though skeletal position i n the Early Middle Preclassic i s both f lexed and extended, not f avoring either, i t becomes more restricted to extended i n the Late Middle Preclassic. The supine position i s the most common throughout the Middle Preclassic. Though small s ample s ize should constrain the importance one places on the trends observed by 2 1 Middle Preclassic i ndividuals, the above are the conclusions which summarize the development of the Middle Preclassic burial practices and social implications thereof at Cuello.

6 5

CHAPTER COCOS

CHICANEL

( 300

6

BC-250 AD)

BURIALS

POPULATION The largest burial sample, one hundred and three individuals, comprising 8 2% of the Cuello sample, date to the Cocos phase. The large size of the sample and an excavation strategy exploring all Cocos phase contexts on Platform 3 4 suggest that it i s representative of the population buried on Platform 3 4 in the Cocos phase ( Norman Hammond, pers. comm.). As P latform 3 4 is the focus of the Cocos phase ceremonial precinct at Cuello, the burial practices here discussed are perhaps most representative of those of the elite segment of the Cocos phase site center population. All age groups from birth to o ld age and both sexes which comprise a normal population are represented in the Cocos phase sample. It i s clear from Table 1 6 that the 4 .8 to 1 ratio of men to women ( or 4 .4 to 1 if M?'s and F ?'s are included) does not represent a normal population distribution, but a population where male individuals are being non-randomly selected. SEX AGE MALE

MALE

?

FEMALE

FEMALE

?

TOTAL

OA MA Y-MA YA A 1 5-19

1 8 9 1 8 1 2 -

3 2 6 3 -

3 5 2 -

2 1 1 -

2 3 2 4 1

1 1 8 20 28 20 1

TOTAL ADULT

4 8

1 4

1 0

4

1 2

88

1 0-14 5 -9 BIRTH-4

X X X

X X X

X X X

X X X

2 6 7

2 6 7

TOTAL JUVENILE

X

X

X

X

1 5

15

Table 1 6: Age/sex population.

distribution

of

Cocos

Chicanel

skeletal

CONTEXT At the end of the Lopez phase the residential platforms of the f inal patio group were burnt, scarring the surface of patio f loor V . The facades of these buildings were truncated f ollowing the traditional methods of demolition and the patio group was covered in l imestone rubble over a meter deep. This marked a change in architecture at Cuello from the patio 6 6

to the plaza type construction. The f ollowing will look at burials from the i nitial construction of P latform 3 4 in the Early Cocos phase and the subsequent use and reconstruction i n the Cocos phase. INITIAL CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORM 3 4

- EARLY COCOS CHICANEL-

I n the center o f the rubble f ill covering the Lopez phase patio group, i n a depression approximately 5 .00 meters north/south by 4 .00 meters east/west was placed a sacrificial burial of thirty two i ndividuals ( Mass Burial 1 , see Appendix A , burials 2 9-60 f or a plan of Mass Burial 1 ). In the center of this group the two main i ndividuals ( burials 5 0 and 51) both primary males, one young adult and one young/middle adult, were the f irst to be placed in the depression. I n their l aps and by their f eet l ay body bundles of nine severely mmtilated male young/middle adult individuals ( burials 5 2-60). Vessel f ragments were stuck between the disarticulated bones of this bone pile and the other body bundles of the mass burial i n such a way that the bones must have been at least partly f leshed prior to burial. Around this central group were placed 2 1 more individuals. Just to the s outh of the central group a long the left s ide of burial 5 0 l ay burial 3 7, a s ingle primary adult of unknown sex. Further south lay a row of f our more i ndividuals, double burials 3 9 and 4 0, both primary possible male young adults, burial 3 2, a s ingle primary possible male middle adult and burial 3 3, a s ingle primary male young/middle adult. To the southwest lay burial 3 4, a s ingle primary male o ld adult and further southwest l ay burial 3 5, a s ingle primary unsexed adult. To the west and at the f eet of burials 5 0 and 51 l ay a body bundle of three severely mutilated i ndividuals ( burials 4 7-49), a ll possible males, one young adult and two young/middle adults. 4 Further west lay a s ingle primary unsexed young/middle adult and body bundle burials 41-44 which consist of a upper l ayer containing severely dismembered body parts and a l ower layer possibly containing partly articulated body parts. 5 To the north of the central individuals l ay a d ouble burial ( 30 and 3 1) of a primary possible f emale adult and a secondary possible male adult and a single primary burial ( 29) of a male young/middle adult. To the east l ay a s ingle primary burial ( 38) of a male adult and to the southeast l ay a double burial ( 45 and 4 6)

4B urials 4 7 -49 w ere o r ig inally e xcavated a s t wo f eatures ( F 1 83 a nd 1 86) b oth c ontain ing t wo m utilated i nd iv iduals. D ue t o t he l ack o f i nd iv idual g rave c uts w ithin t he m ass b urials, i t w as d ifficu lt t o t ell i f F1 83 w as a ctually p art o f M ass B urial 1 o r l ater a nd i ntrusive p ossib ly f rom M ass B urial 2 ( F 1 28) w hich i s c ut i nto t he e arlier o ne . P ostexcavation a nalysis b y F rank a nd J ulie S au l i nd icated t hat o ne i nd iv idual f rom F 1 86 w as t he s ame p erson a s o ne f rom F 1 83. T wo i nterpretations o f t he d epos itional c ircumstances o f F1 83 a nd 1 86 c an b e s uggested . E ither F 1 83 i s i ntrus ive i nto F 1 86 a nd s ome b ones f rom e ach f eature w ere a ccidentally m isexcavated w ith t he o ther, o r F1 86 a nd 1 83 b elong t ogether a s p art o f M ass B ur ial 1 . I f F1 83 a nd 1 86 a re c onsidered t ogether t hey w ou ld c onsist o f t wo l ayers o f b ody p arts o ne o ver t he o ther. T his i s t he s ame s tructure o f F1 80 ( burials 4 1-44 ) w hich i s p art o f t he e arly M ass B urial 1 . C onsequently , a t p resent t he b est i nterpretation w ould b e t hat F 1 83 a nd 1 86 , b ased o n s im ilar ity w ith F 1 80 a re p art o f M ass B urial 1 . 5 F i e ld n otes s uggest t hat s ome p artial a rticulations m ay h ave e x isted i n t he b ottom l ayers o f F1 83 a nd 1 86 a nd F 1 80 , t hough t he m ix ing o f b ody p arts m akes t his i mpossib le t o t e ll f or c ertain .

6 7

of two primary interments, possible male middle adult.

one

male

young

adult

and

one

The platform construction operation and central sacrificial mass burial required a l arge amount of communal activity. At the end of this construction, an occupation surface/fill layer was deposited i n the northwest corner of the rubble p latform f ill. A triple sacrificial burial ( 10, 1 1 and 1 2) of a decapitated male young adult ( burial 1 2) and a decapitated possible f emale young/middle adult ( burial 1 0) associated with a tooth burial of an unsexed young/middle adult ( burial 1 1) were placed i n this North P latform construction associated occupation surface/fill l ayer just prior to and possibly i n dedication to the l aying of the f irst plaza f loor ( phase VA ). Also a long the northern end of platform 3 4, f our graves were cut i nto construction associated occupation surface/fill layers, possibly in dedication to the initial construction of the northern extension of the P latform. An infant ( burial 1 28) l ay just near the i nitial northern wall of platform 3 4, possibly dedicated to i ts construction. Two double burials; burials 1 26 and 1 27, two secondary j uveniles, and burials 1 21 and 1 22, two secondary adults, one disarticulated male and the teeth and cranial f ragments of one unsexed i ndividual; and one s ingle secondary male burial ( 125) are l ocated a long the northern extension of P latform 3 4 below the northern platforms, possibly dedicated to this northern extension. SUBSEQUENT USE AND REBUILDING OF PLATFORM 3 4 -COCOS CHICANEL-

-

Gerhardt has divided architectural growth in the Cocos phase i nto e leven construction phases ( V through XIV). Each construction phase ( with the exception of the initial P latform construction phase V ) a lso corresponds to a reflooring of the plaza f loor. Archaeological investigations in the Cocos phase on P latform 3 4 were primarily f ocused on the main excavation trench ( Fig. 2 ), though some additional test pits were placed f urther north and south of this area. These excavations ( undertaken i n the 1 979 f ield season) around the main trench were designed to examine the extent of occupation on P latform 3 4 i n the Cocos Chicanel. Several burials, a ll from house platforms, were recovered f rom these excavations ( Fig. 8 ). Testing was a lso done on the pyramid lying west on P latform 3 4. Unfortunately, no stratigraphic connection between the main excavation trench and the pyramid exists, so the relation of pyramid construction phases to construction phases on P latform 3 4 can not be stratigraphically confirmed. Three s ingle burials, two male and one possible male, a long with the two mass burials, and caches of ceramic, j ade and deer j aws were placed i n the p laza f loor/rubble f ill throughout the Late Formative ( one mass burial i s from the i nitial construction). In phase X a plain stela i s erected i n the center of the plaza f loor VI. The erection of the 6 8

1 0

2 0

3 0

1 . 0

5 0

6 0 1 0 m

Figure 8 : P latform 3 4 with a 5m by 5m grid superimposed i llustrating Str. 3 5 and the location of the 1 979 burials; the main excavation trench is outlined with a dark l ine. 6 9

stela i s approximately dated to 1 00 AD +/-50 by Hammond based on stratigraphic evidence ( Hammond). In phase XI another sacrificial mass burial was inserted into plaza f loor VII directly above the early mass burial. The burial contained 1 2 i ndividuals. This mass burial was spatially constructed i n an hourglass shaped pit. At the top of the pit l ay a double burial ( 68 and 6 9) of two secondary i nterments, both possible males, one young adult and o ne middle adult. In the bottom part of the western side of the pit s at a primary male young adult ( burial 7 0) with a body bundle ( 71-74) of f our severely mutilated individuals lying i n his lap. Three of these individuals were male, one young adult and two young/middle adults, and one was an unsexed middle adult. In the bottom part of the eastern s ide of the pit s at another primary male young adult ( burial 7 9). In his lap a lso l ay a body bundle of f our severely mutilated individuals ( burials 7 5-78). Three of these were male, two young adults and one middle adult. The other individual was an unsexed young/middle adult. On the western side of the plaza stands a f ive meter high pyramid ( Str. 3 5) of Early C lassic date stratified over successive pyramid, ceremonial and house platform structures. The earliest Cocos phase structure on the west s ide of the plaza f loor was a large rectangular house platform ( Str. 3 54), constructed over Str. 3 55 the f irst platform i n this location which dates to the f inal phase of the Lopez phase. Gerhardt associates the construction of Str. 3 54 a s concurrent with the beginning of phase V and the initial construction of P latform 3 4. Str. 3 53, another l arge platform about which l ittle i s known as i t only has one construction phase, i s superimposed by Str. 3 52, whose height i s raised to 1 .5 meters and i s suggested by Gerhardt to be the f irst ceremonial platform on the western side of the plaza. This ceremonial platform a buts two plaster f loors which Gerhardt suggests are parts of p laza f loors I I and I II ( phases VI and VII). One burial ( 27) of a 1 5 - 1 9 year o ld adolescent was axially placed i n Str. 3 52. The next structure constructed ( Str. 3 51) was the f irst pyramidalshaped building on the plaza. As its f acade was not excavated, it i s not known with which plaza f loor i t i s associated. The next pyramid, Str. 3 50, i s the best preserved and i ts construction i s associated with plaza f loor IX ( phase X III). The f inal very eroded pyramid, Str. 3 5, i s dated to the Early C lassic and i s l ocated on plaza f loor X . Structural evidence in the Cocos phase in the main excavation trench i s only f ound on the north s ide of the plaza f loor due to i ts l arge s ize. One exception occurs on the f irst plaza f loor where the edge of a platform on the southern s ide of the plaza protrudes i nto the trench. Consequently, the entire l ayout of this plaza group i s not known. The same series of destruction and construction of platforms a long the northern edge o f the plaza occurred as i n the Middle Preclassic. On the north

s ide

of the

f irst p laza 7 0

f loor

( phase V )

stood a s ingle house platform ( Str. 3 12) spanning the width of the main excavation trench. On plaza f loor I I ( phase VI), two separate p latforms were constructed on the north s ide; Str. 3 09, a l arge circular house platform sat to the east of Str. 3 11, a smaller c ircular platform with a postulated ancillary function which lay further set back from the plaza f loor. Through plaza f loor VII ( phase X I), construction on the north s ide of P latform 3 4 continued to have a northeastern and northwestern structure. In phases VII through X , the northeastern structures became larger, rectangular in shape, with additional terraces a long the back and steps a long the f acade. The northwestern structures remained smaller set-back circular structures, with steps also being added along the f acade. In phase VII the northeastern structure ( 309) remained in use while . the northwestern structure ( 311) was replaced by Str. 3 10. Str. 3 10 i s somewhat larger than Str. 3 11 but otherwise i s constructed in a similar f ashion. Gerhardt considers Str. 3 11 to be circular in shape and Str. 3 10 to be apsidal in shape though there i s l ittle overall difference i n shape between these two structures. A l arge number of burials ( 10 i ndividuals in 9 graves) may have been cut into Str. 3 10, but as most of the plaster f loor ( except f ragments of plaster, context number ( 1539)) and the tops of the graves have been removed by l atter construction i t i s possible that some of these graves may have been cut from l atter Str. 3 06 ( phase VII). Gerhardt suggests that Str. 3 10 i s a house platform whereas the earlier Structure 3 11 and the later Structure 3 06 are assigned an ancillary function. Differences within Structures 3 11, 3 10 and 3 06 that would i ndicate functional differences between these structures are unclear because of destruction by subsequent constructions. In construction phases VIII to X the northwestern structure i s assigned an ancillary function and the northeastern structure i s assigned a house function by Gerhardt. In construction phase XI, Str. 3 04, the northwestern structure, was increased in size over the previous Str. 3 06. A step l eading to the plaza f loor was added and for the f irst time this northwestern platform took on the prominent f orward position on the plaza f loor. There i s no evidence f or a superstructure on Str. 3 04. Str. 3 05, the northeastern platform was much smaller than those before it and extremely pitted with c lay- and ceramic- l ined f irepits. Its surface was very eroded and no postholes for supporting a superstructure were found. Both the northeastern and northwestern s tructures f or the f irst time are very s imilar in plan and construction. Gerhardt considers that these changes in platform construction i ndicate a change i n function f or the two platforms. Though she suggests that in phase XI both the northwestern platform and the northeastern platform have an ancillary function, the surface of the 71

northeastern Str. 3 05 was very eroded and i ts outline unclear, which might p lace doubt on this change to an ancillary f unction f or Str. 3 05. In phase X II the two northern structures are i ncorporated i nto one l arge rectangular house platform ( Str. 3 03), which supported a masonry superstructure. In phase XIII, another l arge rectangular house platform ( Str. 3 00), of unknown f unction ( as this, the uppermost structure, was very eroded), i s constructed over Str. 3 03. A small ancillary platform ( Str. 3 01) abuts the Str. 3 03 on the northwestern s ide of plaza f loor IX. A large square ceremonial platform ( Str. 3 02) i s built i n the center of the plaza. A burial ( 119) of a primary male young adult i s buried in a crypt grave i n the plaza f loor i n axial a lignment with the front step of this ceremonial platform, possibly i n dedication to i t. The f inal plaster f loor was very fragmentary. Gerhardt suggests that i t covered both Str. 3 01 and 3 02. Str. 3 00 remained in use i n the f inal phase ( XIV). Burials were placed in every Cocos phase residential platform except phase VI ancillary platform 3 11. This structure had only one construction phase and i ts surface did not survive. Consequently, i t i s impossible to tell i f any f eatures at all i ncluding burials were originally cut from i ts surface. Thus, the evidence supports that burials were placed in a ll residential structures and no special s election of structures f or burial purposes existed. Burials of male and f emale adults and juveniles were i ncluded i n the i nternal construction f ills and f loors of the Cocos phase residential platforms, i ndicative of f amily-type residential burials. As i n the Middle Preclassic they were placed in i nitial, i ntermediate and terminal platform layers, again i ndicating the continuing tradition of the opportunistic placement of domestic burials and continued use of structures after burial. The opportunistic placement of domestic burials i s contrasted by the very purposeful placement of plaza f loor/rubble f ill burials and the two ceremonial platform burials. Burial 2 7 i s axially p laced within ceremonial platform Str. 3 52 and burial 1 7 i s axially p laced in ceremonial platform F 1 9. Burial 1 19, i n the plaza f loor, l ies parallel to the front of the step of ceremonial platform Str. 3 02. The early Cocos phase mass burial i s centrally placed in the plaza f loor. The second mass burial i s placed i n the same central l ocation in the f ootprint of the f irst. It i s c lear f rom Tables 1 7 and 1 8 that a s trikingly different population i s being buried i n the public plaza f loor area and the domestic e lite r esidences on the northern edge of the plaza. I f one considers only definitely sexed i ndividuals, the r atio of males to f emales/adults to children i s 2 8 : 0 /47 : 0 i n the public p laza area. For residential platforms ( house and ancillary i ncluded) the ratio i s 1 6 : 1 0/31 : 1 1. No statistical tests are necessary to see that 7 2

CONTEXT

SEX/ AGE

ANCILLARY UNKNOWN NORTH PLAT. PLATFORM PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION HOUSE CEREMONIAL PLAZA TOTAL PLATFORM PLATFORM FLOOR

MALE M/OA M/MA M?/MA M/Y-MA M?/Y-MA M/YA M?/YA M/A M?/A

4 2 6 1 1

2 1 -

1 2 2

2

1

_

1

-

1

1 1 -

2 3 5 2 1 0 4 1 0 2

2 1 -

8 3 9 2 1 8 6 1 2 3

-

-

-

3 2 5 1 2 1

FEMALE P/MA F ?/MA F/Y-MA F ?/Y-MA F/YA F ?/A

3

-

1 2 1

UNSEXED ? /MA ? /Y-MA ? /YA ? /A ? /15-19

1 1 -

-

1 2 4

4

3 0

1 2

1

-

1 2 1 3 -

1 1 -

2 3 2 4 1

3

2 6 7

9

1 03

JUVENILE 1 0-14 5 -9 BIRTH-4 TOTAL Table

1 7:

1

Cocos

Chicanel

2

3

4 7

age/sex distribution

of

context.

males are being s elected for public burials, thus implying the importance of males in public activity in the Cocos phase. Within the residential sector the ratio of men to women to children suggests the same f amily-type burial grouping seen i n the Middle Preclassic residences. If one were to i nclude possible males and females in the sample, the ratio in public plaza area would be 3 6 : 1 /47 : 0 . In residential areas i t would be 1 7 : 1 2/31 : 1 1. Even with the i nclusion of possible males and females the dominance of males in r itual contexts in the Cocos phase i s still clearly i llustrated. 7 3

CONTEXT

SEX/ AGE

M ADULT

HOUSE CEREMONIAL PLAZA PLATFORM PLATFORM FLOOR TOTAL ANCILLARY UNKNOWN NORTH PLAT. PLATFORM PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION 1 3

3

-

1

2 8

3

48

M ? ADULT

1

-

1

1

1 1

-

1 4

F ADULT

5

5

-

-

-

-

1 0

F ? ADULT

2

-

-

-

1

1

4

? ADULT

2

-

1

-

7

2

1 2

JUVENILE

7

4

-

1

-

3

1 5

3 0

1 2

2

3

47

9

1 03

TOTAL Table 1 8: context.

Summary of Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of

Only a few graves are found in other public locations ( je., ceremonial platforms and north platform construction associated occupation surface/fill layers). Three individuals are juvenile, the rest are adults, and only males adults are definitely sexed. These juvenile burials indicate that the male adult association i n public contexts i s restricted to the public plaza f loor area. It also should be considered whether there i s any difference within domestic burials ( ie., different populations buried i n platform ascribed a primary house function and those ascribed a primary ancillary function). The Male : Female/Adult : Juvenile ratio in house platforms i s 1 3 : 5 /23 : 7 ( 14 : 7/23 : 7 including possible cases). The Male : Female/Adult : Juvenile ratio in ancillary platforms is 3 : 5 /8 : 4 . Though in house platforms there i s a higher ratio of males to females and in ancillary platforms there is a higher ratio of f emales to males, the presence of both sexes and juveniles is suggestive of a family-type residential burial group. As previously discussed the classification of certain structures into the " ancillary" or "house" category i s often difficult because subsequent constructions destroy much of the tops of previous structures. Consequently one must be cautious about these categories. The age/sex distribution of burials in the northeastern and northwestern structures on Platform 3 4 ( regardless of their assignment to the "house" or " ancillary" category) will be considered. The Male : Female/Adult : Juvenile ratio in the northwestern platform is, 6 : 4 /11 : 4 ( or 7 : 4 /11 : 4 including possible cases). The Male : Female/Adult : 7 4

Juvenile ratio in the northeastern platform 4 : 3 /10 : 5 ( or 4 : 4 /10 : 5 i ncluding possible cases). Considering small sample s ize the Male : Female ratio i s f airly equal ( slightly f avoring males in the northwestern platform) and juveniles represent about one third of the buried population in both northern platforms. This age/sex distribution clearly f its a f amily-type residential burial pattern f or both of the northern platforms. Thus based on the burial evidence two theories can be suggested; 1 ) As f amily-type residential burials were i nterred i n each of the northern structures on P latform 3 4 i n the Cocos phase, both structures have equivalent f unctions a s house platforms ( primary residences); or 2 ) There i s no difference i n the age/sex distribution of burials interred i n s tructures having either an ancillary or a house ( primary residence) f unction. GRAVE TYPE

.

F ifty two graves ( including the two large mass burial graves) contain the 1 03 Cocos phase i nterments. The predominant grave type, 8 0% or 4 1 graves, i s still a s imple grave ( Tables 1 9 and 2 0 below). Simple graves contain single, double and triple, primary and secondary i nterments. Also both mass burials are i n s imple graves. All ages and sexes are buried i n simple graves. Six cist graves are f ound. Both sexes and one juvenile are f ound in cist graves. One c ist: capped pit variety contains a double burial of a primary f emale young adult and a secondary male adult ( burials 2 5 and 2 6). Two cist: partial cists contain a single primary possible male young adult ( burial 6 1) and a single primary f emale middle adult ( burial 1 17). One c ist: uncapped cist contains a primary juvenile aged 5 to 9 ( burial 6 4). Two cist: head cist graves contain a s ingle primary f emale middle adult ( burial 8 8 and 8 9). Five f emales, one possible male and one juvenile have cist graves. Of the f our crypt graves, two are s imple crypts containing a possible male young adult ( burial 1 7) and a male young adult ( burial 1 19). The other two are plaster crypts; one contains a double burial ( 15 and 1 6) of two primary individuals, one f emale young/middle adult and one male middle adult; and the other contains an adolescent aged 1 5 to 1 9 ( burial 2 7). More e laborate types of graves do not seem to be associated with a particular s ex though they are more l inked to adult than juvenile burials. Seven are located i n residential platforms, one i s located i n the plaza f loor ( just i n f ront of c eremonial Str. 3 02) and all ceremonial structure graves are crypts ( two cases only). More e laborate graves do not seem to be l inked to wealthier burials ( Table 2 1 below). In only one e laborate grave, a plaster crypt i n ceremonial platform Str. 3 52, i s there more than three grave goods. Consequently, grave type i s seen.

no association between grave wealth and

The predominance of s imple graves and the cist graves supports Ruz, but he makes no mention of crypt graves i n the Late Preclassic. 7 5

GRAVE TYPE SEX/AGE SIMPLE

CIST

CRYPT

TOTAL

1 7 3

-

1 -

1 8 3

M/Y-MA M?/Y-MA M/YA M?/YA

9 2 1 7 4

1

1 1

9 2 1 8 6

M/A M?/A

11 3

1 -

-

1 2 3

2 4 1 1 1

3

1 -

3 2 5 1 2 1

MALE M/OA M/MA M?/MA

FEMALE F/MA F?/MA F/Y-MA F?/Y-MA F/YA F?/A

1 -

UNSEXED ?/MA

2

-

-

2

?/Y-MA ?/YA ?/A

3 2 4

-

-

3 2 4

?/15-19

-

-

1

1

2 5 7

1 -

-

2 6 7

91

7

5

103

JUVENILE 1 0-14 5-9 BIRTH-4 TOTAL

Table

1 9:

Cocos Chicanel

age/sex distribution of grave type.

76

GRAVE TYPE SEX/AGE SIMPLE

CIST

CRYPT

TOTAL

M ADULT

4 5

1

2

4 8

M ? ADULT

1 2

1

1

1 4

F ADULT

5

4

1

10

F ? ADULT

4

-

-

4

? ADULT

1 1

-

1

1 2

JUVENILE

1 4

1

-

1 5

TOTAL

7 8

20

5

1 03

Table 20: Summary of Cocos grave type.

Chicanel

age/sex distribution of

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODS GRAVE TYPE

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 6

2 4

1 2

5

2

1

2

CIST

2

2

1

2

-

-

-

CRYPT

-

4

-

-

1

TOTAL

1 8

3 0

7

2

2

SIMPLE

1 3

7

8

9

1 0

TOTAL

1

3

1

-

-

-

-

7

-

-

-

-

-

5

2

-

1

3

1

79

6 7

Grave goods per individual in a grave not per grave; body bundles individuals from both mass burials are excluded, see discussion under grave goods Table 2 1: goods.

Cocos Chicanel grave type by total number of grave

SKELETAL POSITION AND AZIMUTH Extended, f lexed, seated, semi-reclining, disarticulated and skull-only positions occur in the Cocos phase ( Tables 2 2 and 2 3). The seated position, 4 3 % , i s the most common position. 2 8 % are f lexed, 1 7 % are extended and 1 2 % are semi-reclining ( only including those positions which resemble the human form). The f act that 3 1 % ( or 3 2 individuals) of the total Cocos phase sample are disarticulated reflects the l arge number of i ndividuals contained in body bundles in the two mass burials ( 24 individuals in all body bundles). Males and f emales have a similar distribution of skeletal positions. They both have extended, f lexed, seated 7 7

E 4 0

r I C O c i 0 1 N

C O r 4

N

e n

N L C 1 r I N

N

N

r 4

N

e h

0

E l 4 A 7 g C a

11

1 1 1 1 1 1 1

•

CI

I Ce

11 . -4 1 1

11

0

N

N

N

1

1

1

1

11

1

1

1

5

I

, 1 (4 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1

11

I

I

I

r 4 r4

I

I

4 I

1 . I C N I

I I

I

I I e l

e n

I

I

I

II I

, 4

8 1

11

, 1 1

, 1 1

1 1

1

1 1

II

11

1

1

11

1

1 1

I I

11

1

1 1

I

11

1 1 1 1

1

1

I

I

K e y f o r T a b l e 2 :

, 1 1 1 1 1 1

I

I I , 1

I I

1

1.1

I

1

18

1

I

11

, 1 1 cv l

1

I

1

I 11

1

• i i: I 1

. e r a E i

4 p a 4 C A C 2 4

1

, 1 1

I

. .......

I

1

1

I

1

. . ... -

. ...

1

1

r i

...

3

, i 4 1 3

1

W l e ) 1

, 1 1

N , i 1

I

I

I 4 -1 1

I

1

11 1

I e n

1 1

I

i n , -I

1 4

c • 0

1 1

A .

g i I 0

0 C C C . )

H I

N I

H r-1

11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

t 4 I

I

I I

I

I

I

I

1

H

11

I

1

I

I

I

I , I

1 1

I , 1

,

1

I, i

I

0 , 4

1 1

I

e I

I H

I

1 0

S K E L T A L P O S I T O N

-

l ei l

a

O w a eX w a N . c o

H I

I H I

11 1 1 1

H H I

I

Hr 1 1 1

i i i t ir ii i i

1 1 1

r-I I

1

1

1

I r-I I

I II

1

I

11

ii i

1

I I

11

1

st i l t

I

1

I 1 c % 8

e t

C --)

. 4 . 0 . 0 7

H , 1

N 4

7 X t a

1 3 ) . 0 4 . )

0 . 0 4 . )

. c

C P 4

6 ) • • 4

c 3 o

3

' 0

3 4

C 7 0 4 8

. 0 4 )

C 0

t n

c . t

a )

a 1 : 4

11

1 1 1 , . . . 4 1 1 1

11

1

1

1

1

11

1

I

1 1

I

1

1

I I

g a l e 0

, 1

0 > 4 3 . 0

, i

0 4 ) X U c a

8 4 y 4 .8

C , . 4

I

1

t l 0 E

•"4

0

E t^ e a y . ,

e

c . *x 4 t i l

I n 9: 3 1 c 1 0 c . , . 4 0 a d i t ) . 4

I

e

5g

\

>4

N rk

g a 4

78

J U V E N I L E

>4

U N S E X E D

g

X C . 3 C . 1 0 4

i

I

I 4 11 x . 4 E . 4 tc h I X QI H . ( i n c : 1

r )

e . 2 < E 4 0 E l

, i ' -' 1 4 N 8

• C 7 . 0

r 4

V) 9 ,

. 4

C » "4 0 , 4 0 0

c o

t i l E . 3 . 4 . 4 W• . C: 3:

.

4 4

. 0

C o c s C h i c a n e l a g e / s e x d i s t r i b u t i o n o f s k e l t a l

•

SKELETAL POSITION SEX/ AGE FLEXED EXTENDED

SEMIDIS RECLINING ARTICULATED TOTAL SEATED UNKNOWN SKULL

M/A

5

6

1 2

4

1

2 0

-

4 8

M?/A

-

2

2

-

3

7

-

1 4

F/A

1

2

5

2

-

-

-

1 0

F?/A

1

1

1

-

1

-

-

4

? /A

2

2

-

1

1

4

2*

1 2

* J

1

3

5

-

3

-

3

1 5

1 6

2 5

7

9

3 1

TOTAL

1 0

1 * Burial 1 Juvenile

.

5

1 03

consists o f teeth only

Table 2 3: Summary of Cocos Chicanel skeletal position.

age/sex distribution of

and semi-reclining positions with about two to three times as many occurrences of the most common position, seated, than the other positions. Juvenile burials are extended, f lexed and seated. The prevalence of the seated position among a ll ages and sexes, not just i n general, suggests that in the Cocos phase the seated position becomes i n vogue. Of the extended and f lexed burials the supine position i s s lightly the more common, possibly following from the predominance of the supine extended position in the Late Middle Preclassic. 9 of the extended and f lexed burials are supine, 4 cases are prone, 4 cases are on right s ide and 6 cases are on l eft s ide. One group of three graves, which are stratigraphically contemporary, are cut side by s ide with north-south axis i nto a f loor of Str. 3 12. In the central grave are two individuals, a f emale young adult and a juvenile aged 1 0 to 1 4. In the two outside graves l ie a male young adult and a male middle adult. Initial f ield i nterpretation of the placement of these graves in relation to one another suggested that the two outside graves were retainers. It was s peculated that the f emale individual i n the central grave may have been the f ocus for this group as there i s precedent at Altar de Sacrificios f or a f emale having an e laborate i nterment with sacrificial victims i ncluded i n a separate grave. A Late C lassic primary f emale burial ( Altar # 128) aged 4 0 to 4 4 has an e laborate grave containing f ifteen vessels, shell, jadeite, obsidian, f lint and stingray spines. Contemporary with this grave i s another grave of a primary f emale ( Altar # 96) aged 2 5 to 2 9 with f our ceramic vessels, 7 9

jadeite and f lint. Altar # 96 i s considered to have been r itually sacrificed f or Altar # 128 ( Adams, 1 971 : 7 8; Smith, 1 971 : 2 15). Neither i ndividual i n the central grave of the Cuello groups has an e laborate mortuary assemblage. Female burial 1 12 has one grave good, a chert unifacial tool which i s lodged between her f emur and pelvis, possibly symbolic of an unnatural death. Juvenile burial 1 11 i s buried with one Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl i nverted over his head. In f act, the i ndividuals in the outside graves have as many or more grave goods than the two in the central grave. Burial 1 10 i s associated with three vessels, a Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl, a Puletan Red and Unslipped, Puletan Variety olla and a Matamore Dichrome, Matamore Variety bucket. Burial 1 13 i s associated with one Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bucket. All the f our i ndividuals are primary. Nothing sufficiently i ndicates a s acrificial grouping as i n the Late C lassic Altar de Sacrificios group. Burial 1 12 i s buried supine extended, with an a zimuth of south and i ts head f acing up. The other three i ndividuals are buried prone extended with an a zimuth of south, with their heads f acing to the east. These are the only prone extended burials i n the Cocos phase. The upper body of female burial 1 11 i s turned to the right s ide to overly/protect the supine body of 1 12. If one considers the direction that the heads of a ll f our individuals are f acing, juvenile 1 12 i s f acing up, the other individuals a ll f ace east, with 110 and 1 11 looking towards 1 12 and 1 13, whose arms are pulled behind his back and possibly tied, i s l ooking away. The internal consistency within the three i ndividuals lying prone extended looking east while 1 12 l ies supine l ooking up may s ignify difference between 1 12 and the others, possibly indicating that this juvenile i s the f ocus of the group. Certainly, the s imilarity and unique placement of this group i s meaningful but of what we are unable to tell f rom the archaeological evidence. 4 2 % of a ll male burials are disarticulated; this reflects the l arge numbers of males in sacrificial body bundles. No f emales or juveniles are disarticulated. Completely disarticulated positions are exclusively a male adult f eature i n the Cocos Chicanel phase. Two adult burials are skull-only ( or tooth-only) i nterments. Unsexed adult tooth burial 1 1 consists of the teeth of a young/middle adult i ncluded in a triple burial with two other secondary decapitated i ndividuals ( burials 1 0 and 1 2) i n the phase V north platform construction associated occupation surface/fill l ayers. Unsexed middle adult burial 1 21 consists of teeth and cranial f ragments only and i s associated with a disarticulated i ndividual burial 1 22 in the north platform construction. The o ther three s ingle skullonly burials are juveniles. There i s no apparent position and context ( Table

correlation 2 4 below ). 8 0

between skeletal All positions are

f ound in residential platforms, with f ewer semi-reclining positions than extended, f lexed and seated. The two ceremonial platform burials are extended and f lexed. The extended position does not occur in the plaza f loor burials; here f lexed, seated and semi-reclining positions occur i n equal frequency. D isarticulated positions, reflecting the mass burial body bundles are a lmost exclusively restricted to the public plaza f loor burials. Only three examples of completely disarticulated positions exist outside the plaza f loor locus. It i s i nteresting that the three s ingle skull-only burials which are considered to a have a dedicatory function, are a ll f ound in r esidential platforms. All three date to the end of the middle Cocos phase. Skull burial 8 7 i s placed i n the initial construction f ill of possible ancillary Str. 3 05 and could be c onsidered a dedicatory offering to that construction. Both skull burials 9 2 and 9 6 are located in i nternal f ills of house platform Str. 3 07, one in the main house area and another i n the rear terrace area. Both could be seen as offerings to subsequent remodelings and r efloorings of Str. 3 07. The i nclusion of dedicatory offerings i n the e lite residential platforms i n the end of the middle Cocos phase i s i llustrative of the continuing growth of P latform 3 4 as a ceremonial precinct. It may possibly suggest that some ceremonial/public s ignificance was p laced upon these buildings as well as domestic. CONTEXT SKELETAL POSITION

ANCILLARY UNKNOWN NORTH PLAT. PLAT. PLAT. CONSTRUCTION HOUSE CEREMONIAL PLAZA PLAT. PLAT. FLOOR TOTAL

EXTENDED

7

-

1

1

-

1

1 0

FLEXED

6

1

1

-

5

3

1 6

SEATED

1 0

9

-

1

5

-

2 5

SEMIRECLINING

1

1

-

-

5

-

7

UNKNOWN

3

-

-

1

4

1

9

DIS* ARTIC

1

-

-

-

2 8

2

3 1

SKULL

2

1

-

-

-

* 2

5

TOTAL

3 0

1 2

2

3

4 7

9

1 03

* *

D i sarticulated Burial

Table

2 4:

1 1

consists Cocos

of teeth only

C hicanel

skeletal 8 1

position by context

Skull-only burials ( both adult and child) are f ound associated with public/ceremonial activity in temples, plazas and ceremonial platforms at San Jose, Uaxactun, Altun Ha and Altar de Sacrificios. In only two cases are skull-only burials associated with residential c onstructions. One i s the partial skull of an unsexed adult i n a palatial residence at Altun Ha. Another skull-only burial of an unsexed adult i s associated with a house-mound at Altar de Sacrificios. This skull, Altar de Sacrificios burial # 2 0, dates to the Jimba phase ( Postclassic). It was f ound in trench C i nto a small mound on Altar house-mound 2 . Excavations in trench C revealed no architectural remains, but 2 0 burials of Middle Preclassic to Postclassic dates were f ound. Smith suggests that a ll Jimba burials in trench C were intrusive and that possibly this area of mound 2 was used as a " special" burial mound in the Jimba phase and possibly earlier. Thus, Altar de Sacrificios skull burial # 2 0 can be considered a public burial. The evidence from these s ites supports the conclusion that skull-only burials are commonly associated with public architecture/areas. There i s no specific association between skeletal position and grave type ( Table 2 5 below ). Welsh f ound that simple and small cist graves were associated with the f lexed position and crypts with the extended position at 7 out of the 1 6 s ites in his study. If anything at Cuello i t would seem that f lexed and seated positions were more prevalent i n cists and crypts. Seated and semi-reclining burials are generally f ound in sub-circular shaped graves. Extended and f lexed burials are f ound i n sub-rectangular shaped graves, with the graves of f lexed burials usually being smaller than those of extended burials. Thus skeletal position reflects grave shape or vice versa. GRAVE

TYPE

SKELETAL POSITION

SIMPLE

CIST

CRYPT

TOTAL

EXTENDED

9

-

1

1 0

FLEXED

1 2

2

2

1 6

SEATED

2 1

2

2

2 5

6

1

-

7

4 8

5

5

5 8

SEMI-RECLINING TOTAL

Table

2 5:

Cocos

Chicanel

skeletal

position by grave type.

5 7 Cocos phase i ndividuals have a known a zimuth. Every cardinal and i ntercardinal direction i s represented ( Tables 2 6 and 2 7). West ( 25%) has the most occurrences but south 8 2

AZIMUTH SEX/AGE NE

E

SE

S

SW

W

NW

TOTAL

1 1 -

1 1 -

2 -

1 1 1

1 1 3 1 -

2 1 1 -

2 5 1 -

1 2 -

1 6 6 1 2 2 2 1

1 1 1 -

1 -

-

1 2 -

1 1 -

-

1 1

3 -

3 2 5 1 2 1

-

1 -

-

1 -

1 -

-

1

_

1 1 1 1

1 -

1 1

-

1 1 -

1 -

-

1 2

-

2 4 3

6

6

2

9

1 0

4

1 4

6

5 7

MALE M/OA M/MA M/Y-MA M/YA M?/YA N/A M?/A FEMALE F/MA F?/MA F/Y-MA F ?/Y-MA F/YA F?/A UNSEXED ? /Y-MA ? /YA ? /A ? /15-19 JUVENILE 1 0-14 5 -9 BIRTH-4 TOTAL

Table 2 6:

Cocos

Chicanel

age/sex distribution of a zimuth.

and southeast ( approximately 1 6% each) are not s ignificantly less. There i s no i ndication that any particular azimuth i s prevalent in the Cocos phase. Males occur in every direction just about evenly with a s lightly higher number of west a zimuths. Females occur i n every direction but east. Juveniles occur north, northeast, southeast, south and west with a s lightly higher number of west a zimuths. The a zimuths of an extended or f lexed body f ollow the axis of the grave ( where grave cut i s discernable). Since most seated burials are i n sub-circular graves, there i s no grave axis.

8 3

AZIMUTH SEX/AGE N

NE

E

SE

S

SW

W

NW

TOTAL

M ADULT

2

2

2

2

5

3

8

3

2 7

M ? ADULT

-

-

-

1

1

1

-

-

3

F ADULT

2

1

-

2

2

-

-

3

1 0

F ? ADULT

1

-

-

1

-

-

2

-

4

? ADULT

-

1

-

1

1

-

1

-

4

JUVENILE

1

2

-

2

1

-

3

_

TOTAL

6

6

2

9

1 0

4

1 4

6

Table 2 7: a zimuth

9 5 7

Summary of Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of

Comparing a zimuths with context, there appears to be no absolute correlation between the two ( Table 2 8 below). None of the residential platform burials are axial. One of the residential burials ( 23) i s located i n a house platform lying south on P latform 3 4 and has an a zimuth of west. All the other residential burials l ie i n northern platforms and f ace every cardinal and intercardinal direction with no preference f or any one. Consequently, as seen i n the Middle Preclassic, no association between location or a zimuth of a residential structure and skeletal a zimuth exists.

the

The one ceremonial platform burial i s axially placed i n structure and has an a zimuth of west.

Within the plaza f loor, though every cardinal and intercardinal direction i s represented except northwest, 5 4% ( 7 individuals), are west. Of the three single burials i n the plaza f loor, burial 9 1 located i n the center of the f loor i s west, burial 1 09 in the south end of the plaza f loor i s completely disarticulated and, thus, has no a zimuth and burial 1 19 associated with Str. 3 02 i s north f ollowing the axis of this structure. In the e arly Cocos phase Mass Burial 1 , 5 6% ( 18 i ndividuals) were i nterred i n such a severely mutilated condition that they never were meant to have a specific a zimuth and 1 9% ( six i ndividuals) were too poorly preserved to discern their original a zimuth. Of the remaining 2 5% ( eight i ndividuals), 5 0% ( 4) have an a zimuth of west, including central i ndividual burial 51. Of the remaining 5 0%, half, burial 2 9 with an a zimuth of east and burial 3 4 with an a zimuth of southeast, are oriented out f rom the center of the mass burial. The other half, burial 3 6 with an a zimuth of northeast and c entral i ndividual burial 5 0 with an a zimuth of southwest, are oriented i n to the center of the mass burial. In the l ater Mass Burial 2 only 8 4

three burials have a known a zimuth. Burials 70 and 79, both seated, have a zimuths of west and Burial 6 8 has an a zimuth of south. Thus, 5 8% of the public burials in the plaza with known azimuths are west. West i s also the locus of the main ceremonial platform on Platform 3 4 in the Cocos phase. The correlation between plaza burials and a predominantly western or towards-the-pyramid azimuth may again signify the importance of these burials in public/ceremonial rituals. As public burials with azimuths of west make up half the burials with western azimuths, it i s only these public burials that the s lightly higher number of western azimuths in Tables 2 6 and 2 7 reflect, not a overall site preference at Cuello for western azimuths.

CONTEXT HOUSE CEREMONIAL PLATFORM PLATFORM ANCILLARY UNKNOWN AZIMUTH PLATFORM PLATFORM

PLAZA FLOOR

TOTAL NORTH PLAT. CONSTRUCTION

N

3

1

-

-

1

1

6

NE

2

3

-

-

1

-

6

E

1

-

-

-

1

-

2

SE

4

3

-

-

1

1

S

7

-

-

1

1

1

1 0

SW

1

1

1

-

1

-

4

W

4

-

1

-

7

2

1 4

NW

3

3

-

-

-

-

6

2 5

1 1

2

1

1 3

5

5 7

TOTAL

Table

2 8:

Cocos

Chicanel

9

azimuth by context

There i s no relationship between azimuth and grave type in the Cocos phase ( Table 2 9). There is no correlation between skeletal position and a zimuth in the Cocos phase at Cuello ( Table 30). Seven of the ten extended burials have an azimuth of south. The seeming correlation between the extended position and a a zimuth of south only reflects the fact that a group of f our i ndividuals in three graves, all archaeologically coeval, are buried extended to the south ( see previous discussion, burials 1 10-113).

85

GRAVE TYPE AZIMUTH SIMPLE

CIST

CRYPT

TOTAL

N

4

1

1

6

NE

6

-

-

6

E

2

-

-

2

SE

8

1

-

9

S

9

-

1

1 0

SW

2

-

2

4

W

1 3

-

1

1 4

NW

3

3

-

6

TOTAL

4 7

5

5

5 7

Table

2 9:

Cocos

Chicanel

azimuth by grave type.

SKELETAL POSITION AZIMUTH SEMIRECLINING

EXTENDED

FLEXED

SEATED

N

1

2

2

1

6

NE

-

-

5

1

6

E

-

-

1

1

2

SE

-

3

5

1

9

S

7

1

2

-

1 0

SW

-

1

2

1

4

W

2

5

5

2

1 4

4

2

-

6

1 6

2 4

7

5 7

NW TOTAL

Table

1 0

3 0:

Cocos

Chicanel

azimuth by skeletal

TOTAL

position.

For 25 Cocos phase interments the direction the head was f acing is discernable ( Tables 3 1 and 3 2). As we found with skeletal azimuth, the heads of individuals were turned to f ace any direction following no identifiable patterns. 8 6

HEAD FACING SEX/AGE N

NE

E

SE

S

SW

W

NW

UP

DOWN

TOTAL

M/OA M/MA

-

-

1

1 -

-

-

-

. MN•

• •••

• I IM

-

-

-

e n»

.m .

1 1

M/M-YA M/YA

1 1

_

1

-

1 -

1 1

1

-

1

1

3 6

M?/YA M?/A

-

-

-

1

-

_

1 _

_ _

_

-

1 1

F/MA

-

-

1

-

_

_

_

_

_

_

1

F?/MA F/Y-MA F7/Y-MA

1 -

* 1 -

-

-

1

_

_

_

2 _

-

1 3 1

F/YA

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

1 -

-

-

1 1

10-14 BIRTH-4

1

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1 -

-

1 2

TOTAL

5

1

4

2

2

3

2

1

4

1

25

MALE

FEMALE

UNSEXED ?/YA ?/15-19 JUVENILE

Table

31:

Cocos

Chicanel

age/sex

distribution

of

head

facing.

HEAD FACING SEX/AGE N

NE

E

SE

S

SW

W

NW

M ADULT

2

-

2

1

1

2

1

-

1

1

11

M ? ADULT

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

2

F ADULT

-

1

2

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

5

F ? ADULT

1

-

-

-

1

-

_

_

_

_

2

? ADULT

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

2

JUVENILE

1

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

-

3

TOTAL

5

1

4

1

2

3

2

1

4

1

25

Table 3 2: head

Summary of Cocos Chicanel

facing. 87

UP DOWN

TOTAL

age/sex distribution of

The relationship between head f acing, a zimuth and skeletal position appears to be nothing beyond random ( Table 3 3 below). Some i nsight i nto the importance of head f acing i s indicated by the relationship of head f acing to the i nternal patterning of a grave or grave group. SKELETAL POSITION AND AZIMUTH

HEAD FACING

FLEXED EXTENDED • W

N

SE

SW

W

NW

N

S EATED NE SE W 1

2 NE

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

SE

-

1 _

SW

_

_

_ NW -

-

-

DOWN

-

_

_

_

TOTAL

6

2

1.

2

_

-

1 -

-

1

4 2

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

1

1

_

_

_

1

2

_

_

_

1

1

_

_

1

1

1 1

1

1

_

4

_

1 2

1 -

_

1

_

1

UP

-

1

1

1

-

-

S EMI-R TOTAL W

_

_

_

2

_

_

1

-

-

4

_

_

_

1

3

2

1

2 2

Semi-reclining **

Also the skull of burial 9 6 ( Skull-only interment) north; the skull of burial 1 02 ( unknown position) southwest; and the skull of burial 1 25 ( disarticulated) southwest.

TABLE 3 3: position

f aces f aces f aces

Cocos Chicanel head f acing by a zimuth and skeletal

A group of three Cocos phase house platform graves containing three i ndividuals f acing east and one f acing up was mentioned above. In a double burial of two f emale primary young/middle adults ( burials 81 and 8 2) i n a house platform, burial 8 2's head i s turned to the northeast to f ace her companion. In Mass Burial 1 the head of central i ndividual burial 5 1 i s turned to the north to l ook at his companion. It i s possible that the absence of a predominant head f acing direction at Cuello i s because head f acing i s a burial position that reflects specific i ndividual relationships whose meaning i t would be impossible to quantify now. 8 8

GRAVE GOODS -TYPES

OF GRAVE GOODS-

The Cocos phase mortuary assemblage i s the most diversified of the Preclassic phases at Cuello ( Tables 3 4 and 3 5). Types of grave goods found in the Cocos phase are ceramic vessels ( local and non-local ( one example)), ceramic rings ( one), bone tubes ( seven), jade beads ( nine), greenstone beads ( two), shell ( beads, seven; pendants/ornaments, nine; bracelets/necklaces, three; unprovenienced groups of beads, two), obsidian blades ( two), chert tool ( one), ground stone metates ( two), ? mica ( or nacre) ( one) and r ed ocher ( two). Continuation of Middle Preclassic trade routes between Cuello and both the Guatemalan highlands and Maya Mountains i s i llustrated by the presences of jade, greenstone, obsidian, ground stone and possibly mica. The f irst trade ( whether direct or indirect cannot be known) between Cuello and El Salvador i s i llustrated by the presence of a Olocuitla Orange Usulutan tetrapod vessel 6 i n the burial assemblage. This i s the only imported ceramic vessel f ound at Cuello. It i s dated by Demarest and Sharer ( 1982) to from 4 00 BC to 1 00 AD. In the Middle Preclassic the mortuary assemblage did not differ from the domestic assemblage. Again, i n the Late Preclassic an absence of a specific mortuary assemblage i s noted. The possibility that the ceramic mortuary contexts varied from refuse contexts was tested by Pyburn and Kosakowsky ( n. d.) comparing mortuary ceramics and refuse ceramics f rom the 1 980 f ield season. This analysis concludes that, within the l imits of sample s ize, no specific mortuary assemblage i s noted in the Cocos phase. There are a f ew grave good types unique to mortuary contexts i n the Cocos phase. These are all f ound in mass burial assemblages. Mica i s possibly f ound once at Cuello

6

T his O locu itla O range U sulutan o range r esist t etrapod b ow l i s f ound p r imarily s mashed o ver y oung a dult b ur ials 7 0 a nd 7 9 b ut p ieces o f i t a re a lso f ound i n o ther c ontexts. O ther s herds a re f ound i n p laster ( 1175), t he d iscontinuous p laster o f p laza f loor I V ( phase V III) b e low M ass B urial 2 , t he r ubb le f ill o f M ass B ur ial 1 , a nd t he f ill a round b oth b ody b undles 4 7 -49 a nd 5 2 -60 o f M ass B urial 1 . T wo t heories c an e xp lain t his s ituation . O ne , t his U sulutan b ow l w as o riginally p laced s mashed o ver b urials 7 0 a nd 7 9 , s tratigraphically t he h ighest c ontext i n w hich i t w as f ound , a nd p ieces s ifted d own i n t he l oose f ills o f b oth m ass b urials i nto t he l ower e arlier m ass b urial. T wo , i t w as o riginally b uried w ith o ne o f t he b ody b und les o f t he e arly m ass b urial a nd w hen t he l ater m ass b ur ial w as d ug p rotrud ing i nto t he e arlier o ne p ieces o f t his v essel w ere b rought u p a nd i ncorporated w ith t he l ater M ass B urial 2 . U nfortunately t his U sulutan t ype h as a b road d ate r ange , 4 00 B C t o 1 00 A D ( Demarest a nd S harer , 1 982), s o i t c ould b elong t o e ither m ass b urial. T he s catter o f t he U sulutan p ieces, i nfiltrating m any c ontexts m ay i nd icate t he r andom s ifting o f p ieces t hrough l oose f ills. I t w ou ld b e m ore d ifficu lt t o e xp la in t he m any c ontexts t he p ieces a re i n , i f o ne a ccepts t heory t wo . I n t heory t wo , o ne w ould b e m ost l ikely t o f ind p ieces a ssociated w ith t he o ne o r iginal b ody b undle i n M ass B urial 1 a nd t he l ater M ass B urial 2 o nly . I t i s m ore d ifficult t o e xp lain i ts s pread t o a nother b ody b undle i n t he e arly m ass b urial a nd t he p laza f loor. I f o ne a ccepts t heory o ne , i t i s i nteresting t hat n one o f t he o ther s mashed v essels o f t he l ater m ass b ur ial a lso s ifted d own . T he t hree o ther s mashed v essels a re c ommon S ierra R ed v esse ls. T hey w ere n ot c omp lete w hen r econstructed f rom t he s herds f rom M ass B urial 2 , t hus i t i s p ossib le p ieces m ay a lso h ave s ifted d own a nd w ere u nnoticed b ecause o f t he ir c ommonness. C onsequently , t heory o ne s eems t he b est c onsidering t he p resent e v idence a nd w ill b e t he o ne u sed i n t his a nalysis. I t i s a cknow ledged t hat b oth 1 a nd 2 a re p ossib le .

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on a shell pendant a ssociated with possible male young adult burial 6 8, one of the upper i ndividuals in Mass Burial 2 . Seven bone tubes which possibly f unctioned as f an handles ( see discussion i n Chapter 2 ) are associated with male young/middle adult burial 5 0 and male young adult burial 5 1, the two central i ndividuals of the earlier Mass Burial 1 . Two ceramic types are a lso unique to the Late Formative mortuary assemblage. The Usulutan vessel, mentioned above, i s smashed over both burials 7 0 and 7 9 ( both male young adults) of the l ater Mass Burial 2 . A Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety amphora i s a unique vessel type associated with male young adult burial 5 1 of Mass Burial 1 . I t i s i nteresting to note that the specifically mortuary objects, with the exception of the f our bone tubes associated with burial 5 0 ( Y-MA ), are a ll associated with young adult males. It can be s aid that unique objects are associated with adults under 4 0, but as burial 5 0 holds f our of the ten unique burial objects and his age category ( Y-MA) overlaps with the middle adult ( 35-45) age group i t cannot be discerned how real this association between unique objects and the younger portion of the Cuello adult population really i s. Three of the graves of Cocos phase individuals did not l ie completely within the excavation trench. These are double burial ( 45 and 4 6), a male young adult and a possible male middle adult, who were associated with no grave goods, and burial 1 09, a possible male adult who i s associated with a Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bucket and one shell bead. The grave good associations of these three i ndividuals must be considered a minimum count as they extend unexcavated i n section. One burial ( 28), a male middle adult located i n a s imple grave i n a house p latform may be associated with one potsherd. On the p lan drawing ( Appendix A ) an unidentified potsherd i s drawn above his l eft knee. There i s no mention of this potsherd or any other grave goods being associated with this i ndividual i n the f ield notes. Thus, i t i s impossible to know i f this i s an actual grave good or just associated with the f ill around the body as no cut was discernable between the body and surrounding layer. As this potsherd cannot with certainty be attributed to burial 2 8, he i s considered to have no grave goods. A total of 2 4 i ndividuals will be excluded f rom the f ollowing analysis. These are a ll the interments f rom the f ive human body bundles, burials 4 1-44, 4 7-49, 5 2-60, 71-74 and 7 5-78, i n the two mass burials. Body bundles are unique to the mass burials. The i ndividuals they contain are s o mutilated and jumbled together that they retain no i dentity as i ndividuals. Four of the bundles are associated with e ither one ceramic vessel or one j ade bead. However, i t i s impossible to tell i f these objects were intended f or any particular i ndividual i n the bundle. These bundles could be considered offerings or " human grave goods" f or the i ndividuals around whom and i n whose l ap they l ay. 9 3

Additionally, the grave goods a ssociated with the bundles could be associated with the i ndividuals i n whose l ap they l ay. Thus, i t i s impossible to s ay i f any grave goods were actually meant f or the body bundles. It can be suggested that these i ndividuals have not only lost their i dentities as i ndividuals i n physical space but a lso i n social space. As i t was individuals are

decided to exclude these i ndividuals, i ncluded i n the f ollowing s ample.

7 9

In two cases a ceramic vessel i s counted f or two i ndividuals; double primary f emale burials 81 and 8 2 are s eated together with one very l arge Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl i nverted over their heads, and double male burials 5 0 and 5 1, the central individuals in Mass Burial 1 , have three Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety vessels, one bucket, ' one o lla, and one f laring bowl r itually smashed over their heads. Here i t seems that the vessels are associated with both primary i ndividuals. Consequently, each of burials 81 and 8 2 are counted as having one vessel and each of burials 5 0 and 5 1, among other grave goods, are counted as having three r itually smashed vessels. 7 7% ( 61 i ndividuals) of the Cocos phase i nterments have grave goods. 6 9% ( 55 i ndividuals) have at l east one ceramic vessel. Of the 6 i ndividuals with grave goods who do not have ceramic vessels two are f rom Mass Burial 1 , one unsexed young/middle adult ( burial 3 6) associated with an obsidian blade, and one possible male young adult ( burial 3 9), with one greenstone axe; one i s from the phase f ive occupation surface, a male young/middle adult ( burial 1 0), with two j ade beads and s ix shell beads; and three are f rom residential platforms, a f emale young adult ( burial 1 12), with a chert unifacial tool, a juvenile aged f ive to nine ( burial 8 6), with a shell pendant and a juvenile aged one to f our ( burial 1 02) with two shell objects, one pendant and one bracelet, and one greenstone bead. 2 3% ( 19 i ndividuals) have some type of shell object. The r emaining Cocos phase grave goods are only occasionally f ound i n burial assemblages. Ceramic vessels, l ocally made, are associated with adults of both sexes and a ll age groups. The mean number of pots per Cocos phase i ndividual i s 1 .16. Males have a mean number of 1 .56 pots per i ndividual ( 1.40 when possible males are i ncluded), f emales, 1 .09 ( 1.33 when possible f emales are i ncluded) and juveniles, 0 .73. The difference i n the mean numbers of pots between the two sexes and juveniles i s small, males have a higher mean then f emales and f emales than juveniles. Including possible cases, male/female differentiation no l onger exists. Male middle adults have a mean number of 1 .00 pots per i ndividual ( the s ame when possible males are i ncluded), while male young adults have 1 .85 ( 1.59 when possible males are i ncluded). Though this a ssociation shows that young adult males have more pots than middle adult males, we cannot make this statement with certainty, because eight male i ndividuals could not be aged more precisely than young/middle adults. The mean number of 9 4

pots per male young/middle adult i ndividual i s 1 .75. If the actual age at death of these i ndividuals f ell i nto the l ater part of the 3 0 to 4 0 year range, then l ittle or no difference would exist between the young and middle males. Within domestic contexts ( house and ancillary platforms) the mean number of pots per i ndividual i s 0 .93. Males have, 1 .05 ( or 1 .00 i ncluding possible cases), and f emales, 1 .09 ( or . 92 i ncluding possible cases), have roughly the same number of ceramic objects per i ndividual in domestic contexts. Male middle adults have, 1 .00 ( 0.89 i ncluding possible cases), and male young adults, 1 .00 ( same including possible cases), have roughly the same mean number of pots. It i s the young/middle male group that has the highest mean, 1 .25 pots per i ndividual. Consequently, nothing can be said about the adult age distribution of the mean number of pots f or males in domestic contexts. Juveniles have 0 .73, s lightly less than adults. Within public/ceremonial contexts, individual i n Mass Burial 1 , have a mean number of 1 .78 pots, and individuals i n Mass Burial 2 , have 2 .25 ( in both cases body bundle i ndividuals have been excluded). Males within Mass Burial 1 have 3 .00 ( 2.00 i ncluding possible cases) pots per i ndividual. Unfortunately, no definite male middle adults ( excluding body bundle i nterments) are f ound i n Mass Burial 1 . One o ld adult has one pot; and two male young have one and s even pots respectfully; two possible male young adults have no pots; and three male young/middle adults have one, three and f ive pots respectively. The sample from Mass Burial 2 comprises only f our i ndividuals; two male young adults have f our pots, one possible male young adult has one pot, and one possible male middle adult has no pots. The overall s ite trend of males having a greater mean number of ceramic vessels than f emales and juveniles, only reflects the high total number of ceramic vessels f or males i n the public plaza f loor l ocus. Ceramic vessels are either i ncluded i n the grave whole or r itually smashed above an i ndividual. Whole vessels are more common. However, thirteen individuals, i ncluding both sexes and juveniles, are associated with ( a) ritually smashed vessel(s). The smashed vessels are located above the head or body of the i ndividual with one exception: burial 1 09 i s lying above a r itually smashed Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bucket. Ritual smashing of vessels i s associated with both pairs of central i ndividuals i n the two mass burials, but i t i s a lso a ssociated with common household burials containing no other grave goods aside from the one smashed pot. This suggests that the r itual smashing of ceramic vessels i s a f airly common custom unrestricted by age, sex and contexts i n the Cocos phase. Only one non-pot ceramic object, a ring, i s f ound in the Cocos phase mortuary assemblage. It i s associated with a male young adult f rom Mass Burial 1 . 9 5

Shell objects are associated with 19 individuals. Shell bead(s) are found with five individuals; one male young/middle adult, two possible males, one young adult and one adult, one possible female young adult, and one unsexed adult. Shell pendants/ornaments are associated with seven individuals; two males, one old adult and one young/middle adult, one possible male young/middle adult, one possible female adult, and two juveniles, one aged 1 to 4 and the other aged 5 to 9. Shell necklaces/bracelets are associated with two individuals, both are juveniles aged 1 to 4. Two unprovenienced groups of shell beads are found with a No possible female middle adult and an unsexed adult. apparent correlation between shell objects and age or sex However, no definite females are found in exists. association with shell objects. Shell grave goods are found in both public and domestic contexts. One chert unifacial tool is the only chert object in the Cocos phase sample. It is associated with female young adult burial 111. Prepared red ocher is found with two male individuals, a middle adult (burial 85) located in an ancillary platform, and a young adult (burial 79), one of the two main individuals in Mass Burial 2. Seven decorated bone tubes are associated with the two central individuals in Mass · Burial 1. Male young adult (burial 51) is associated with three bone tubes decorated with simple I2..Q12 design. Male young/middle adult (burial 50) is associated with four bone tubes, two have simple I2..Ql2 design and two have religious motifs: one is decorated with a profile of a serpent form, and the other with squared-off scroll/rain cloud design. The gQR design is the Maya symbol for lordship (Hammond, 1980) and serpent is a symbol for the heavens (Roys, 1933). These bone tubes resemble in type and decoration the fan handles said to be symbols of rulers in the Katun prophecies (Roys, 1933). Thus, the Cuello bone tubes could be interpreted as ritual/religious symbols of important members 6f Cuello's ruling lineage. Their uniqueness to the mortuary assemblage and association with the two central individuals in Mass Burial 1 supports this. Summarizing the age/sex distribution of local grave goods; the most common local grave goods, shell and ceramic The more pots, are associated with all ages and sexes. unusual local iterns are only found with adults. A chert tool is associated with a female burial. Other unique local objects, a ceramic ring, red ocher and bone tubes are associated with males. Long distance trade items including both utilitarian ground stone and obsidian, and luxury jade, greenstone, and possibly mica, are found occasionally in burial contexts. Two ground stone metates, one of sandstone, and the other of quartzite, are associated with a male young/middle 96

adult

f rom Mass

Burial

1 ,

and

a juvenile

aged

f ive

to

nine

f rom a house p latform. Obsidian b lades ( 2) are f ound with a male young adult burial 7 9, one of the two main i ndividuals i n Mass Burial 2 , and an unsexed young/middle adult, f rom Mass Burial 1 . Jade beads are associated with adults. No definite f emales have jade beads. Burials 6 8, a possible male young adult, and 7 0, a male young adult, i n Mass Burial 2 , are associated with one and f our jade beads respectively. Possible f emale adult burial 3 0, i n Mass Burial 1 , i s associated with one j ade bead. Both decapitated male young/middle adult burial 1 0, and decapitated possible f emale young/middle adult burial 1 2, part of a triple burial i n the phase f ive occupation surface, are a ssociated with two and one j ade beads respectively. F ive of the nine jade beads are associated with young adult i ndividuals. Three are associated with i ndividuals who may f all into the young/middle category. Greenstone beads adults and juveniles. middle adult and a residential platforms. young adult f rom Mass

( 2), and axes ( 1), are associated with The beads are associated with a f emale juvenile, aged 1 to 4 , both from The axe i s f ound with a possible male Burial 1 .

One piece of ? mica ( or nacre) i s f ound with a shell pendant f rom burial 6 8, a possible male young adult from Mass Burial 2 . E leven of the 1 7 l ong distance trade i tems are f ound i n one of the two mass burials. Three are f ound with two i ndividuals f rom a triple s acrifice i n the phase f ive o ccupation surface. The only l ong distance trade i tems a ttributable to definite f emales and juveniles are f ound i n r esidential burial contexts. Jade i s a ssociated with adults. Only male burials associated with j ade are definitely sexed i ndividuals. The l ess valuable greenstone i s associated with f emales and juveniles. Though a ll ages and sexes have access to long distance trade i tems, they are much more commonly a ssociated with public/ceremonial burials of males. This i s c ertainly the case i f one only considers definitely sexed i ndividuals. F ive i tems are associated with male young adults, three with possible male young adults and three with male young/middle adults. Considering the overlap in the r ange of the young/middle adult category and the middle adult c ategory, i t i s difficult to s ay i f l ong distance trade i tems have a greater a ssociation with young males. I n contrast to the Middle Preclassic, where access to l ong distance trade i tems was associated with high overall total numbers of grave goods, i n the Cocos phase, long distance trade i tems are f ound with i ndividuals possessing no other grave goods, as well as, those possessing many.

9 7

-TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODSThe total number of grave goods associated with an individual ranges from 0 to 1 0 ( Tables 3 6 and 3 7 above). 2 3% of the Cocos phase i ndividuals have no grave goods. 41% have one, 1 6% have two, 9% have three, and only small numbers thereafter have more than three. There is no age/sex correlation between simple presence or absence of grave goods.

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE

GOODS

SEX/AGE 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 0

TOTAL

M/OA M/MA M?/MA M/Y-MA M/YA M?/YA

1 2 1 4 1

3 2 4 3

1 2 1 1 1 -

1 1 -

1 -

1

1 -

_

1 _

1 1 _

1 _

1 6 3 8 1 3 5

M/A M?/A

1 1

2 -

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3 3

F/MA F?/MA F/Y-MA F?/Y-MA

-

1 4 -

2 -

2 1 -

1

_

_

_

_

_

_

3 2 5 1

F/YA F?/A

1 -

1 -

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

2 1

1 1 -

1 3 -

-

1 -

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

1 2 1 3 1

1 3

1 4 1

1 1 1

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

2 6 7

1 8

3 0

1 3

7

2

2

2

1

3

1

7 9

MALE

FEMALE

UNSEXED ?/MA ?/Y-MA ?/YA ?/A ?/15-19 JUVENILE 1 0-14 5 -9 BIRTH-4 TOTAL

Table 3 6: Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of total number of grave goods.

9 8

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE

GOODS

SEX/AGE 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 0

TOTAL

M ADULT

7

1 1

5

2

1

-

1

-

1

2

1

3 1

M? ADULT

4

3

3

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

1 1

F ADULT

1

6

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1 0

F ?

-

-

2

-

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

4

? ADULT

2

4

-

1

-

1

-

_

_

_

_

8

JUVENILE

4

6

3

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

1 5

3 0

1 3

7

2

2

2

-

1

3

1

7 9

ADULT

TOTAL

1 8

-

Table 3 7: Summary of Cocos Chicanel total number of grave goods.

age/sex distribution of

The mean number of grave goods per Cocos phase i ndividual i s 1 .92. Almost a ll the i nterments f all within two s tandard deviations, the normal range, of the mean. Only f ive i ndividuals, those with seven or more grave goods, f all beyond the normal two standard-deviation range f or the sample. Four of these, burials 5 0, 51, 7 0, and 1 0, are male, two young adults and two young/middle adults. Only one i s possibly f emale ( burial 3 0). Possible f emale burial 3 0 i s an anomalous case, not just because of her high number of grave goods ( as the highest number of grave goods f or a definitely sexed f emale i s three), but in her inclusion i n Mass Burial 1 , an otherwise male burial locus. All of these f ive i ndividuals are sacrificial burials, four from the mass burials, and one, burial 1 0, part of a triple sacrifice in the phase V occupation surface. Thus, whether the grave goods of these i ndividuals represent the wealth of the i ndividual per se, or the i mportance of the r itual burial activity i n which they were a part i s difficult to say. Certainly, wealth i n terms of total number of grave goods i s f ocused on public/sacrificial male burials i n the Cocos phase. The mean total number of grave goods per male i s 2 .43 ( or 2 .12 i ncluding possible cases), per f emale, i s 1 .36 ( or 2 .14 i ncluding possible cases), per adult, i s 2 .02 and per juvenile, i s 1 .40. The overall s ite pattern, when considering only definite cases, i ndicates that males have a higher mean number of grave goods than f emales. If possible cases are i ncluded no such dichotomy exists. Due to the small s ample s ize of f emales, the i nclusion of anomalous possible f emale burial 3 0 greatly affects the mean number of grave goods f or f emales. Adults have a s lightly higher mean number of grave goods than juveniles. Within the male group middle adults have a mean number of 1 .16 ( or 1 .00 i ncluding 9 9

possible cases) grave goods, and young adults have, 2 .62 ( or 2 .33 including possible cases). But, since the mean number of grave goods for the male young/middle adult category i s 3 .50, it is impossible to tell if young adults are indeed generally associated with more grave goods than middle adults. To understand further the age/sex relationships suggested by the overall mean numbers of grave goods presented above, the relationship between total number of grave goods and context must be considered ( Table 3 8 below).

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE

GOODS

CONTEXT 0

1

2

3

HOUSE PLATFORM

7

1 2

6

5

ANCILLARY PLATFORM

1

7

2

2

CEREMONIAL PLATFORM

-

1

-

-

UNKNOWN PLATFORM

-

2

1

-

PLAZA FLOOR

5

7

4

NORTH PLAT. CONST. 5

1

TOTAL

Table 3 8: context.

1 8

3 0

Cocos

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 0

TOTAL

-

-

-

-

-

-

3 0

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1 2

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

1

1

1

3

1

2 3

1

1

2

1

-

1

1 1 3

7

Chicanel

2

2

total

number

of

9 3

grave

1

goods

7 9

by

From Table 3 8 above, the contrast between domestic context burials and public context burials i s clear. It i s the public burials, which are predominantly male ( Tables 1 7 and 1 8), that consume the most "wealth" in terms of total number of grave goods. We can suggest that the higher grave good wealth ascribed to males in the above overall analysis, reflects the overall high grave good wealth of the public, predominantly male burials, not the male gender as a whole. In residential contexts 25% ( 8 individuals) have no grave goods. Little variation i n total number of grave goods, ranging from 0 to 3 grave goods ( mean - 1 .33), i s observed among residential platform burials. Also, these domestic burials exhibit l ittle differentiation in grave wealth i n terms of grave goods between the two functional 1 00

types, ancillary a nd house platforms ( mean total number of grave goods: house platform = 1 .30, and ancillary platform = 1 .41). Neither i s there much differentiation between the grave wealth i n terms of grave goods between the northeastern and northwestern s tructures on P latform 3 4 ( mean total number of grave goods: northeastern structure = 1 .40, and northwestern structure = 1 .50). There i s a lso no age/sex differentiation i n total numbers of grave goods among residential burials. Total number of grave goods per male i s, 1 .14 ( 1.18 i ncluding possible cases), per f emale i s, 1 .36 ( 1.38 i ncluding possible cases), per adult i s, 1 .28 and per juvenile i s, 1 .18. The s ame l ack of age/sex differentiation of total number of grave goods observed i n the Middle Preclassic continues into the Late Preclassic, i n residential contexts. Public context burials are significantly more "wealthy" than domestic. N ine males , f ive possible males, three unsexed adults and one possible f emale compose the two mass burials ( excluding body bundles). These two large s acrificial mass burials i n the center of the plaza f loor combined, have a mean number of 3 .10 grave goods per i ndividual, much higher than the domestic burials. But s till, 2 5% ( 5 i ndividuals) have no grave goods, roughly the s ame as seen f or domestic burials. Males within the mass burials have a mean number of 4 .66 ( or 3 .13 i ncluding possible cases) grave goods. It i s these males, rather than the male population as a whole, that are r eflected i n the h igh overall mean f or males; not pointing to overall sexual d ifferentiation among total number of grave goods, but public/domestic burial differentiation. It i s uncertain who the sacrificial i ndividuals in the mass burials were. I t i s a lso uncertain whether the "wealth" exhibited by these s acrificial i ndividuals, represents their i ndividual wealth or the collective wealth of the sacrificial burial rite. Neither i ndividuals, nor grave goods were randomly d ispersed within the mass burials. I n both cases two i ndividuals are the f irst to be p laced i n the mass burial. These two pairs are physically the central f ocus of the group. In each c ase, both central f igures have human body bundles i n their l aps. The remainder of the i nterments are l ocated around the central two. I n Mass Burial 1 , s ingle and double i nterments l ie horizontally around the central f igures. In Mass Burial 2 , the remaining i nterments l ie vertically above the two central f igures. Not only are the two central i ndividuals the f ocus of the burial, they also possess the most grave goods. This non-random patterning may suggest that the two central i ndividuals are not only the physical f ocus of the group, but a lso the social f ocus. Burial 5 0, a male young/middle adult ( one of the central f igures i n Mass B urial 1 ), i s associated with a Sierra Red, 1 01

Ahuacan Variety bowl and pot, and f our deer bone f an handles ( see previous description). Burial 5 1, a male young adult ( the other central f igure i n Mass Burial 1 ) i s associated with two other bone f an handles, one s hell ornament, and f our ceramic vessels; three Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bowls and one amphora a lso of Society Hall. Both 5 0 and 5 1 have three Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety vessels; one bucket, o lla, and bowl, smashed over their heads. They a lso both have " human grave goods" i n their laps. As suggested above, bone objects/fan handles could be interpreted as ritual/religious symbols f or rulership at Cuello. Their exclusive association with the mortuary assemblages of burials 5 0 and 5 1, possibly indicates that they were members of Cuello's ruling l ineage. Only one other i ndividual, the anomalous possible f emale adult burial 3 0, i n Mass Burial 1 , has the quantity of grave goods that the central two have. Burial 3 0 i s associated with f ive Sierra Red, Sierra Variety vessels, f our bowls and one " chocolate pot", a beige cowrie shell pendant, two small pink worked conch shells ( Strombus pugilis) and a jade bead. The smaller Mass Burial 2 i s located directly above the f irst. I t i s a lso cut i nto the same p laster surface as seals Stela 1 . Two young adult males are the f ocus of the group. Burial 7 0 i s associated with f our jade beads and f our ceramic vessels; three Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowls and one Olocuitla Orange Usulutan tetrapod bowl ( this bowl i s smashed over both 7 0 and 7 9, f ootnote 4 ). Burial 7 9 i s associated with one Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl, one Sierra Group dichrome red on buff bowl, a yellow/brown banded chert stemmed macroblade, a l arge obsidian b lade and lumps of red ocher. None of the grave goods associated with 7 0 or 7 9 have specific rulership symbolism. Six o f the 1 7 long distance trade i tems i n the Cocos phase mortuary assemblage are associated with these two i ndividuals. The similarity between these two i ndividuals and burials 5 0 and 51 i n age, location, association with " human grave goods", and quantity of grave goods, suggests that they may have held analogous positions i n the later Cocos phase, a s 5 0 and 5 1 did i n the early Cocos phase. Only one i ndividual, male young a dult burial 6 8, i n Mass Burial 2 , has the quantity of grave goods that the two central i ndividuals have. Burial 6 8 i s associated with one Sierra Red, S ierra Variety bowl, one j ade bead, two shell pendants and small pieces of ? mica ( or nacre) which were attached to one of the pendants. The symbolism and structure o f both mass burials possibly suggests that at l east the two central i ndividuals may be platform 3 4 residents. In particular, they may be important members of the ruling l ineage. Why, in both cases, there are two central i ndividuals, i s uncertain. Whether one may be more i mportant than the other, cannot be determined from the data. The p lacement of the original mass burials i n the center of the rubble overlying the demolished Middle 1 02

Preclassic patio group, symbolizes the f unctional and i deological change between the Middle Preclassic domestic patio f loor l ocus, and the Late Preclassic public/ceremonial plaza f loor l ocus. The l ater Mass Burial 2 can be seen as a continuation/reaffirmation of this tradition. The plaza center location and predominantly male population of these mass burials a lso suggests their public/ceremonial importance i n s anctifying an i mportant ruling l ineages. Similarly, s ingle patio center burial of an important l ineage ancestor i s not uncommon ( Tourtellot 1 983, Hammond, pers. comm.). Though the central i ndividuals of the mass burials are too young to themselves be l ineage ancestors ( three are young adults, one i s a young/middle adult), i t i s possible that they are members of the ruling l ineage, sacrificed to justify and s anctify the position of this l ineage. Many of the mass burial interments exhibit secondary mutilations i ndicative of human sacrifice. Both sets of central i ndividuals are primary. It could be suggested that the death of the central i ndividuals was the cause f or the mass burial, though their youth argues against this. It i s most l ikely that they, a long with the other i ndividuals in the mass burials, were sacrificial. Three other s ingle burials occur i n the plaza f loor. Burial 9 1, a male young adult, i s associated with one Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bucket. Burial 1 09, a possible male adult, i s associated with a Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bucket and one Dentalium shell bead. Burial 1 19, a male young adult, i s associated with one red s lipped " chocolate pot" with a bridged spout. Other contexts, ceremonial platforms and northern platform construction associated occupation surfaces/fill l ayers only have a f ew associated burials. The small sample within these contexts precludes comparisons with mean numbers of grave goods from the public mass burials and domestic house burials. Both these contexts are loci f or public rather than domestic burial. From Table 3 8 one can see that at l east one individual i n each of these contexts has a higher total number of grave goods than any domestic burial. Two burials are associated with ceremonial structures. A secondary i nterment of an adolescent aged 1 5 to 1 9 ( burial 2 7) i s associated with two S ierra Red, Sierra Variety bowls, two Spondylus shell beads and an group of shell beads f ound i n f lotation. Burial 1 7, a possible male young adult, i s a lso associated with one grave good, a Matamore D ichrome, Matamore Variety " chocolate pot" with bridged spout. Nine burials are associated with the Early Cocos Chicanel phase V north platform construction. The earliest Cocos burial i s that of an i nfant ( burial 1 28) buried without any grave goods. B urial 1 25 i s associated with one reds lipped bowl. Burial 1 27, aged 1 .5 to 2 .5 years i s associated with one Joventud or Sierra type jar, a shell bracelet, three s ingle shell beads and one shell ornament and 1 03

burial 1 26 ( a double burial with 1 27), aged 0 .5 to 1 .5 years has no grave goods. Double burials 1 21 and 1 22 have no associated grave goods. A triple secondary burial consists of a male young/middle adult, burial 1 0, associated with two jade beads and s ix s ingle shell beads, a possible f emale young/middle adult, burial 1 2, associated with one jade bead and three single shell beads, and an unsexed young/middle adult, burial 1 1, consisting of teeth only, with no associated grave goods. In the Cocos phase a change i n f unction and i deology i s i llustrated by the transformation of the open patio/plaza space from a domestic to a public/ceremonial l ocus. The public plaza f loor locus i s the f ocus of e laborate sacrificial burial activity. Both e laboration i n terms of quantity of grave goods, and access to l ong distance trade i tems i s f ocused on these public burials. Males play an important/predominant role in ritual public burial activity. Though i t cannot be said with certainty whether the "wealth", in terms of both grave goods and access to long distance trade i tems, reflects the personal wealth and status of an individual in the mass burial or just the importance of the mass burial r itual as a whole, the f our central f igures in the mass burials can be i nterpreted as important personages of a hereditary ruling l ineage. This, plus the l ack of age/sex differentiation i n total numbers of grave goods i n domestic context burials, i ndicates a continuation of the same hereditary system of wealth f rom the Middle Preclassic. -POSITION OF GRAVE GOODSAs 5 5 i ndividuals have ceramic objects, the pattern of placement of vessels around the bodies can be well documented i n the Cocos phase. The pot ( generally a bowl) over skull association seen i n the Middle Preclassic remains the most common association. 6 4% ( 35 i ndividuals) have at l east one ceramic vessel, whole or smashed, i nverted over their head ( or body). 3 0 of these have bowls i nverted over their heads, three have buckets, one has a " chocolate pot", and another a jar. In addition, one i ndividual has a bowl upright over the head, one has a bowl and a bucket covering the back of the head and the f ace, and one has a bowl upright below the skull. It can be suggested that bowls were being selected f or mortuary use to cover/protect the head or body of an i ndividual as exemplified by the dominance of bowl over skull positions. Research by Pyburn and Kosakowsky on the relationship between the ceramic mortuary and refuse assemblages i n the Cocos phase, supports this thesis. Though Pyburn and Kosakowsky f ound an absence of a distinct mortuary assemblage at Cuello, their third hypothesis: " 3) Because some mortuary vessels f unctioned to hold or cover the actual remains of the deceased, the average s ize of mortuary vessels will be l arger than the average s ize of vessels f rom other contexts."

1 04

was supported. Selection of l arger-orificed mortuary purposes was confirmed.

vessels

f or

The bowl-over-skull association i s documented by Welsh as a common Maya burial custom ( Welsh, 1 988). In one i nstance at Cuello, two metate fragments cover the body/head of

a seated

i ndividual.

Another vessel position, not f ound i n the Middle Preclassic, i s common i n the Late Preclassic. 2 5% ( 14 i ndividuals) have a vessel placed upright i n their l ap. Two additional i ndividual have a bowl smashed/inverted i n their l ap. All vessel types; bowls, o llas, buckets and " chocolate pots", are f ound i n the l ap. The upright position of the vessel in the l ap, suggests i ts possible use as a f ood storage container. The vessel-in-lap position i s most commonly f ound with s eated burials ( though not exclusively, i t i s found with every position), which might explain why i t didn't develop until the Late Preclassic. Nine out of the 1 9 i ndividuals with two or more vessels have both a vessel i nverted over their head, i n their l ap. Only seven i ndividuals with only one vessel don't exhibit e ither, the pot-over-skull, or l ap association.

ceramic and one ceramic pot-in-

Seven i ndividuals have vessels beside their heads or over their shoulders. In f ive cases vessels are f ound beside the body. In one c ase a vessel i s f ound under the body ( or i n this case bodies as i t i s associated with a body bundle). In one case the vessel i s on the stomach area ( slightly higher location than l ap vessels - this may not be that different from the l ap position). In one case a vessel i s associated with the l ower part of the body, the f eet. P lacement of ceramic vessels around the body i s f airly standardized i n the Late Preclassic. Predominant arrangements are not restricted by age/sex or domestic/public barriers. This r epresents an overall s ite custom. Only one i ndividual, male young adult burial 7 0, has a jade bead placed i n his mouth, reflecting Landa's observation of this custom among the Postclassic Maya ( Tozzer, 1 941). All other j ade beads are f ound around the body, suggesting their use as ornaments/jewelry. Three i ndividuals have shell ornaments placed over/protecting their pelvis; one i s a male o ld adult and the others are two j uveniles, one aged 1 to 4 , and the other aged 5 to 9 . The location of these objects suggests that they may have been used a s pubic shields. A male young/middle adult ( burial 1 0) has two s ingle jade beads placed over his pelvis. Also, two of the i ndividuals, both male young adults, with pot in l ap arrangements, have the pots i nverted over their l ap or pelvis. This may i ndicate that i n these two i nstances the pot was used a s a pubic shield, not as a container which the upright position might suggest.

1 05

ARRANGEMENT OF CERAMIC VESSELS ONE VESSEL

( 35

1 .

Inverted bowls)

over

2 .

Upright

3 .

Other; a ) upright by skull or over shoulders b ) beside body ( 3 cases) c ) under body ( 2 cases)

in

TWO VESSELS

head

lap

( 10

( 8

or

body

( 19

cases,

1 6

are

cases)

( 3

cases)

cases):

1 .

One.inverted over lap ( 4 cases)

2 .

One over skull or body and one by skull or over shoulder ( 3 cases)

3 .

Other; a ) both over skull b ) one over skull and the other by the feet c ) upright on stomach and upright on right side of lap area

THREE VESSELS over

( 6

skull

and another upright

in

cases):

1 .

One

skull

2 .

Other; a ) one over body, one in lap and one behind body b ) all over head or body ( 2 cases) c ) two covering back and front of skull, one upright over shoulder

FOUR VESSELS 1 .

All

over

( 1

1 .

All

2 .

Three

and two

lap

( 2

cases)

case):

( 2

cases):

over body over head,

SEVEN VESSELS

( 1

1 .

head,

Three l ap

4 0:

in

skull

F IVE VESSELS

Table

cases):

over

Cocos

two

in

lap

case):

Chicanel

three

beside

body

arrangement of

1 06

and

one

in

ceramic vessel.

CRANIAL SHAPING AND D ENTAL DECORATION 2 3 Cocos phase i ndividuals had skulls which were adequately preserved and the presence or absence of cranial shaping could be noted ( Saul and Saul pers. comm.; a lso in prep.). E leven of these skulls were normal. Eight exhibited unintentional shaping ( Table 4 1 below). Four exhibited intentional - shaping; three are tabular erect and one i s of uncertain variety. This differs from the one Middle Preclassic shaped skull which was of the tabular oblique variety. Three males, one young adult and two middle adults, and one possible f emale young/middle adult, exhibits tabular shaped skulls. The three males have only one grave good and the possible f emale has f our. There i s no i ndication that cranial shaping i s a ssociated with status i n this s ample, supporting Romero's hypothesis that cranial shaping i s not l inked to wealth and status among the Maya. Four Late Preclassic i ndividuals, three male young adults and one f emale young adult, exhibit tooth f iling ( Table 41 below). These are the earliest instances of f iled teeth at Cuello. Only one i ndividual, burial 1 05, has both intentional cranial shaping and dental f iling. Individuals with dental f iling have 0 or 1 grave goods, supporting Romero's and Smith's hypothesis that dental decoration i s not associated with wealth or status. All individuals with i ntentionally shaped heads or dental decoration are i nterred in s imple graves. One individual with unintentional Lambdoidal F lattening ( burial 8 8) i s interred in a cist grave, a ll other individuals with unintentionally shaped heads are a lso interred in s imple graves. Small s ample s ize precludes making conclusions as to the age/sex distribution of cranial shaping and dental decoration. The absence of juveniles from the sample of intentionally modified skulls/teeth should be noted.

1 07

# OF GRAVE GOODS

TYPE OF CRANIAL SHAPING/ DENTAL DECORATION

AGE/ SEX

MODE OF BURIAL

1 2

F ?/ Y-MA

Triplewith B#10 & 11; all secondary

North Plat. Construction

1 13

M/MA

Single; Primary

House P latform

Tabular Erect

2 8

M/MA

Single; Primary

House P latform

Tabular Erect

1 05

M/YA

Single; Primary

House P latform

Tabular Uncertain Variety / Romero F 3 of 4

4 5

M/YA

Double-w/ B #46; both primary; *

Plaza F loor

0

Romero C 2 or 6

1 9

M/YA

Single; Primary

Unknown P latform

1

Lambdoid F lat./ Romero B 2

1 12

F/YA

DoubleHouse w/ B# 1 11 P latform both primary

1

Lambdoid F lat./ Romero F 4

1 25

M/Y-MA

Single; Secondary

North Plat. Construction

1

Lambdoid

F lat.

1 07

M/YA

Single; Primary

House P latform

1

Lambdoid

F lat.

8 4

5-9

Single; Primary

Ancillary P latform

0

Lambdoid

Flat.

8 8

F/MA

Single; Primary

Ancillary P latform

3

Lambdoid

Flat.

9 3

F ?/MA

Single; Primary

House P latform

2

Lambdoid

Flat.

8 0

F/Y-MA

Single; Primary

Ancillary P latform

1

Lambdoid

Flat.

B#

CONTEXT

4

Tabular Erect

Part of the Early Cocos Chicanel Mass Burial 1 of 3 2 i ndividuals in the center of the plaza f loor/rubble fill.

Table 4 1: decoration.

Cocos

Chicanel

cranial

1 08

shaping

and

dental

MODE AND NUMBER OF

INTERMENTS

PER GRAVE

3 9% of all Cocos phase interments are secondary. 4 2% of a ll males ( or 4 7% including possible cases), are secondary, no definite females are secondary ( only one possible f emale i s secondary) ‚ and 3 3% of all juveniles ( or 5 ), are secondary ( Tables 4 2 and 4 3). Whether there is any association between secondary interment and age among adult burials i s impossible to tell because of the high number of secondary burials whose age could not be defined more precisely than adult ( >20 years). This i s because the fragmentary nature of many secondary burials makes precise aging difficult. MODE OF

INTERMENT

SEX/AGE PRIMARY

SECONDARY

TOTAL

1 6 1 6 1 3 3 2 1

2 2 3 2 5 3 1 0 2

1 8 3 9 2 1 8 6 1 2 3

F/MA F?/MA F/Y-MA F?/Y-MA F/YA

3 2 5 2

1 -

3 2 5 1 2

F ?/A

1

0

1

0 2 1 3 0

2 1 1 1 1

2 3 2 4 1

2 5 3

1 4

2 6 7

6 3

40

1 03

MALE M/OA M/MA M?/MA M/Y-MA M?/Y-MA M/YA M?/YA M/A M?/A FEMALE

UNSEXED ? /MA ?/Y-MA ?/YA ? /A ? /15-19 JUVENILE 1 0-14 5 -9 BIRTH-4 TOTAL Table 4 2: secondary

Cocos Chicanel age/sex distribution of primary and interments 1 09

MODE OF INTERMENT SEX/AGE PRIMARY

SECONDARY

TOTAL

2 8

2 0

4 8

6

8

1 4

1 0

-

1 0

FEMALE? ADULT

3

1

4

? ADULT

6

6

1 2

JUVENILE

1 0

5

1 5

TOTAL

6 3

4 0

1 03

MALE ADULT MALE? ADULT FEMALE ADULT

Table 4 3: Summary of Cocos Chicanel primary and secondary i nterments.

age/sex distribution of

Secondary interments are predominantly f ound in public contexts, but f our examples occur in domestic contexts. Five individuals, who possibly are secondary, are considered primary because the mutilations observed may have been caused postdepositionally. Only i nterments whose bodies were so mutilated that post-depositional activity i s not a possibility will be considered intentional secondary burials. The f ive questionable cases include: 1 ) the two central individuals of Mass Burial 1 : both are semi-reclining, but no left leg bones f or burial 5 0 and no bones from the r ight side of burial 51 were f ound; f ield excavation notes i ndicate that due to the difficulty experienced in trying to separate and excavate these two i ndividuals from the nine disarticulated individuals in their l aps some bones of these two may have been excavated with body bundle burials 5 2-60. 2 ) Female young/middle adult burial 9 8, located in a s imple grave in a house platform was very well preserved and excavators noted that the head seemed to be smashed and the mandible was f ound within the rib cage, a Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl was a lso smashed and i nverted over the skull, though disarticulation of mandibles i s known to have been practiced by the Maya as evidenced i n mandible-only burials at Mountain Cow and Tonina ( Welsh, 1 988) and at Cuello ( burial 6 8). It i s possible that the mutilations of burial 98 could have been caused by pressure, e ither unintentionally during the f illing in of the grave or more recently, i n which case the mandible could have disarticulated from the skull and would naturally f all i nto the chest area. 3 ) The remains of burial 1 02, a juvenile aged 1 to 4 in a s imple grave in a house platform, were so fragmentary that only the bones of the rib cage and the skull could be discerned from the bone powder; the position of the rib cage indicates a seated burial and the position of the skull was lying on i ts left side and i t appeared to look backwards over the left shoulder, possibly disarticulated, but the extremely 1 10

fragmentary nature of this individual makes it impossible to tell i f this was an intentional or post-depositional mutilation. 4 ) The bones of burial 128, an infant buried in the phase f ive occupation surface, were so poorly preserved that nothing could be recovered. The majority of secondary burials come from nonresidential contexts. 1 8 secondary interments come from Mass Burial

1

( Table

4 4

below ).

Three body bundles

# OF GRAVE GOODS

contain

B #

S EX/ AGE

ASSOCIATED BURIALS

3 1

M ?/A

D oubleWI burial 3 0

0

D isarticulated l ong bones; a ppear more weathered than of primary burial 3 0 thus have been l eft e xcarnate to burial.

3 2

M ?/MA

S ingle

2

Decapitated disarticulated phalanges.

4 14 4

2 -N/A 1 -?/A 1 -?/YA

B ody bundle o f a t l east 4 i ndividuals

4 74 9

1 -M?/YA 2 -M?/ Y -MA

B ody bundle o f a t l east 3 i ndividuals

5 26 0

1 -M/MA 1 -M/Y-MA 7 -N/A

B ody bundle o f a t l east 9 i ndividuals

1

*

1

*

1

*

9 ,

NATURE OF S ECONDARY INTERMENT

skull left

t hey t hose m ay prior

and h and

D isarticulated n eat package o f bones; the l ower l evel c ontains the l ower partly articulate half o f o ne i ndividual * ; t he upper l ayers contain the b ones of at l east 3 more i ndividuals, c losely p acked s uggesting t he bones were at l east partly e xcarnate prior to burial. D isarticulated n eat package o f bones; t he l ower l evel c ontains partly a rticulate arm bones o f o ne i ndividual c rossed o ver a n i lium— ; t he upper l ayers contain the bones of at l east two more i ndividuals, c losely packed s uggesting the bones were at l east partly excarnate prior to burial. D isarticulated neat package o f bones i n basically two bundles both p laced i n the l aps o f central i ndividuals Burials 5 0 & 5 1. O ne group around a mphora SF 1 528 c ontains completely d isarticulate bones, i n t he other s ome articulations e xist. The c loseness o f the bones a nd the p lacement o f c eramic p ieces between t he bones s uggest t hey were a t l east p artly f leshed prior t o burial.

. *

Grave goods f ound with the body bundle. F ield notes s uggest that some partial articulations have existed, though the mixing of people parts i n the bundles made this impossible to tell f or certain. Table 4 4: Secondary Mass Burial 1

burials f rom 111

the

Early

Cocos

may

Chicanel

4

and 3 severely mutilated i ndividuals each. Body bundle burials 52 -60 l ie in the l aps of central individuals, burials 50 a nd 5 1. Body bundle burials 4 7-49, i s at their f eet. The other bundle, burials 4 1-44, l ies to the west, directly i n front of the central f igures. The bones appear to have been at least partly f leshed prior to burial, and may have been wrapped or tied together as they f orm neat packages. The bundles contained male, possible male and unsexed adults. Young adult, young/middle adult, middle adult and unspecified age group adult i ndividuals were i ncluded. Thus, i t cannot be determined i f a specific age r ange, other than " adult", predominated i n body bundle i nterments. The possible function of body bundles as " human grave goods" has a lready been discussed. Two other secondary interments are f ound i n Mass Burial 1 . A s ingle decapitated skull and hand phalanges of a possible male middle adult i ndicate s acrifice by decapitation. Anomalous possible f emale adult burial 3 0 i s accompanied by the disarticulated leg bones of a possible male adult burial 3 1. Whether the sacrifice of burial 3 1 i s related to honoring burial 3 0 in particular, or just part of the entire sacrificial mass burial, i s impossible to tell f or certain. The remaining 1 4 i ndividuals i n Mass Burial 1 are primary, but the sacrificial nature of the group as a whole, i s suggested by i ts public/dedicatory l ocation in the c enter of the plaza f loor, and the l arge number of i ndividuals placed i n one grave. Mass Burial 1 i s composed of s ingle primary and secondary i nterments, double primary interments, double primary i nterments and multiple ( >=3) i nterments ( the body bundles; Table 4 5 below). The three i nterments with the most grave goods are primary ( all f rom double burials). Each i s associated with severely disarticulated secondary # OF MODE

OF

INTERMENT

OCCURRENCES

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

SINGLE

PRIMARY

9

-

4

2

-

1

-

-

-

-

1

1

SINGLE

SECONDARY

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

DOUBLE

PRIMARY

2

3

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

DOUBLE

PRIM.

SEC.

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

SECONDARY

3

-

3 *

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

TOTAL

4

8

3

-

1

-

-

-

-

2

1

MULT.

( >=3)

AND

1

-

Grave goods per group. Table 4 5: Mode of i nterment and number of grave goods f or the Early Cocos Chicanel Mass Burial 1 of 3 2 i ndividuals i n a s imple grave i n the center of the p laza f loor 1 12

i nterment(s); the body bundles i n the case of burials 5 0 and 5 1, and secondary burial 3 1, i n the case of burial 3 0. The f act that the three i ndividuals with the highest number of grave goods are associated with secondary burial ( s) , supports the suggestion that these secondary accompaniments, may have been " human grave goods" specifically related to these i ndividuals, as well as part of the mass sacrifice a s a whole. Excluding these three cases, there seems to be l ittle differentiation between the total numbers of grave goods associated with s ingle or double, primary or secondary i nterments i n Mass Burial 1 . Mass Burial 2 contains ten secondary interments ( Table 4 6 below). Eight s everely dismembered i ndividuals, males and unsexed adults, comprise two body bundles which resemble those of the earlier Mass Burial 1 both physically, and in their location i n the l aps of the two central individuals. Three of the body bundle i ndividuals are young adults, two are middle adults, and three are young/middle adults, i ndicating no age predominance i n the bundles.

B #

SEX/ AGE

ASSOCIATED BURIALS

6 8

M?/YA

Doublew/ burial

# OF GRAVE GOODS

NATURE OF

SECONDARY INTERMENT

5

Only partly disarticulated as skeleton retains a position of f lexed, right s ide. The skull was decapitated lying s outh of the remains with i ts f oramen magnum up and a humerus stuck inside. The mandible l ay beside i t.

6 9

6 9

M?/MA

Doublew/ burial 6 8

0

Disarticulated long bones pieces and partial skull lying east of burial 6 8.

7 17 4

1 -M/YA 2 -M/ Y-MA 1 -?/MA

Body Bundle of at least 4 i ndividuals Burials 7 1-4

1

Disarticulated neat package of bones, compactly placed together in the l ap of Burial 70 suggesting the bones may have been excarnate prior to burial.

7 57 8

1 -?/ Y-MA 1 -M/MA 2 -M/YA

Body bundle of at least 4 i ndividuals Burials 75-8

0

Disarticulated neat package of bones, compactly placed together in the l ap of burial 7 9 suggesting the bones may have been excarnate prior to burial.

* Grave goods

f or whole group.

Table 4 6: Secondary burials f rom Cocos Chicanel Mass Burial 2 consisting of a t l east 1 2 i ndividuals i n a s imple grave i n the center of the plaza f loor 1 13

A double secondary burial contains two possible males; the younger, burial 6 8, i s only partly disarticulate, i ts skull i s decapitated lying with i ts f oramen magnum up and a humerus i s stuck inside, and the mandible next to i t. This humerus may belong to e ither of the two individuals. The o lder, burial 6 9, i s completely disarticulate and incomplete lying mostly to the east of burial 6 8. As a ll the grave goods lie around the western remains of burial 6 8 the best i nterpretation of this placement of the grave goods indicates that they are a ll associated with burial 6 8. This possibly indicates that burial 6 9 i s a sacrifice related to honoring burial 6 8, in addition to being part of the mass sacrifice, as i s a lso speculated f or burial 3 0 i n Mass Burial 1 . Only the two central i ndividuals in Mass Burial 2 are primary. Their young age suggests that they, a long with the other members of this mass burial, were sacrificed. Two s ingle primary burials, a double secondary burial and two body bundles make up Mass Burial 2 ( Table 4 7 below). Both primary and secondary i ndividuals have high numbers of grave goods. As in Mass Burial 1 the body bundles are suggested to be "human grave goods" f or the two central individuals. The internal patterning ( ie., the modes of interments, and layout of the bodies), of the two mass burials i s similar, as was a lso seen f or the i nternal patterning of grave goods. This would i ndicate that these mass sacrifices were constructed in a meaningful non-random way. The exact significance of the mass burials i s unknown, but that they played a major symbolic roles in justifying f unctional and ideological changes in the ceremonial/public use of P latform 3 4, and a lso the sanctification of an important ruling l ineage i s suggested. # OF MODE

OF

INTERMENT

OCCURRENCES

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 1

SINGLE

PRIMARY

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

DOUBLE

SECONDARY

1

1

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

2

1*

1*

MULT . ( > 3)

SECONDARY

TOTAL

* Grave good

2

1

-

10 -

-

-

-

1

1

1

for entire group.

Table 4 7: Mode of interment and number of grave goods f or Cocos Chicanel Mass Burial 2 consisting of 1 2 i ndividuals in a s imple grave i n the center of the plaza f loor Of the three other s ingle burials in the plaza f loor, two are primary with one grave good and the other i s secondary with two grave goods. The s acrifice of secondary burial 1 09 i s suggested by the severely mutilated and broken long bones and decapitated skull ( Table 4 8 below). Ancient 1 14

cut marks on the bone show no s igns of healing, suggesting that they were postmortem , and that burial 1 09 must have been partially excarnate before placement i n the grave.

SEX/

ASSOC.

GRAVE

# OF GRAVE

NATURE

B#

AGE

BURIALS

TYPE

GOODS

SECONDARY

109

M?/A

Single

Simple

2

OF INTERMENT

Disarticulate

long

bones

a nd s kull f ragments, post-mortem cut m arks o n r ight humerus and c ranial p ieces Table 4 8: Cocos Chicanel secondary i nterments.

non-mass

burial

plaza

f loor

Of the two ceremonial platform burials, one i s primary and the other i s secondary. The sacrifice of adolescent burial 2 7 i s i ndicated by i ts decapitation and the scattering of i ts ribs ( Table 4 9 below ). Burial 1 7 i s primary but possibly tied.

SEX/

ASSOC.

GRAVE

GRAVE

# OF NATURE OF

B#

AGE

BURIALS

TYPE

GOODS

SECONDARY INTERMENT

2 7

? /15-19

Single

Crypt

Table 4 9: Cocos interments.

Chicanel

5

Decapitated skull, disarticulated ribs and upper vertebrae scattered in upper portion of grave where skull should have been

ceremonial

platform

secondary

Seven of the nine north platform associated i nterments exhibit secondary mutilations ( Table 5 0 below). A triple adult sacrifice of two decapitated i ndividuals ( burial 1 0 and 1 2) and one tooth burial ( burial 1 1) are possibly dedicated to the laying of the f irst plaza f loor. The decapitated male has two jade beads and s ix shell beads. The decapitated possible f emale has one jade bead and three shell beads. The tooth burial i s associated with possible f emale burial 1 0 and has no grave goods. As there i s no grave cut the contemporaneity of these three individuals cannot be proven, but the short l ife of the occupation surface/fill area i n which they were buried, suggests contemporaneity. A double child burial ( 126 and 1 27) i ndicates sacrifice by decapitation. The skull of burial 1 27 was removed and replaced by a pot. The rear portion of a decapitated skull was placed where the skull of burial 1 26 should have been with the hand of burial 1 27 reaching i nto it. The front portion of this skull was placed to the r ight of the rear portion at the f eet of burial 1 27. These two pieces of skull are most l ikely the f ront and rear portions of one split 1 15

skull. Unfortunately physical analysis of this skull i ndicates that i t could be the skull of e ither burial 1 26 ( precisely aged to 0 .5-1.5 years) or the skull of burial 1 27 ( precisely aged to 1 .5-2.5 years) ( Saul and Saul pers. comm.; a lso in prep.). Though ethnographic sources i ndicates that removal of the skull from a grave ( the skull of one of the children has certainly been removed from the grave), may i ndicate ancestor worship not s acrifice, the young age of both burials 1 26 and 1 27, suggests that both children f orm part of a double s acrifice. A double secondary burial of a male young adult ( burial 1 21) and an unsexed middle adult ( skull-only burial 1 22) may i ndicate s acrifice by severe mutilation and decapitation. Neither i ndividual has any grave goods. Burial 1 21 i s certainly a complete person, while burial 1 22 i s just a skull, and may have been placed i n the grave to accompany burial 1 21. The dismemberment of male young/middle adult ( burial 1 25) i llustrates i ts s acrifice. The young age of primary i ndividual i nfant burial 1 28, with no grave goods, suggests this burial was e ither a sacrifice or still born. North platform construction associated secondary burials are associated with 0 to 8 grave goods. # OF GRAVE G OODS

B #

S EX/ AGE

A SSOC. BURIALS

GRAVE TYPE

1 0

MI/ IA

T riplew ith B 1 1&12

S imple

8

D ecapitated s kull

1 1

7 /IA

T riplew ith B 1 0&12

S imple

0

Tooth burial

1 2

F ?/ I -NA

T riplew ith B 1 0&11

S imple

4

D ecapitated s kull

1 21

M/YA

D oubleS imple w / B 1 22

0

D isarticulated c ranial d ental a nd postcranial

1 22

? /MA

D oubleS imple W I B 1 21

0

Skull-only

1 25

M / 1 -NA

S ingle

S imple

1

D isarticulated c ranial, d ental a nd p ostcranial

1 26

B irth 4

D oublew / B 1 27

S imple

0

D ecapitated s kull

1 27 *

B irth 4

D oubleS imple w / B 1 26

6

D ecapitated s kull

O lder than burial Table 5 0: a ssociated

NATURE OF S ECONDARY I NTERMENT

1 26

Cocos Chicanel north s econdary burials. 1 16

p latform

construction

All

three

i nterments

i n unknown platforms

are primary.

Only f our residential p latform burials exhibit secondary mutilations ( Table 5 1 below). One double burial contains a primary f emale ( burial 2 5) accompanied by the disarticulated leg bones of a male adult ( burial 26). This suggests that burial 26 was s acrificed to honor burial 25, but as neither have any grave goods, status differentiation between the two i s only seen i n mode of burial. The three remaining residential secondary burials are three juvenile s ingle severed skulls, whose s ignificance has previously been discussed and will not be repeated here.

GRAVE TYPE

# OF GRAVE GOODS

B #

SEX/ AGE

ASSOC. BURIALS

CONTEXT

2 6

N/A

Doublew/ B 2 5

House P latform

Cist

O

D isarticulated leg bones only

9 6

Birth 4

Single

House P latform

Simple

O

Skull-only

9 2

Birth 4

Single

House P latform

Simple

2

Skull-only

8 7

5-9

Single

Ancil.

Simple

1

Skull-only

NATURE OF SECONDARY

INTERMENT

P latform

Table 5 1: Cocos i nterments.

Chicanel

residential

p latform

secondary

1 9% ( 8 individuals) of the residential burials have no grave goods. Lack of grave goods i s not restricted to any mode ( primary or secondary), or number of i nterments per grave ( Table 5 2 below). Both s ingle primary and secondary i nterments are f ound with and without grave goods. There does not seem to be any a ssociation between number of grave goods and mode or number of i nterments per grave. Single primary burials are the most common in residential platforms.

MODE

OF

INTERMENT

# OF OCCURRENCES

0

1

2

3

2 8

2

1 2

7

7

S INGLE

PRIMARY

SINGLE

SECONDARY

4

2

1

1

DOUBLE

PRIMARY

4

2

6

-

DOUBLE

PRIM.

1

2

-

TOTAL

8

1 9

AND SEC.

4

6

7

8

9

1 0

8

7

Table 52: Cocos Chicanel residential i nterment and number of grave goods. 1 17

5

platform

mode

of

Overall, primary i nterments are only s lightly more common i n the Cocos phase than s econdary. Human sacrifice in the Cocos phase i s exhibited i n the following types of mutilation; 1 ) decapitated skulls s ingle or with other secondary i nterments; 2 ) completely or mostly articulate decapitated i ndividuals, in s ingle, double or triple interments; 3 ) completely disarticulated skeletons, i n single, double and body bundles; 4 ) and disarticulated leg bones only, only associated with another primary interment. SUMMARY The Cocos phase sample i s the l argest f rom Cuello. All ages and sexes are represented i n this s ample, though, there is a 4 to 1 predominance of men over women. The f ocus f or elaborate burial activity has moved from the residential/individual locus to the public/communal locus. Male adults are the focal members of public burials. No definitely sexed f emale i s f ound i n a public context, though three juveniles are. The predominance of males in the sample occurs because of this dominance of males in public burials. Elaborate burials are no longer seen i n residential contexts, but in the communal public areas. Thus wealth in terms of grave goods i s focused on public male burials. Whether this indicates the i ndividual wealth of these males, or the wealth and importance of the public f unction they play, i s uncertain. The non-random placement and patterning of individuals and grave goods, within the mass burials, i ndicates not only the social i mportance of these sacrificial events, but a lso suggests the social i mportance of some of its members. The central male i ndividuals in the mass burial are interpreted as important members of a hereditary ruling l ineage and the rituals of the mass burials are s een as representing both functional and i deological changes in the Late Preclassic plaza, and sanctifying Cuello's hereditary ruling l ineage. The importance of the male i ndividuals in both ceremonial/communal ritual and justifying a lineage i s seen in the public burials. The residential context burials i nclude a normal distribution of males, f emales and juveniles. No age/sex differentiation of total number of grave goods i s seen. Thus, a continuation of f amily-type burial i n residential l oci, as seen i n the Middle Preclassic, i s suggested. D iffering f rom the Middle Preclassic, the residential locus i s no longer the f ocus of e laborate i ndividual burials. This i s underlain by a change f rom i ndividual/domestic to public/ceremonial use of the plaza group i n the Cocos phase. Human s acrifice i s exhibited by the sheer numbers of people i nterred i n the mass burials, but a lso by f our types of mutilation; severed skull ( or teeth f leshed f rom a skull), decapitated body, disarticulated c omplete body and disarticulate leg bones only. Sacrifice by mutilation i s most common i n public contexts. Three sacrificial skulls possibly placed i n a dedicatory f ashion in the northern residential platforms i ndicate that one can not rule out the 1 18

possibility, that these platforms, at l east at certain times, had a public/ceremonial f unction as well as domestic. The predominant grave type in the Cocos phase i s s imple. Six cist type graves are f ound. One contains a double burial of one primary f emale and one secondary male, three contain s ingle f emale burials, one a possible male and the other a juvenile. Four crypt graves are f ound containing a s ingle male, a single possible male, single adolescent and a double male and female burial. All ages and sexes are f ound in the more e laborate grave types. Small sample size precludes making any correlation between age and sex and elaborate graves. Seven of the more e laborate graves are f ound in residential platforms, two i n a ceremonial platform, and another in the plaza f loor, but possibly associated with a ceremonial platform. No association between more e laborate graves and grave wealth i s noted. The seated position i s the predominant skeletal position in the Cocos phase. It i s a lso the most common position within each age and sex group and both domestic and public burials, indicating an overall unrestricted s ite preference for this position. Cocos phase individuals have a zimuths in every cardinal and i ntercardinal direction. No overall site preference f or any particular a zimuth i s i ndicated, but within the public sacrificial plaza f loor burials, a preference f or west i s noted, possibly relating to the location of the main ceremonial platform/pyramid on P latform 3 4. No correlation with age/sex or grave type i s noted f or a zimuths. The heads of i ndividuals are a lso turned to f ace every cardinal and i ntercardinal direction. It i s l ikely that head f acing r epresents interpersonal relationships unknown to us today, rather than overall s ite trends. Approximately half the Cocos phase individuals f or whom cranial shaping could be observed had normal skulls, the other half were i ntentionally or unintentionally shaped. Three skulls exhibit Tabular Erect shaping. One i s Tabular of uncertain variety. Three are males and one i s a possible f emale. The f irst examples of dental f iling are from the Cocos phase. Again three are male and one i s f emale. One male young adult has both cranial shaping and dental f illing. As in the Middle Preclassic, i ndividuals with cultural modification have a range of grave goods, i ncluding no grave goods, and none have extremely high numbers of grave goods. This supports Romero and Smith's hypothesis that cranial shaping and dental f iling are not l inked to wealth and status. The analysis of the Cocos phase burials c learly i llustrates a divergence f rom the domestic f ocused to public f ocused ritual activity i n the Late Preclassic. Many trends or lack of trends are seen to continue from the Middle Preclassic. The importance of examining the contextual relationships of burials, not just overall s ite trends, i s i llustrated in this analysis.

1 19

CHAPTER 7 NUEVO TZAKOL

( 250-600

AD)

BURIALS

POPULATION Four single primary internments date to the Early C lassic; a male adolescent aged 1 5-19, a possible male adult, a f emale middle/old adult, and a juvenile aged f ive to nine. Certainly nothing except a very notable decrease in burials on P latform 3 4 in the Early Classic can be stated from four burials. CONTEXT From the end of the Preclassic the central focus of Cuello moved from Platform 3 4 to the main Classic ceremonial center to the northeast ( Fig. 2 ). Limited testing undertaken in the C lassic precinct indicates that construction of the eastern plaza dates to the Early Classic, with a Late Classic date for at least one of the platforms. Use of the main Classic ceremonial precinct continues into the Terminal C lassic ( Hammond, pers. comm.). P latform 3 4 remained in use in the Classic but ceased to be the focus of activity. The pyramid was maintained and domestic activity continued on the northern end of the Platform, certainly on Str. 3 6, and possibly on Str. 3 7 ( Fig 2 ). No f urther major construction was undertaken in the Classic period with two exceptions. One, the f inal pyramid, Str. 3 5, was constructed over the Late Preclassic pyramid, Str. 3 50, at approximately 2 50 - 400 AD. Two, around 700 AD minor a lterations to pyramid Str. 3 5 were made which included incorporating Early Classic refuse in constructing terraces around the pyramid. Three of the four Nuevo Tzakol burials

from platform 3 4

were intrusive into construction f ills of h ouse or ancillary platforms lying on the northern end of Platform 3 4. All were found only minimally beneath the plowed surface. One secondary skull burial of a juvenile was placed in a dedicatory f ashion i n the top midpoint of the f inal pyramid, Str. 3 5. These Nuevo Tzakol burials are not comparable with the preceding Preclassic ones, as Platform 3 4 is now relegated to the position of a settlement area platform, while in the Preclassic it was the central precinct. Thus, differences that might be observed between the Early Classic and Preclassic burials on Platform 3 4 are a result of differences between settlement area residences and site center residences, not chronological change. Also, despite this, small sample s ize would preclude any comparisons from being made. GRAVE

TYPE

Two of the Nuevo Tzakol graves are simple and contain a s ingle primary inhumation of a male adolescent aged 1 5 to 1 9 and a single secondary skull of a juvenile, aged f ive to nine. The other two graves are cists. A cist: capped pit 1 20

variety grave of a possible male adult i s cut into cobble wall 1 052 of Str. 3 01. A cist: partial cist variety grave of a f emale middle/old adult includes stones, intentionally place, to cover the head, shoulders and right side of the body. SKELETAL POSITION AND AZIMUTH Of the four Nuevo Tzakol individuals two are extended, one i s r ight s ide f lexed and the other i s skull ( Table 5 3 below).

supine just a

SKELETAL POSITION SEX/AGE SUPINE

RIGHT EXTENDED

SKULL FLEXED

TOTAL

M?/A

-

1

-

1

M/15-19

1

-

-

1

F/MA

1

-

-

1

5 -9

-

-

1

1

TOTAL

2

1

1

4

TABLE 5 3: position

Nuevo

Tzakol

age/sex

distribution

of

skeletal

The right s ide f lexed possible male adult, and the supine extended male adolescent also has an azimuth of south, and the supine extended f emale has an azimuth of east. The two burials with a southern azimuth are in house p latforms located north on Platform 3 4. The one burial with a eastern azimuth is in an ancillary platform located northwest on P latform 3 4.

heads GRAVE

Both male burials f acing east.

with

an

a zimuth

of

south

have

their

GOODS

The Nuevo T zakol grave goods assemblage complex, though each of the four individuals has grave goods. Local ceramics and long distance j ade beads, obsidian blades and ground stone ( Table 5 4).

is not very at least two trade items; are included

Ceramics have been ritually smashed above the individual or i ncluded whole in the grave. All Nuevo Tzakol burials have at least one ceramic vessel. A black s lipped cylindrical vase decorated with a incised glyph band i s i ncluded in the burial assemblage of the male adolescent.

1 21

TYPE AND NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODS SEX/AGE LOCAL POTTERY 0 1 2+

JADE BEADS 0 1 2+

OBSIDIAN BLADES 0 1 2+

GROUND STONE 0 1 2+

M?/A

-

1

-

1

-

-

-

1

-

1

M/15-19

-

-

1

1

-

-

1

-

-

1

F/MA

-

1

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

3

1

3

1

3

1

3

1

TOTAL

TABLE 5 4: Nuevo T zakol number of grave good.

age/sex

distribution

of

type

and

All of the mortuary assemblages, except that of the male adolescent associated with f our ceramic vessels, contain l ong distance trade i tems. An i ncomplete obsidian blade was f ound in the grave of the possible male adult. Two jade beads were found in the mouth of the juvenile skull. A quartzite mano fragment was f ound over the right shoulder of the f emale i ndividual. TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODS SEX/AGE

0

1

2

3

4

TOTAL

M?/A

_

-

1

-

-

1

M/15-19

-

-

-

-

1

1

F/MA

-

-

1

-

-

1

5 -7

-

-

-

1

-

1

-

2

1

1

4

TOTAL

-

TABLE 5 5: Nuevo Tzakol age/sex distribution of total number of grave goods. The total number of grave goods varies l ittle f or a ll f our i ndividuals ( Table 5 5 above). It i s interesting to note that the two individuals in cist graves are the two individuals with the l east grave goods ( total of 2 ). In two cases ( burials 1 8 and 6 7), a whole bowl or smashed ceramics are placed over the skull. Other ceramic vessels are located over the shoulders, by the s ide of the body, by the chin or at the chest. CRANIAL SHAPING AND D ENTAL DECORATION The skull of the male adolescent i s normal. 1 22

But a ll the

other skulls were to poorly preserved to tell whether or not they were shaped. No dental decoration was found ( Saul and Saul, pers. comm.). MODE AND NUMBER OF

INTERNMENTS

The three house/ancillary platform burials were all single primary inhumations. The other burial was a secondary skull sacrificed in dedication to the f inal pyramid construction. In common with the three preclassic sacrificial single severed skull burials at Cuello this one i s a lso a juvenile.

1 23

CHAPTER 8 PRECLASSIC BURIAL PRACTICES AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE AT CUELLO A

sample

of

1 24

preclassic

individuals

have

been

analyzed by phase in the preceding chapters. This, at present, i s the largest sample of Preclassic individuals from any Maya site. In Chapter 1 a series of 1 1 hypotheses were put forward based on previous research on Maya burials, which for the most part were focused on the Classic Maya. These 1 1 hypotheses will be examined here based on the Preclassic burials at Cuello.

HYPOTHESIS restricted

in

1 : The location

wealthiest

burials

are

Considering total numbers of grave goods and access to long distance trade items as a measure of wealth and status, the "wealthiest" burials throughout the Middle Preclassic are f ound in residential platforms. One exception i s a male middle/old adult buried in the center of the Lopez phase patio f loor. This may be the f irst example at Cuello of the use of the patio f loor for the burial of an important lineage ancestor. With this exception, burials only occur in or associated with residential platforms in the Middle Preclassic. The Lopez phase patio center burial marks the beginning of a change in the functional and ideological use of the communal patio/plaza area from domestic to public/ritual activities. This change i s further embodied in the Late Preclassic when the plaza area, not the domestic area, becomes the focus of elaborate communal burial activity. No longer are "wealthy" individual graves found in domestic contexts. Thus, elaborate burials are related to location in the Preclassic at Cuello and changes in location exemplify overall f unctional and ideological changes in the use of P latform 3 4.

HYPOTHESIS 2 : Preclassic

Simple graves are most common in the

Simple graves are the predominant grave type at Cuello throughout the Preclassic, though cist graves are found since the Early Middle Preclassic. Crypt graves are a development of the Late Preclassic. Both sexes and juveniles are found i n cist type graves. Whether the f act that f ive of the eight cist graves contain females i s relevant, considering the small s ize of the sample, i s not known. Crypt graves, only f our examples, contain three single males and one double male and f emale burial.

1 24

HYPOTHESIS 3 : More complex grave types are associated with wealthier grave goods ( and context i f this i s true) One crypt grave contains an e laborate burial of an adolescent i n the L ate Preclassic and one cist grave contains the e laborate burial of a juvenile in the Early Middle Preclassic. All other c ist and crypt graves contain i ndividuals with f ew or no grave goods. Though the sample of e laborate grave types i s small, there s eems to be no connection between wealthier grave assemblages and more complex grave types i n the Preclassic at Cuello. Throughout the Preclassic s imple graves predominantly contain the " wealthiest" grave goods. F ive of the cist and crypt graves are f ound i n residential contexts; one in the plaza f loor; and a ll ceremonial platform graves are crypts ( two cases only) in the Cocos phase. Considering small sample s ize, no correlation between grave type and context i s suggested.

HYPOTHESIS 4 : Skeletal position i s correlated with grave type ( and wealth and context i f one and two are correct) Skeletal position i s not correlated with grave type, or grave goods or context i n the Preclassic at Cuello. Skeletal position i s correlated with grave size throughout the Preclassic ( je., extended positions are i n longer subr ectangular graves, f lexed positions are i n shorter subrectangular graves and seated and semi-reclining positions are i n circular graves). There are f ew exceptions to this rule. Whether skeletal position determines grave s ize or grave s ize determines skeletal position i s unknown. Welsh f ound a correlation of skeletal position and grave type at s even Maya s ites, with extended positions being more common i n crypts and tombs ( Welsh, 1 988). This pattern i s not f ound i n the Preclassic at Cuello; cists and crypts are equally f ound with extended, f lexed, seated and semi-reclining i ndividuals.

HYPOTHESIS 5 : There i s position and orientation

a predominant ( azimuth)

skeletal

In the Early Middle Preclassic both extended and f lexed positions occur. One anomalous seated burial a lso dates to the Early Middle Preclassic. In the Late Middle Preclassic the supine extended position s eems to predominate. With the exception of one male whose upper body only l ay within the main excavation trench s o the position of his legs could not be discerned, a ll adults were extended. From this sample of ten, extended predominates over f lexed but this does not continue i nto the L ate Preclassic. In the Late Preclassic the seated position predominates and i s certainly an overall s ite trend as this position predominates within a ll age and sex groups and both and public and domestic contexts. A f ew more examples o f the f lexed position are f ound than the 1 25

extended position in the Late Preclassic. Forty percent of f lexed and extended burials are supine, possibly continuing from the Middle Preclassic trend, though 26% of extended and f lexed burials are found on the left s ide. No overall predominant azimuth i s found throughout the Preclassic and all cardinal and intercardinal directions are represented. Among the public plaza f loor burials in the Late Preclassic, just over 50% have an a zimuth of west; this is possibly significant because the main ceremonial platform/pyramid in the Late Preclassic is located on the west side of the plaza f loor. Only i n this one context i s any a zimuth indicated as being more prevalent than another. The direction a head i s turned to f ace i s also variable and may relate to interpersonal relationships rather than site-wide trends.

HYPOTHESIS

6 :

Grave

goods

are uniform

Generally, grave goods are uniform throughout the Preclassic, not just among the mortuary assemblages themselves but also in relation to refuse assemblages ( Pyburn and Kosakowsky, n . d.). Throughout the Preclassic, ceramic vessels and shell objects are the most common grave goods. Jade i s also found from the end of the Early Middle Preclassic, while greenstone i s found in the Early Middle Preclassic and Late Preclassic mortuary assemblages. Though obsidian occurs in refuse contexts at Cuello in the Middle Preclassic, it is not part of the mortuary assemblage until the Late Preclassic. Chert i s f ound throughout the Preclassic. Ground stone i s found in both the Early Middle Preclassic and Late Preclassic mortuary assemblages. Red ocher i s f ound in the Late Middle Preclassic and Late Preclassic and bone tools are f ound in the Early Middle Preclassic. It is most likely that the low frequency of many objects results in their association with only certain time periods and not any chronological differentiation in grave good uniformity. There are a few types of objects found only in the Cocos phase and exclusively in the mortuary assemblage. These are ? mica ( or nacre), bone tubes ( interpreted as fan handles), a ceramic amphora and a Olocuitla Orange Usulutan tetrapod vessel ( the only non-local ceramic type found at Cuello). All these exclusively mortuary objects are found i n the two mass burials, associated with males or possible males, four of whom are young adults and one i s a young/middle adult. HYPOTHESIS 7 : Grave goods f ollow particular of placement/protection on the body, ie., a )

protecting the

skull

b )

jade bead

in mouth

c )

red paint

on bones

or pelvis

1 26

rules

The predominant l ocation of a ceramic vessel i s inverted over the skull or body ( in the case of seated burials i t i s difficult to s ay i f the bowl was just over the head or meant to cover the whole i ndividual). Pot-over-skull association predominates throughout the Preclassic and i ndicates the important use of grave goods to protect the i ndividual. The ceramic vessel was a lmost a lways a bowl. The l arge orifice diameter of a bowl makes i t the most practical type of vessel to chose to protect an individual. It i s shown by Pyburn and Kosakowsky ( n.d.) that vessels with l arge orifice diameters were specially selected f or mortuary purposes as the orifice diameter of mortuary vessels i s higher than that of refuse vessels. During the Middle Preclassic, only the pot over skull position was common; the placement of other vessels was f airly random around the body. In the Late Preclassic placement of a ll vessels became very standardized. Aside from the pot - over skull a ssociation, the pot upright in the lap association was common. Pot-in-lap placement i s predominantly, though by no means exclusively, associated with seated burials. Possibly this explains why it i s not f ound in the Middle Preclassic. The upright position of the pot in the l ap suggests i t was possibly used f or storage. Only nine out of 5 5 Late Preclassic individuals have neither the pot over skull or pot i n l ap association, and many have both. There i s one Early Middle Preclassic example of a block of tabular chert replacing the missing skull of an individual. This i s the only i nstance at Cuello of a nonceramic vessel grave good covering the head area. Though shell objects are f ound frequently in the burial assemblages, i t i s not until the Late Preclassic that shell ornaments ( possibly pubic shields) are f ound covering/protecting the pelvis. In two i nstances a pot i s placed in the lap i nverted possibly indicating i ts use f or protecting the pelvis. Only one jade bead i s f ound in the mouth of a Late Preclassic male young adult; other jade beads are located around the body and appear to f unction f or adornment, not monetary payment f or a s afe passage into the underworld. One shell bead i s f ound i n the mouth of a B laden burial and might be a s lightly divergent association of the jade in mouth theme. Red ocher, ground or i n prepared rolls, i s f ound i n the Late Middle Preclassic and Late Preclassic. Only once was it thought to have been painted on the body of a male middle/old adult i n the Late Middle Preclassic, as i t was f ound on the bones of the skeleton. Careful consideration of the placement of grave goods around the body i s i mplied throughout the Preclassic with placement becoming more and more standardized in the Late Preclassic.

1 27

HYPOTHESIS 8 : Male adults, f emale adults and juveniles are comparably f urnished with grave goods. Only c lay f igurine whistles have specific age/sex associations with juveniles Throughout the Middle Preclassic males, f emales and juveniles are comparably f urnished. In the Late Middle Preclassic there i s only one f emale i n the s ample. She has less grave goods than the " wealthiest" males, but to say anything about the gender relationship of numbers of grave goods based on only one f emale i n this sample i s not possible. In the Late Preclassic residential platform, burials continue to be comparably f urnished, suggesting the continuation of a hereditary system of wealth from the Middle Preclassic. In the Late Preclassic the f ocus of e laborate burial activity has changed f rom the domestic/individual locus to the public/communal l ocus. Males play a dominant role in ritual activity, especially i n the two sacrificial mass burials, i n the Late Preclassic. The males in these contexts certainly have f ar " wealthier" grave assemblages than either males, f emales and juveniles in residential contexts. Whether the wealth of these public/sacrificial males represent i ndividual wealth or the importance of the r itual public burial r ite i tself i s uncertain. Based on the non-random patterning of the mass burials i t i s suggested that the two central i ndividuals i n both mass burials are not only e laborately i nterred because of their importance a s the focal members of this burial group but a lso as f ocal members of Cuello's ruling l ineage. Thus, the mass burial i s symbolic not only of f unctional and i deological changes in the communal use of P latform 3 4 but a lso in the sanctification of a ruling l ineage. The "wealth" of the public burials at least i n the cases of the central mass burial i ndividuals may possibly represent i ndividual wealth as well as the importance/wealth of the r itual. Only one ceramic f igurine ocarina i s f ound i n the B laden mortuary assemblage at Cuello and this indeed i s f ound with a juvenile. The most common grave goods, ceramics, shell and jade are f ound with a ll ages and s exes. Greenstone a lso i s f ound with a ll ages and sexes. Other objects are more restricted i n age/sex distribution but this may only be due to the f act that they appear very i nfrequently i n the burial assemblage. Chert i s f ound with adults of both sexes. Ground stone i s f ound with males and juveniles. Obsidian, ? mica ( or nacre), ceramic r ings, red ocher, bone tools and bone tubular objects are f ound only with men. This may just be due to the higher numbers of male graves i n our s ample and the low or unique occurrences of these objects in the mortuary assemblage. I t i s i ndicated that public male burials have greater access to both " unique" l ocal and l ong distance trade i tems i n the Late Preclassic.

HYPOTHESIS prevalent

9 :

S ingle primary

1 28

i nhumations

are most

Single primary i nhumations are the most prevalent mode and number of i nterment throughout the Preclassic. Due to the important role of human s acrifice i n the Late Preclassic, primary inhumations are only s lightly more common ( 61%) than s econdary ones ( 39%).

HYPOTHESIS 1 0: Skeletal mutilations implying both human s acrifice and ancestor worship are common Mutilated secondary skeletons and mass interments are certainly common i n the Late Preclassic. Three instances of secondary mutilation dating to the Early Middle Preclassic and one from the Late Middle Preclassic i ndicate the early origins of the tradition of human sacrifice at Cuello. In the Early Middle Preclassic two types of secondary mutilations are exhibited i n the archaeological record; severe mutilation of a s ingle body ( 2 cases) and disarticulation of leg bones only i ncluded with another primary i ndividual ( 1 case). The mutilated f emurs of a f emale i ncluded i n double burial with another primary female suggests the sacrifice of the f irst i ndividual f or the " personal" honor of the second. I n the other two cases, the severely mutilated i ndividuals are s ingle i nterments i n residential platforms, one i n western platform Str. 3 12 and another i n the s ettlement area. I f these mutilations do i ndeed i ndicate s acrifice, as the burials are single, the possibility that they were dedicatory sacrifices, not personal as i n the previous case, would be i mplied. In the Late Middle Preclassic one type of secondary mutilation i s observed; the removal of the skull. A male young adult buried i n the western residential platform has had his head removed and replaced by a block of tabular chert. Ethnographic evidence ( Tozzer, 1 941) i ndicates that the removal of a skull may just i ndicate ancestor worship and not human sacrifice, but the young age of this i ndividual suggests against the removal of his skull being for ancestor worship. If this mutilation and that of the Early Middle Preclassic burial i n Str. 3 21 i mply that these single i ndividuals were sacrifice/dedication to the western platform, the additional f unction of this building f or public/ceremonial use as well as domestic must be considered. In the Late Preclassic human sacrifice i s exhibited i n the sheer numbers of people i nterred i n the mass burials, but a lso by f our types of mutilation; s evered skull, decapitated body, disarticulated complete body and disarticulate l eg bones only. Secondary mutilated skeletons are most common i n public contexts, but three s acrificial skulls possibly p laced i n a dedicatory f ashion i n the northern residential p latforms i ndicates that these p latforms, at least at certain times, possibly had a public/ceremonial f unction as well a s domestic. I t

i s

i nteresting

to

note 1 29

that

a ll

three

times

( one

Early Middle Preclassic and two Late Preclassic examples) a double burial consists of a primary i ndividual associated with disarticulated l eg bones, implying that this sacrifice was made f or the " personal" honor of the primary i ndividual, the primary i ndividual was a f emale. Severely mutilated i ndividuals packaged into body bundles are unique to the mass burials. It can be suggested that these i ndividuals have not only lost their physical identity as i ndividuals but their social i dentity as individuals as well. They possibly can be viewed as " human grave goods". Though physical analysis of the skeletal remains cannot indicate whether mutilation was the cause of death or part of a postmortem burial custom, ethnographic evidence ( see Chapter 2 ) i ndicates that secondary mutilated skeletons may be the remains i n the archaeological record of the Maya practice of human s acrifice. Secondary mutilations and mass i nterments indicative of human sacrifice are common throughout the Preclassic at Cuello; though more prevalent i n the Late Preclassic, they originate f rom the Early Middle Preclassic. The youth of a ll secondary headless i ndividuals at Cuello suggests that, i n these cases, the removal of the skull was unlikely to be for purposes of ancestor worship. The age of one Late Middle Preclassic primary i nterment of a male middle/old adult and its location i n the center of the patio f loor does suggest ancestor worship.

HYPOTHESIS i s implied

1 1: A system of hereditary i n burial customs

based

rule

Throughout the Preclassic, f amily-type residential burials show no age/sex differentiation of grave "wealth" i n terms of number of grave goods. Also, complete l ack of grave goods i s not associated with any age or sex. The association of juveniles with as many grave goods as adults i s possibly indicative of a hereditary system of wealth. The s ingle male and mass patio/plaza center burials i n the Late Middle Preclassic to L ate Preclassic not only symbolize f unctional and i deological changes i n the use of P latform 3 4 but indicate sanctification of a hereditary ruling l ineage through ancestor worship ( single primary patio center male) and public s acrifice ( mass burials). The above analysis confirms many of the hypotheses put f orward in Chapter 1 thus i ndicating the s imilarity of burial practices among the Maya, but a lso refutes others, i llustrating both s ite s pecific variation and chronological variation i n burial practices. The i mportance of examining both temporal and contextual parameters so as to explain both the consistences and i nconsistencies of burial practices and changes in social structure i s c learly i llustrated i n the Cuello analysis. 1 30

CHAPTER 9 A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CUELLO BURIALS AND OTHER PRECLASSIC LOWLAND MAYA BURIALS INTRODUCTION Until recently the majority of research and excavation on the Maya f ocused on the Classic period. Few large scale excavations have had a primary focus on the Preclassic period, as at Cuello. However, Preclassic remains lying below Classic constructions have been excavated at many sites. Comparisons will be made between the Preclassic burials at Cuello and those of; Altun Ha, Barton Ramie, Tzimin Kax and Cahal Cunil in Belize; Tikal, Uaxactun, Holmul, Altar de Sacrificios and Seibal in the Peten; and D zibilchaltun in the Northern Yucatan. 5 8 Preclassic individuals are found at Altun Ha, 8 at Barton Ramie, 2 at Tzimin Kax, 7 at Cahal Cunil, 1 7 at Tikal, 2 0 at Uaxactun, 5 at Holmul, 25 at Altar de Sacrificios, 9 at Seibal and 2 4 at Dzibilchaltun ( Table 5 7 below). Considering the small sample at most of these sites and differences in ceramic typologies, chronological distinction will only be made between the Middle Preclassic and the Late Preclassic periods. Due to variation in archaeologically defined chronological units at each site, the temporal distinction between the Middle and Late Preclassic will be relative to each site chronology, rather than defined by an absolute cut off point ( Fig. 9 ). Information concerning the Formative burials at Barton Ramie, Uaxactun, Altar de Sacrificios and Dzibilchaltun come from original site publications ( Willey et al., 1 965 - Barton Ramie; Ricketson and Ricketson, 1 937 and Smith, 1 950 Uaxactun; Smith, 1 972 - Altar de Sacrificios; and Andrews and Andrews, 1 980 - Dzibilchaltun). Information concerning the Formative burials at Altun Ha, Tzimin Kax, Cahal Cunil, Tikal, Holmul and Seibal come from the burial data tables of a secondary publication - Welsh, 1 988 ( Altun Ha - pages 2 88 2 90; Tzimin Kax - page 253; Cahal Cunil - page 253; Tikal page 2 80; Holmul - page 2 70; and Seibal - page 3 23). The following comparison of Formative Lowland Maya burials was often hindered by the differing quality of excavation and recording at different sites and the overall small sample size of Preclassic burials from most Maya sites. It i s meant to present general comparative material from other Lowland Maya sites so to provide a regional framework for the Cuello site, but by no means i s it as comprehensive as the previous analysis of the Cuello burials. Preclassic burials have been excavated at other Lowland sites ( e. g. Colha, Copan) for which published data are not available, and also at Highland sites such as Chalchupa. A broader study may one day be possible. 1 31

Y E A R S

C A L E N D A R

G R E G O R I A N

C U E L O

A L T U N H A

B E L I Z E

T I K A L

o ‘ , .

o . .

C H U E N

C A U C

Ü

B A R T O N C R E K

M O U N T H O P E

B A R T O N R A M I E

9

C Z

o

U C A

o o , .

C E R A M I C P H A S E

U A X C T U N

H O L M U L I *

H O L M U L S A C R I F C I O S

A L T A R D E

C A N T U S E

L A T E

S I E B A L

E S C O B A

E . Z 4

= C D Z < . J c 2 .

w

N2 E .

C O

0

> . Z Z C . 1 , ,

X

C l )

0 C _ . )

0 U

W >

g 4

W E .

W

n

4 o a 4 .

o o

C • I

CZ

o o

o o

,

o o

bn

1 32

o o

co

I

N f . i

C Z

0 , . 2

t ,

o o

i-

>

C . 0

4 p r z

W U )

o .

.

* S a m e c e r a m i c p h a s e f o r T z i m n K a z a n d C a h a l C u n i l

P E R I O D S

C U L T U R A L

M A Y

L O W L A N D Z C . 1 E . t z . 1 C , . > . 4 t : 4

D Z I B L C H A L T U N

N O R T H E R N Y U C A T N

K O M C H E N

X C U L 1

X C U L 2

= 0 Z . 4 i 1 4 Z Z U Z 4 C Q 4 Z

C a u ) E .

X

4 . 1 C . . Z 4 C l )

4 G 4

U 0

0

P )

F . ' C . ) C = . 1

> ' 4

. < u l

> . a

a

c r , —

C . 1 >

r .
. .

this that

Unless modifications in terminology are defined Chapter, the terminology used here will be the same outlined in Chapter 2 . NUMBER OF

in as

INDIVIDUALS

SITE MIDDLE

PRECLASSIC

LATE

PRECLASSIC

CUELLO

21

1 03

ALTUN HA

20

3 8

7

1

BARTON RAMIE TZIMIN KAX

2

CANAL CUNIL

7

TIKAL

3

1 4

UAXACTUN

5

15

HOLMUL ALTAR DE

5 SACRIFICIOS

SEIBAL DZIBILCHALTUN

*

TOTAL

8

1 5

2

7

4

1 7

70

2 24

Two additional individuals are either Middle P reclassic ( San F e lix o r P lancha ) * Three additional individuals are either Middle Preclassic ( Nabanche 2+) TABLE 5 7: Total number of Middle and Late individuals excavated at 1 1 Lowland Maya sites.

or

Late

or

Late

Preclassic

POPULATION The quality of age/sex analysis of skeletal remains i s variable between sites. Some sites had specialists analyze the skeletal remains, others just had non specialist estimations done in the f ield. Some analyses were more precise in the age/sex divisions, other analyses only made broad divisions betweens adults and juveniles. Even among those s ites where more precise age/sex categorizations were made no standardization of age groupings exists. Consequently, the age range of many individuals overlap. Thus, f or comparative purposes it was decided to divide i ndividuals by the following broad age categories: ADULT

- 2 0

SUB-ADULT

+ years, - 1 2

to

20

years, 1 33

JUVENILE

- Birth to

1 2

years.

Even using these broad categories i t was found that certain individuals' age crosscut two categories. In this case an i ndividual was placed into the category that more of i ts age range fell into. Thus, in a few cases there may be a s light overlap between individuals in the l ow age range of one category and the high age range of another category ( e. g. individuals aged 1 0 - 1 4 were placed in the sub-adult category not the juvenile category; and individuals aged 1 8 2 5 were placed in the adult category not the sub-adult category). Also, standards of sex determination are variable between sites. Sometimes divisions are made between definitely sexed individuals and possibly sexed individuals, other times they are not. It is unfortunate that Welsh did not carry through the distinction between definitely and possibly sexed individuals in his dissertation. He only distinguishes male, female and unsexed individuals. He arbitrarily placed all possibly sexed individuals in the definitely sexed categories. Though i t is not necessarily appropriate to place indefinite cases into a definite category a priori, in order that the data from the different Maya sites in this analysis are comparable with those from Welsh' dissertation, possible male and f emale categories have been collapsed into the definite male and female categories. - MIDDLE

PRECLASSIC AGE AND SEX

SITE M

ADULT F

?

8

7

1

7

4

7

3

2

-

TIKAL

2

-

UAXACTUN ALTAR DE SACRIFICIOS

2

CUELLO

SUB-ADULT JUVENILE

TOTAL

5

-

21

-

-

20

-

2

-

7

1

-

-

-

3

-

2

-

-

1

5

3

1

-

-

4

-

8

SEIBAL

2

-

-

-

-

-

2

DZIBILCHALTUN

2

ALTUN HA

*

BARTON RAMIE

TOTAL

*

2 9

-

?

2

2 1 4

1 1

One sub-adult is a f emale One juvenile i s a male TABLE 5 8: Age/sex distribution Lowland Maya sites in the Middle

2

1 3

4 1

70

*

1 34

of skeletal Preclassic.

remains

at

8

The sample size of Middle Preclassic burials at most sites precludes making any judgment as to the age/sex distribution at these sites. At Cuello and Altun Ha, where the two largest Middle Preci .assic samples are from, both males and f emales are represented in the adult population ( Table 5 8 above). At Cuello juveniles make up about one f ourth of the buried population while at Altun Ha no juveniles are represented in the sample. Overall male burials are more often found than female burials. Whether this has to do with bias in gender analysis or just overall small sample size i s not known. - LATE

PRECLASSIC

-

AGE AND SEX SITE 1 4

ADULT F

?

5 9

1 4

1 4

1

1 5

-

1 03

ALTUN HA

5

8

1 2

2

1 1

-

3 8

BARTON RAMIE

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

TZIMIN KAX

-

-

2

-

-

-

2

CAHAL CUNIL

1

-

-

-

-

6

7

TIKAL

3

4

4

-

2

1

1 4

UAXACTUN

1 .

1

6

-

7

-

1 5

HOLMUL ALTAR DE SACRIFICIOS

-

-

2

-

-

3

5

5

4

3

1

2

-

1 5

SEIBAL

2

3

-

-

1

1

7

DZIBILCHALTUN

7

-

5

-

5

-

1 7

8 3

3 4

4 9

4

4 3

1 1

2 24

CUELLO

TOTAL

TABLE 5 9: Age/sex Lowland Maya sites

SUB-ADULT JUVENILE

distribution of skeletal i n the Late Preclassic.

? TOTAL

remains

at

1 1

Though the sample size of Late Preclassic burials i s larger than that of Middle Preclassic burials still it i s impossible to make judgments about the age/sex distribution at many s ites ( Table 5 9). Considering only those sites with greater than ten burials; at Altun Ha, Tikal, Uaxactun, and Altar de Sacrificios both males and females are f airly evenly represented in the adult population. At Dzibilchaltun only one adult out of eight could be sexed and this individual was male, this may be due to the fact that many of the D zibilchaltun burials are secondary/disarticulated thus difficult to age or sex. Only at Cuello is there a definite 1 35

overrepresentation of males in the adult population, this reflecting the importance of males in public ritual activity on P latform 3 4 ( see Chapter 6 ). Juveniles represent about one third to one f ifteenth of the buried population at Cuello, Altun Ha, Tikal, Uaxactun, Altar de Sacrificios and D zibilchaltun. The two San Felix/Plancha individuals at Altar de Sacrificios are a male adult and a female adult. The three Nabanche 2+ individuals at D zibilchaltun are two male adults and one juvenile. CONTEXT The contextual distribution of burials at Preclassic sites has more to do with what contexts were excavated than the actual distribution of burials within these contexts. As at most sites only a limited number ( or just one) of structures or contexts was excavated, one cannot comment on differing burial activity in differing contexts as was done for the Cuello burials. - MIDDLE

PRECLASSIC

-

CUELLO: Middle Preclassic burials at Cuello are all excavated from residential platforms, plaza f loors and occupation surface layers in the main Preclassic center of the site, Platform 3 4 ( only one exception is settlement burial 3 , see Chapter 3 ). The western platform may possibly have had a ceremonial function ( see detailed discussions from Chapters 3 , 4 , 5 , and 8 ). ALTUN HA: All burials come from ceremonial platform Str. C-13 in Group C . The C group i s comparable in construction and function ( je., the main Preclassic center at Altun Ha) to Cuello's Platform 3 4. Though Welsh describes Str. C-13 as a ceremonial platform in his data tables ( Welsh, 1 988: 2 882 90) the excavations at Altun Ha seem to indicate that Str. C-13 was a residential platform until the end of the Middle Preclassic or Str. C-13 level four ( Pendergast, 1 982: 1 788 0). BARTON RAMIE: All burials come from settlement residential platforms. TIKAL: Two burials come from settlement residential platforms and one from a refuse pit in the Northern Acropolis. Though f loors and burials are identified i n the Middle Preclassic from the Northern Acropolis, buildings and platforms have not yet been identified. Recent work i ndicates that Mundo 1 36

Perdido

i s

the

earliest

center

at

Tikal

( Sharer

and

Rice,

1 987). UAXACTUN: All burials come from Group E occupation layers below the Group E plaza ( not from the plaza itself as described by Welsh, 1 988: 2 72). Occupation in the Middle Preclassic is only known from this Group at Uaxactun. ALTAR DE

SACRIFICIOS:

Six of the burials come from Group B platforms, and one f rom the plaza f loor. Group B is comparable to Cuello's P latform 3 4 in construction and function ( ie., the main Preclassic center at Altar de Sacrificios). Group B is considered to have a true ceremonial function in the Late San Felix ( 500-300 BC). One f inal burial comes from a settlement residential platform. SEIBAL: Both burials come from Group A plaza f loor. comparable to Cuello' s P latform 3 4 as the main center at Seibal in the Middle Preclassic.

Group A is Preclassic

D ZIBILCHALTUN: All burials come from residential platform Str. 6 05 of the Mirador Group. Earliest occupation at Dzibilchaltun is known from this group. The largest platform ( Str. 6 03), which was unexcavated, may have had a ceremonial function in the Middle Preclassic. - LATE

PRECLASSIC

-

CUELLO: All burials come from ceremonial platforms, residential platforms, plaza f loors and north platform construction associated occupation surface/fill layers on Platform 3 4, the main Late Preclassic ceremonial center at Cuello. ALTUN HA: All burials come from ceremonial platform Str. C-13. The C Group i s comparable to Cuello's Platform 3 4 in construction and function ( ie., as the main Late Preclassic ceremonial center at Altun Ha). BARTON RAMIE: All burials come from settlement residential platforms. T ZIMIN KAX: All

burials

come

from

chultuns 1 37

in

Tzimin

Kax

plazas.

Construction at Tzimin Kax i s comparable to that of Cuello's P latform 3 4, though Tzimin Kax is strictly a residential precinct. CAHAL CUNIL: Burials residence in

come from the plaza f loor the residential group of Cahal

and a Cunil.

vaulted

TIKAL: All burials come from ceremonial platforms ( temples and household shrines also) in the Northern Acropolis the main Late Preclassic ceremonial precinct at Tikal. UAXACTUN: Burials come from the plaza f loor in Group E and residential platforms in Group A . Group E remains the central Preclassic focus of activity i n the Late Preclassic. HOLMUL: All ALTAR DE

burials

come

from temple

Str.

B in Group

I I.

SACRIFICIOS:

Burials come from ceremonial ( temple) platforms in Group B which i s comparable to Cuello's Platform 3 4 i n construction and function ( ie., as the main Preclassic ceremonial precinct at Altar de Sacrificios). Burials also come from settlement residential platforms. SEIBAL: Burials come from house platforms, ceremonial platforms, household shrines and plazas in Groups A , C ( ceremonial area) and D ( residential area) and other residential structures. D ZIBILCHALTUN: Burials come from residential platforms from the Mirador and Xculul Groups and ceremonial platforms from the Komchen group. One burial comes from a settlement platform near the Xculul Group. Ceramic evidence from this mound suggests i t was only occupied in the Formative. GRAVE

TYPE - MIDDLE

PRECLASSIC -

As seen at Cuello, the predominant grave type i n the Middle Preclassic i s simple, though more elaborate grave types do occur at some sites ( Table 6 0 below). Though the predominant grave type at D zibilchaltun i n the C lassic i s a crypt grave, only simple graves occur in the Middle Preclassic sample. One crypt grave does occur at Seibal. 1 38

GRAVE SITE

TYPE

SIMPLE

CIST

CRYPT

CHULTUN

TOTAL

CUELLO

1 8

2

-

-

20

ALTUN HA

1 0

-

-

-

1 0

BARTON RAMIE

7

1

-

-

8

TIKAL

1

1

-

1

3

UAXACTUN ALTAR DE SACRIFICIOS

5

-

-

5

6

-

-

-

6

SEIBAL

-

1

1

-

2

DZIBILCHALTUN

3

-

-

-

3

5 0

5

1

1

5 7

TOTAL

TABLE 6 0: Distribution of grave type in the Middle Preclassic at 8 Lowland Maya s ites. More elaborate graves are found in residential platforms except at Seibal where they are found in the plaza f loor. The Seibal crypt grave i s associated with two stones and the cist grave i s associated with one mano. The Barton Ramie a cist grave i s associated with two pots. The Tikal cist grave i s associated with three pots and cinnabar. Both the Tikal and the Barton Ramie cist graves are two of the best furnished Middle Preclassic graves at those sites. The two Seibal graves are the only Middle Preclassic examples at Seibal. As the grave good assemblage i s quite limited at these s ites in the Middle Preclassic it cannot be said if there i s a relationship between grave furniture and grave type. At Cuello there i s no relationship between the two cist graves and a higher number of grave goods in the Middle Preclassic ( see Chapters 3 and 4 ). - LATE

PRECLASSIC

-

Again as seen at Cuello simple graves are the most common at other Lowland Late Preclassic sites ( Table 61 below). Only at one site, Tikal, are more elaborate grave types more common than simple graves ( at Cahal Cunil and Holmul only cists and crypts are found but sample size i s small). At Tikal the s imple and cist graves all date to the Chuen phase ( 250-50 BC) and are less elaborately furnished than the crypts and tombs of the Cauac phase ( 50 BC - 1 50 AD) and Cauac/Cimi transition ( 150-250 AD). The simple graves are in ceremonial platforms, the cist grave i s also in a ceremonial platform, the crypt grave i s in a temple, and the tombs are i n temples except one which i s i n a ceremonial 1 39

GRAVE SITE

TYPE

SIMPLE

CIST

CRYPT

TOMB

CHULTUN

TOTAL

CUELLO

41

6

4

-

-

51

ALTUN HA

2 0

3

-

-

-

2 3

1

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

3

3

-

-

2

-

-

2

4

1

1

4

-

1 0

1 2

2

-

-

-

1 4

-

1

2

-

-

3

1 2

1

1

-

-

1 4

7

-

-

-

-

7

1 3

-

1

-

1

1 5

1 10

1 4

1 1

4

4

1 43

BARTON RAMIE TZIMIN KAX

*

CAHAL CUNIL

*

TIKAL UAXACTUN HOLMUL ALTAR DE SACRIFICIOS SEIBAL DZIBILCHALTUN

**

TOTAL *

One chultun burial ( s) *

One crypt burial ( s)

at

at

Tzimin

Cahal

Kax possibly contains

Cunil

possibly

contains

( a)

secondary

( a)

secondary

* *

Two of the D zibilchaltun graves ( one simple, one crypt) were empty. As the number of individuals in both above mentioned graves can not be quantified with certainty they have not been included in the previous discussion on population. TABLE at 1 1

6 1: Distribution of grave Lowland Maya sites.

type

in the

Late

Preclassic

platform. One Cauac burial of a male adult ( Tikal burial # 85) i s suggested by Welsh ( 1988) to be that of a Tikal ruler. All C lassic interments from the North Acropolis are exceedingly well furnished and all are in tombs with the exception of one secondary burial in a midden deposit. Though large scale ceremonial architecture i s known from the Northern Acropolis i n the Chuen phase, beginning in the Cauac phase ritual architecture became larger and more elaborate. Architectural styles similar to those of the Classic, polychrome pottery and vaulted tombs mark this transition. Increased e laboration of graves and grave goods at Tikal beginning i n the Cauac a lso mark this change in r itual importance and e laboration. The graves and grave goods at Tikal reflect the importance of this s ite as a major Maya 1 40

ceremonial

center.

At smaller s ites in the Late Preclassic, though more e laborate graves begin to appear more frequently, they are not specifically associated with more elaborate grave f urniture as seen at Cuello. At Altun Ha three cist graves are found; one contains two secondary unsexed adults associated with a bone pin and charcoal; one contains a secondary male adult, whose skull and lower legs have been removed, associated with one ceramic vessel, a child's tooth and charcoal; the f inal contains a double burial of a primary f emale adult and a secondary female adult associated with a s ingle jade bead and charcoal. Though none of the Altun Ha cist graves completely lack grave goods, many of the simple graves are better f urnished, thus no association between cists and greater grave furnishings i s indicated. Two cists are found in house platform Str. A-V at Uaxactun, one is associated with one ceramic vessel and charcoal, the other with two ceramic vessels. With one exception, an infant in a simple grave associated with f our ceramic vessels, a jade bead and shell necklace and adult phalanx, Chicanel grave furnishing at Uaxactun, in both simple and cist graves, i s f airly homogeneous, consisting of zero, one or two pots. The one crypt grave at Altar de Sacrificios contains a male adult associated with two ceramic vessels, one jade bead and copal. The two San Felix or Plancha individuals at Altar Sacrificios and the three Nabanche 2+ individuals D zibilchaltun are a ll found in simple graves.

de at

SKELETAL POSITION AND AZIMUTH Skeletal positions; extended, f lexed and seated ( as the semi-reclining position i s only differentiated from the seated position at Cuello for comparative purposes the semireclining category has been collapsed into the seated category), and a zimuths; north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west and northwest, will be compared at the e leven Maya sites i n this analysis. Again, depending on the quality of excavation and recording, the position and azimuth of many i nterments i s unknown or unclear. - MIDDLE

PRECLASSIC

-

Though sample s ize i s small both the extended and f lexed positions occur at most Middle Preclassic s ites. At Cuello the number of extended burials i s slightly higher than that of f lexed but at Altun Ha, Uaxactun and Altar de Sacrificios both f lexed and extended positions occur in fairly equal f requencies ( Table 6 2). Though there are only four Middle Preclassic burials with known positions at Barton Ramie all f our are extended which i s the predominant position at Barton Ramie throughout the Preclassic a nd C lassic. 1 41

Only at Cuello and Tikal are seated burials found in the Middle Preclassic. SKELETAL POSITION SITE EXTENDED

FLEXED

SEATED

TOTAL

CUELLO

8

5

1

1 4

ALTUN HA

4

5

-

9

BARTON RAMIE

4

-

-

4

TIKAL

-

1

1

2

UAXACTUN

2

1

-

3

3

4

-

7

2

-

-

2

2 3

1 6

2

41

ALTAR DE

SACRIFICIOS

SEIBAL TOTAL

TABLE 6 2: Distribution of skeletal Preclassic at 7 Lowland Maya sites.

position

in

the

Middle

Barton Ramie is the only site where there appears to be a favored azimuth in the Middle Preclassic ( Table 6 3). Here all f ive burials with known azimuths are north. The extended head to the north position i s predominant in the Middle Preclassic at Barton Ramie but in the C lassic period the extended head to the south position becomes the predominant position. AZIMUTH SITE N

NE

E

SE

S

SW

W

NW

TOTAL

CUELLO

3

-

2

2

2

1

4

-

1 4

ALTUN HA

-

-

1

3

-

-

3

3

1 0

BARTON RAMIE

5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

TIKAL

1

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

3

UAXACTUN ALTAR DE SACRIFICIOS

2

-

-

-

-

-

1

_

3

-

2

-

-

2

2

1

-

7

SEIBAL

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

2

1 2

2

5

5

4

4

9

3

4 4

TOTAL

TABLE 6 3: D istribution of at 7 Lowland Maya sites.

azimuth

1 42

in

the

Middle

Preclassic

No predominant a zimuth i s seen at Altun Ha, Barton Ramie, Tikal, Uaxactun, Altar de Sacrificios and Seibal as at Cuello. Nor i s a relationship between a particular a zimuth and skeletal position seen. Though this may be due to small sample size it i s interesting to note the broad range of azimuths f ound at any one site, especially Cuello, Altun Ha, and Altar de Sacrificios, the three sites from which the l argest s ample of azimuths are found. Much variation among azimuths i s i llustrated at these sites, indicating that a predominant site azimuth is the rare situation in the Middle Preclassic. - LATE

PRECLASSIC

-

Again, i n the Late Preclassic both the extended and f lexed positions are the most common at all sites except Cuello ( Table 6 4). There i s a tendency to favor either the f lexed or the extended position at most sites unlike in the Middle Preclassic where these positions occurred in fairly equal frequency. At Cuello, Uaxactun and D zibilchaltun there are more f lexed burials than extended; at Altun Ha and Altar de Sacrificios the extended position is favored over f lexed; and at Seibal there seems to be l ittle favoring of either f lexed ( 3 cases) or extended ( 2 cases). At Barton Ramie though only one burial dates to the Late Preclassic it contains an extended individual, the predominant skeletal position at Barton Ramie. SKELETAL POSITION SITE EXTENDED

FLEXED

SEATED

TOTAL

1 0

1 6

3 2

5 8

ALTUN HA

5

1

2

8

BARTON RAMIE

1

-

-

1

TZIMIN KAX

-

2

-

2

CAHAL CUNIL

-

-

2

2

TIKAL

4

-

2

6

UAXACTUN

4

6

-

1 0

8

3

-

1 1

SEIBAL

2

3

-

5

DZIBILCHALTUN

2

6

-

8

3 6

3 7

3 8

1 11

CUELLO

ALTAR DE

SACRIFICIOS

TOTAL TABLE 6 4: Preclassic

Distribution of skeletal at 1 0 Lowland Maya sites.

1 43

position

in

the

Late

The predominance of the seated position at Cuello in the Late Preclassic seems to be a unique case. Very few examples of seated burials are f ound among the other Maya sites. Two are found at Altun Ha, Tikal and Cahal Cunil. The two seated burials from Cahal Cunil are the only two Preclassic interments from this site with a known skeletal position, thus it can not be said i f they represent any meaningful site trend. Again, there seems to be no predominant azimuth at most of the sites in the Late Preclassic sample ( Table 6 5). Also the range of azimuths at most sites especially Cuello, Altun Ha and Altar de Sacrificios, i s quite broad. The one Late Preclassic Barton Ramie burial is extended head to the south in the predominant C lassic site position. At Cahal Cunil f ive interments have an a zimuth of northeast, but they all come from the same grave ( a group burial of seven individuals, two primary and f ive secondary). The two primary seated individuals face NE a long with three of the secondary interments. AZIMUTH SITE N

NE

E

SE

S

SW

W

NW

TOTAL

CUELLO

6

6

2

9

1 0

4

1 4

6

5 7

ALTUN HA

2

-

2

3

2

-

-

-

BARTON RAMIE

-

-

-

-

-

TZIMIN KAX

1

CAHAL CUNIL

5

-

2

UAXACTUN ALTAR DE SACRIFICIOS

4 -

-

3

SEIBAL

3

-

3

DZIBILCHALTUN

1

-

2

2

1

-

5

4

-

-

2

1 1

2

3

-

3

-

11

-

1

-

-

-

7

2 1 2

TABLE 6 5: Distribution 1 0 Lowland Maya sites.

1

5

1

1 7

1

1

TIKAL

TOTAL

-

9

2

1 5 of

1 4

azimuth

2 3 in the

5 Late

There i s no clear association between azimuth and a particular skeletal position Preclassic at the sites listed in Table 6 5.

1 9

5 8

1 13

Preclassic

at

a particular in the Late

One of the two San Felix or Plancha burials at Altar de Sacrificios i s extended head to the south, the other i s 1 44

f lexed head to the east. One of the three Nabanche 2 + burials at D zibilchaltun i s f lexed, the position of the other two burials i s unknown. Any preferences f or a specific position or azimuth i s definitely s ite s pecific i n the Preclassic and does not seem to f ollow any kind of regional trend. I n the Late Preclassic many sites begin t o have a f avored skeletal positions but not a zimuth. This i s quite different f rom what i s seen in the C lassic period where predominant s ite positions and a zimuths are common ( Welsh, 1 988). Again, this l ack of a predominant s ite position or a zimuth may only be due to small sample s ize. GRAVE

GOODS

Grave goods are the most difficult category of mortuary behavior to both quantify and compare. Not only are the recording procedures different ( more or l ess accurate) at different s ites, but a lso the types of grave goods f ound at a particular s ite can vary greatly, or not be represented at a ll at other s ites. Local ceramics, jade objects, shell objects and chert objects are the most common grave goods f ound in the Preclassic. As other types of grave goods are f ound with l ess f requency and only at a f ew s ites they will be placed i nto the category of " other objects" f or analytical purposes. Though i t must be acknowledged that there i s great diversity between many of the objects i n this category ( je., a stingray spine and a ground stone tool). Often excavators did not quantify the number of objects that were in a graves ( e. g. shell beads). Thus the actual number of grave goods i s unknown. When only the word " beads" i s used to quantify the number of a particular grave good i t will be counted a s two. Thus the number of grave goods will be underestimated at worst, but not overestimated. As i n the previous analysis of the Cuello burials no attempt will be made to provide a wealth ranking f or grave goods. Differing f rom the system used by Welsh ( 1988) to quantify grave goods a shell necklace will be counted as one object not 3 00 i f i t i s made of that many beads. This i s the s ame procedure used i n the previous analysis of the Cuello burials. Admittedly a jade necklace would seem to symbolize greater wealth than a s ingle jade bead, but i t was p laced i n the grave as one o bject and i t was decided to make no attempt to rank particular grave goods i n this analysis. As i n the previous analysis of the Cuello burials, unprovenienced groups of beads are counted as one s ince i t cannot be a scertained whether they represent one or more objects ( e.g. necklaces etc.). Charcoal f ound i n graves which may represent the practice of burning a corpse i s not counted as a grave good. S ingle human teeth are not counted as grave goods as i t i s possible that they may just be part of the burial f ill or i ntrusive i nto the grave. 1 45

The average number of grave goods per individual by type of grave good ( local ceramics, jade objects, shell objects, chert objects and other objects) and for grave goods total i s calculated for each site in Tables 6 6 and 6 7 thus providing an index to compare wealth in terms of grave goods in general terms between sites. - MIDDLE

PRECLASSIC TYPE AND NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODS

-

Overall locally made ceramics are the most common grave goods in the Middle Preclassic. Only at Altun Ha, Uaxactun and Seibal i s this not the case ( Table 6 6). At Seibal and Uaxactun no ceramic vessels are found in the mortuary assemblage. At Altun Ha shell objects are the most common grave goods. Also at Cuello shell objects are fairly common in the mortuary assemblage. Other types of grave goods occur with less frequency in the Middle Preclassic mortuary assemblage. At Seibal and Tikal the small sample Preclassic burials has greatly inflated the of grave goods at these sites, thus they can be compared with the f igures f or other sites 6 6. AVERAGE NUMBER OF GRAVE

size of Middle average number not accurately listed in Table

GOODS

SITE LOCAL JADE CERAMICS OBJECTS

SHELL CHERT OTHER OBJECTS OBJECTS OBJECTS

CUELLO

1 .7

0 .4

1 .0

0 .2

ALTUN HA

0 .4

0 .6

0 .8

0 .2

BARTON RAMIE

0 .7

0 .1

TIKAL

1 .3

UAXACTUN ALTAR DE SACRIFICIOS SEIBAL DZIBILCHALTUN

0 .4

TOTAL 3 .7 2 .0

0 .4

1 .3

0 .3

1 .6

-

0 .6

0 .6

-

0 .6

1 .8

1 .0

0 .1

-

0 .1

0 .5

1 .7

-

-

-

-

1 .5

1 .5

1 .0

1 .0

TABLE 6 6: Average number of grave goods per individual in the Middle Preclassic at 8 Lowland Maya sites. The category "other objects" i ncludes; two stones and a mano at Seibal; f ish teeth, armadillo shells, deer antler and a stone celt at Altar de Sacrificios; cinnabar at Tikal; a clay whistle and two c lay earflares at Uaxactun; a clay f igurine and two limestone hemispheres of unknown function at Barton Ramie; and a clay f igurine ocarina, two bone hooked tools, a greenstone bead, a ground stone grinding s lab and red ocher at Cuello. 1 46

The presence o f jade i n the mortuary assemblage at f ive s ites; Cuello and Altun Ha in Belize and Uaxactun, Barton Ramie and Altar de Sacrificios i n the Peten i ndicates the existence of long distance trade routes between many Lowland Maya s ites a s early as the Middle Preclassic. Cuello i s the only one of the 8 Lowland Maya s ites l isted in Table 6 6 to have types of grave goods other than jade that are long d istance trade i tems in the Middle Preclassic. At Cuello a ground stone grinding s lab of non-local material and a greenstone bead are found i n the mortuary assemblage. For the most part Middle Preclassic burials consist of less than f ive grave goods which i nclude ceramics and one or two other objects. A f ew examples of Middle Preclassic graves with above average mortuary a ssemblages come from the s ites of Uaxactun and Cuello. Unsexed adult burial E9 at Uaxactun i s buried with a necklace of 7 8 jade beads and 2 0 shell beads. Burial E8 ( Uaxactun) i s a ssociated with one conch shell, one carved shell death's head, one c lay whistle and two c lay earflares. Cuello burials 9 ( Male adult), 1 23 ( Male adult), 1 14 ( Female adult) and 1 16 ( Juvenile) a lso have above average mortuary assemblages ( see Chapter 3 ). With the exception of the two Uaxactun burials mentioned above the Cuello Middle Preclassic burials are, on the whole, better f urnished than those of the other Lowland Maya s ites in this sample. This supports the thesis that the Middle Preclassic patio group under P latform 3 4 at Cuello was the central precinct at Cuello where the e lite members of that community resided. Though i t can not be said with certainty whether any of the structures around this patio group had a definite ceremonial function i n the Middle Preclassic, i t can be suggested that here was the ancestral home of the e lite members of Cuello s ociety who l ater constructed P latform 3 4 in the Late Preclassic. - LATE PRECLASSIC TYPE AND NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODS

-

The Late Preclassic mortuary assemblages are more diversified than those of the Middle Preclassic. Still local ceramics are the most common type of grave good, except at Altun Ha and D zibilchaltun where shell objects are the most common ( Table 6 7). At Barton Ramie, Tzimin Kax and Holmul the small sample size of the Late Preclassic burials has greatly i nflated the average number of grave goods at these sites, thus they cannot accurately be compared with the f igures from the other sites in Table 6 7. Only two Late Preclassic graves are f ound at Cahal Cunil. One contains a group burial of s even i ndividuals but no grave goods, the other contains 1 2 grave goods, seven ceramic vessels, two jade earflares, two jade beads and one obsidian knife. The number of i ndividuals i n this grave i s 1 47

not known, thus there i s no way to f igure number of grave goods at Cahal Cunil.

out

an

average

The category " other objects" i s f ar broader in the Late Preclassic. All s ites except T zimin Kax and Uaxactun have grave goods that f all into the " other objects" category. The " other objects" category includes; stingray spines, a pearl, a greenstone f igurine, bird bone, stucco, cinnabar, textiles, a jade mosaic mask and obsidian blades both grey and green at Tikal; green and red paint fragments at Holmul; an obsidian blade at Barton Ramie; a bone tube, bone pin and obsidian blade at Altun Ha; a bone needle at Dzibilchaltun; a bone tube, worked stone and worked sherd at Altar de Sacrificios; a serpentine bead and turtle shell at Seibal; and a ceramic ring, seven bone tubes ( interpreted as f an handles), two greenstone beads, two obsidian blades, two ground stone metates, ? mica ( or nacre) and red ocher at Cuello. AVERAGE

NUMBER OF GRAVE GOODS

SITE LOCAL JADE SHELL CERAMICS OBJECTS OBJECTS

CHERT OTHER OBJECTS OBJECTS

TOTAL

CUELLO

1 .2

0 .2

0 .3

0 .1

0 .2

1 .9

ALTUN HA

0 .2

0 .6

0 .4

0 .5

0 .1

1 .4

BARTON RAMIE

3 .0

-

-

1 .0

4 .0

TZIMIN KAX

4 .5

-

5 .0

TIKAL

5 .6

0 .8

1 .2

UAXACTUN

0 .8

0 .6

0 .6

HOLMUL ALTAR DE SACRIFICIOS

3 .4

0 .2

1 .0

1 .2

0 .3

-

SEIBAL

1 .3

-

DZIBILCHALTUN

0 .4

0 .5

9 .5 0 .2

0 .7

8 .6 1 .0

0 .4

5 .0

0 .3

1 .9

0 .4

0 .4

2 .1

0 .3

0 .2

1 .4

0 .1

TABLE 6 7: Average number of grave goods per the Late Preclassic at 1 0 Lowland Maya s ites.

individual

in

Jade continues to be found in the Late Preclassic mortuary assemblages. It i s found at an increasing number of sites possibly indicating the continuation and expansion of Middle Preclassic long distance trade routes. Jade objects are found at Cuello, Altun Ha, Tikal, Holmul, Seibal and D zibilchaltun. Obsidian, another long distance trade i tem common to Classic Maya mortuary assemblages, is found f or the f irst time at f ive Lowland Maya s ites in the Late Preclassic. These s ites are Tikal, Cahal Cunil, Barton Ramie, Altun Ha and Cuello. Teotihuacan green obsidian i s 1 48

f ound i n the Tikal mortuary a ssemblage. Other long distance trade i tems are a lso f ound i n the mortuary assemblages at Tikal, Seibal and Cuello. Both the number of s ites from which l ong distance trade i tems are f ound, and the different types of long distance trade i tems i n the L ate Preclassic mortuary assemblages, seem to i ndicate i ncrease and expansion of existing Middle Preclassic trade routes. One Late Preclassic s ite stands out f rom the rest as having both the highest number of grave goods per i ndividual and the most diversified mortuary assemblage. This i s Tikal. Considering that grave goods such as a jade mosaic mask are only counted as " one", the average grave " wealth" at Tikal i s comparatively underestimated i n Table 6 7. This aside, f our burials at Tikal ( Tikal burials 1 66, 1 67, 1 28 and 8 5) a ll dating to the Cauac phase are exceptionally well f urnished Late Preclassic graves. One i n particular, Tikal burial 8 5, containing a male adult associated with 2 6 ceramic vessels, one jade bead, one shell, one shell bead, a stingray spine, textiles and a jade mosaic mask i s suggested be Welsh to be a Preclassic Tikal king ( Welsh, 1 988). All the Late Preclassic burials at Tikal come from the Northern Acropolis the Late Preclassic central ceremonial precinct. In the Cauac, as discussed above, i ncreased e laboration of graves and grave goods at Tikal mark changes i n r itual importance and e laboration. The e laborate grave good assemblages at Tikal in the Late Preclassic reflect the importance of this s ite as a major Maya ceremonial center. Considering the smaller Maya centers, the mortuary assemblages at Altun Ha, Uaxactun and D zibilchaltun consist of a f ew objects, usually ceramic or shell. Graves here are on the average l ess well f urnished than those of Cuello, Altar de Sacrificios and Seibal. At these three s ites there i s both higher numbers of grave goods and greater diversity of grave good types. At Cuello, Altar de Sacrificios and Seibal established ceremonial precincts are constructed at least beginning i n the L ate Preclassic, i f not at the end of the Middle Preclassic. All of the Cuello Late Preclassic burials come from the Late Preclassic ceremonial precinct while Late Preclassic burials f rom Seibal and Altar de Sacrificios come f rom both ceremonial precincts and residential or settlement areas. One of the two San Felix or P lancha burials at Altar de Sacrificios has no grave good ( Altar burial 1 4) and the other ( Altar burial 1 3) i s associated with one ceramic vessel, 1 4 jade beads, one i ncised stone plaque and two l ime-encrusted shells. None of the Nabanche 2 + burials at D zibilchaltun are associated with any grave goods. MASS/GROUP BURIALS Though the most common Preclassic burial i s a s ingle primary i nterment, f our mass/group burials are f ound i n the 1 49

Preclassic; Cunil.

two at Cuello,

one at Altun Ha

and one at Cahal

The two Cuello mass burials of 1 2 and 3 2 individuals represent the l argest number of i ndividuals buried i n one grave in the Preclassic. One dates to the Early Cocos Chicanel and marks a transition i n architectural style and ritual e laboration at Cuello. The other was placed i n the f ootprint of the f irst i n the center of the plaza f loor i n the Late Cocos Chicanel. Both are discussed extensively i n Chapter 6 and will not be repeated here. The two mass burials at Altun Ha and Cahal Cunil contain seven individuals each and may well better be considered " group" burials not " mass" burials. The group burial at Altun Ha contains two central primary f igures, one possible f emale aged 1 2 to 1 7 and one probable male aged 2 5 to 4 0 lying i n the extended supine position with the possible f emale oriented to the southeast and the probable male oriented i n the opposite direction to the northwest. F ive secondary i ndividuals a ll o lder adults are a lso f ound i n the grave. All the grave goods are associated with the two primary i ndividuals. The possible f emale i s associated with f our jade beads and the probable male i s associated with eight jade beads and two ceramic vessels. This group burial i s approximately dated to 4 503 00 BC by Pendergast ( 1982: 2 02). Thus i t i s contemporary or s lightly earlier than Mass Burial 1 at Cuello which dates to approximately 3 00 BC. The group burial at Altun Ha i s associated with the f ourth construction level of Str. C-13 ( Pendergast, 1 982: 1 77). As s een at Cuello, i t marks a break in architectural style and e laboration at Altun Ha. The f ourth construction level i s f irst l arge ceremonial construction at Altun Ha. Also s imilar to the situation at Cuello, Pendergast considers that the f ive secondary interments were sacrificed f or the two primary individuals. By the young age of these two primary i ndividuals they a lso are l ikely to be sacrificial victims themselves. Though there are differences between the mass/group burials at Altun Ha and Cuello, the s imilarities are most notable. The f ocus of attention i n the burial and i n the e laboration of grave goods i s two primary i ndividuals i n both cases. At Cuello i n both mass burials these two i ndividuals are male. Mass burial activity on the whole i s associated with males and exclusive to adult i ndividuals at Cuello. At Altun Ha one of the s econdary burials i s a f emale and one of the two primary i ndividuals i s possibly a f emale aged 1 2-17. Thus the Altun Ha group burial i s not exclusive to either f emales or adults. In the Altun Ha group burial there i s a exclusive dichotomy between the ages of the two primary i ndividuals and the f ive secondary i ndividuals. The primary i ndividuals are both under 2 5 and the secondary individuals are a ll over 2 5, two over 4 0. At Cuello, though the two s ets of central i ndividuals i n the mass burials are all younger adults ( three young adults and one young/middle adult), other 1 50

i ndividuals i n the mass burials may a lso be as young as the central i ndividuals. In the Cuello mass burials grave good e laboration i s f ocused on the two c entral i ndividuals though other i ndividuals have grave goods and may even be quite well furnished. In the Altun Ha group burial the two primary i ndividuals are the only members of the group to have grave goods. But overall this group i s l ess e laborately furnished than the Cuello mass burials. The Cuello mass burials are located i n the center of the p laza f loor on P latform 3 4 whereas the Altun Ha group burial i s located in ceremonial Str. C-13. Though the Cuello mass burials and the Altun Ha group burial do differ the s imilarities are striking. Both the Altun Ha group burial and Mass Burial 1 occur at a break in architectural style and e laboration at Altun Ha and Cuello. Both can be i nterpreted as r itual s acrificial events socially important i n both s anctifying the changes occurring at the s ite and honoring the central members of the burial group. This symbolism of the mass/group burial rite i s not site specific to Cuello a s i t a lso occurs at Altun Ha. Thus i t i s more than just a s ite s pecific event and may represent broader regional changes i n structure, r itual, and ideology occurring i n the Lowland Maya region i n the Late Middle/Early Late Preclassic transition. L ittle i nformation about the group burial at Cahal Cunil i s presented i n Welsh ( 1988) aside f rom a brief description i n his data tables ( Welsh, 1 988: 2 53). This i s most l ikely due to the poor standards of excavation and recording at the s ite. This group burial of seven people a lso contains two primary i ndividuals and f ive s econdary i ndividuals l ike the Altun Ha group burial. The two primary i ndividuals are seated. One primary i ndividual i s a male aged 2 5 to 4 0. All other i ndividuals are neither aged nor sexed. No grave goods are recorded associated with this group burial. It dates to the Holmul I phase ( 0-200 AD) and i s l ocated in the plaza f loor in P laza I . This group burial i s contemporary, or s lightly earlier/later, than Mass Burial 2 at Cuello which dates to approximately 1 00 AD. No more information i s available f rom Welsh on this group burial. Many s imilarities between this group burial and the Altun Ha group burial and the Cuello mass burials can be seen, though not enough i nformation i s available on the context of this burial and the development of Cahal Cunil a s a s ite to consider the possible social implications of this group burial. CONCLUSION Understanding the Preclassic period i s critical to understanding the development of what i s known as the C lassic Maya civilization. Changes i n burial customs implying changes i n social s ituation are one i mportant means to understanding this development. Though at present available data on Preclassic Maya burials i s not extensive some general trends can tentatively be put f orward.

1 51

In general burial e laboration and variation i ncreases throughout Preclassic period at most Lowland Maya s ites. Social stratification between s ites as seen i n i ncreasing differentiation i n grave " wealth", both i n terms of total numbers of grave goods and variety and e laboration of grave good types, between s ites begins i n the Preclassic period. In the Late Middle/Early L ate Preclassic transitional period this continues and i ntensifies. Evidence f rom Mass Burial 1 at Cuello and the group burial at Altun Ha seem to i ndicate that both the i ncreased importance of ritual activity i tself and i ts symbolism i n the i deology of mass/group burial r ite i s c losely l inked to e laboration s een i n the architectural record. More data i s certainly needed f rom the Preclassic period i n general. Hopefully more projects i n the f uture will begin to f ocus specifically on this i mportant period of Maya Prehistory.

1 52

APPENDIX A CUELLO BURIAL DATA TABLES The Cuello burials are numbered sequentially from 1 to 1 44 following the order of excavation ( burial 1 43 i s a possible human grave and burial 1 44 i s an empty grave; neither contained skeletal material). A separate Burial number was assigned to each individual represented by the skeletal remains. In two cases, burials 1 08 and 1 28, the skeletal remains were too decayed to recover. In the f ield each grave, regardless of the number of interments, was assigned a separate Feature number ( except in 1 987 where each i nterment in a grave was assigned a separate Feature number and in 1 979/80 in the excavation of Mass Burial 1 where each group of individuals within the mass burial was assigned a s eparate Feature number). All original material; plans, photographs, small f inds and site notebooks etc., can be found at the Cuello Project Archive located at the Department of Archaeology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. The skeletal material can be found at the Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo Ohio. The grave goods are divided between the Cuello Project Archive, the Belizean Government, the British Museum and Cambridge University. Information concerning the l ocation of any particular grave group i s on file at the Cuello Project Archive. The following tables Cuello burials. For each three parts:

form a complete record of the burial this record consists of

1 ) The Burial Description. This summarizes all i nformation pertaining to the cultural aspects of the burial: Ceramic Period, Location, Associated Contexts, Associated Burials, Burial Position, Azimuth, Head Facing, Grave Type, Grave Dimensions and Grave Axis; the physical aspects of the burial: Skeletal Parts, Sex, Age, Build, Cranial Shaping, Dental Decoration, Stature Estimate, Dental Pathology, Trauma and Disease; and all information necessary to locate original information from the Cuello Archives: Burial number, Feature number, Year excavated, Context number, Q ( General Finds) number, Small Finds number/s, Plan number/s and Photograph number/s. The format of the Burial Description Sheet i s s lightly different for the burials excavated in the 1 975, 1 976 and 1 987 f ield seasons. In 1 975 and 1 976 there are no Context, Q or Small Finds numbers. In 1 987 there are no Context or Plan numbers. All terminology dealing with the cultural aspects of the burials in the following table follows that which was previously defined in Chapter 2 . The information on the physical aspects of the burials was graciously shared with me by Frank and Julie Saul. Their analysis of the Cuello burials was funded by the National 1 53

Science Foundation and the Anatomy and Radiology Departments of the Medical College of Ohio. A complete analysis of the physical aspects of the Cuello burials will be published by Saul and Saul ( in prep.). The physical data presented i n the f ollowing table i s meant only as a general summary to bring together a compete record of a ll aspects of the Cuello burials. When a particular " trait" ( je., disease etc.) i s present i t i s described in the appropriate category. If absent, or not enough information i s available to discern i ts presence or absence, a " -" i s placed in the appropriate category. No distinction i s made between absence and unavailability of data except f or the categories, Cranial Shaping and Dental Decoration. For these two categories " NA" indicates the absence of that trait and " -" indicates that not enough information was available to discern presence or absence. 2 ) Grave Goods Description. This consists of individual i llustrations of the grave goods ( where drawn, often l arge groups of small shell beads or ceramics that are extremely eroded will not be drawn) followed by a description of the grave good and i ts location i n the grave. Where the l ocation of a grave good i s given as " unprovenienced" this usually i ndicates that i t was recovered i n f lotation thus not recorded in three dimensional location. All ceramics are i llustrated at 2 5% of their original s ize. All other artifacts are i llustrated at 5 0% of their original size. Since the size of a ll artifacts i s uniform scales will not be included with the drawings. 3 ) The Burial P lan. Most plans are i llustrated at 1 to 8 . Scales are included with each plan. Most plans are oriented on the page so that north i s at the top of the page. Only if a plan i s oriented so that north i s not at the top of the page i s a north arrow i ncluded. Throughout this appendix Context numbers are surrounded by parentheses ( e. g. ( 1234)) and Small Finds numbers have a prefix of " SF" ( e. g. SF 5 67).

1 54

BURIAL

# :

1

LOCATION: PLAN

#s:

FEATURE

75/14

N 3 1.00m / E 30. 00m Pring

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

and Walton, Pring

YEAR EXCAVATED:

1 975:

and Walton,

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor lies west on Patio Floor V ASSOCIATED SKELETAL SEX:

BURIALS:

PARTS:

NA;

Fragmentary

-

AGE:

CRANIAL DENTAL

SHAPING:

8 .3

1 975: ( 17B

Fig.

1 3)

burial,

dental

1 975

and

of

8 .9

- 8 . 12

Str.

317

secondary

which

interment

postcranial

Young Adult

BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: calculus

Slight

lingual

wear

on

upper

incisors;

-

DISEASE: STATURE

Fig.

Lopez

-

DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

Single

PERIOD:

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Supine, extended; AZIMUTH: N Teeth located under a block of tabular HEAD FACING: chert placed where skull should have been; no indications of differential preservation which might suggest that the skull had ever placed in this grave; an apparent purposeful

decapitation of the head and

the

the

skull

GRAVE

to

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

remove Simple: Length Width

teeth prior

Simple

pit,

- 1 . 56m - 0 .35m

to

f leshing of

burial

subrectangular AXIS:

1 55

N/S

BURIAL

# :

1

FEATURE GRAVE

SF 1 : Bottle shaped vessel LOCATION: Next to left hip

SF 2 : Miniature LOCATION: Below

SF 3 : Red

Inverted on top of left upper leg

SF 4 : 40 Shell disk beads LOCATION: Around ankles

SF 5 : Block of tabular chert LOCATION: Placed where head should have been

SF 6 : Shell disk LOCATION: To the

Lopez

right beside skull

156

hematite

BURIAL

# :

1

FEATURE

# :

75/14

PLAN

L ength = 1 .56 m eters

157

PERIOD:

Lopez

BURIAL

# :

2

LOCATION: PLAN

#s:

FEATURE

N 31. 00m / E 30. 00m Pring

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

and

Walton,

Pring

and

ASSOCIATED

SEX:

BURIALS:

PARTS:

DENTAL

AGE:

SHAPING:

PERIOD:

Bladen

Fig.

8 .4

1 975:

( 337)

of

burial,

cranial,

1 975

Fig.

8 . 13

- 8 . 15

Structure

secondary

postcranial

Young Adult

3 21

which

interment and dental

BUILD:

Gracile

NA

DECORATION:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: periodontoclasia; TRAUMA:

Single

Fragmentary

Female

CRANIAL

NA;

1 975:

f loor III

75/25

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Walton,

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut lies west on Patio Floor

SKELETAL

# :

NA Extreme calculus

Postmortem damage

lingual

on

right

wear

and

on

left

upper

incisors;

tibia

DISEASE: Bowing and swelling of tibias indicative of treponemal infections; indications of ossified subperiosteal hemorrhages on both tibias STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Disarticulated, excarnate; skull is the central focus of the burial; long bones extend from it mostly to the northwest damage on f leshed GRAVE

HEAD

AZIMUTH: FACING:

-

and west, with one extending south; postmortem both tibias definitely indicate that the body was

prior

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

to

its

Simple:

burial No

cut

discernable

-

AXIS:

158

-

BURIAL

# :

2

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

75/25

PERIOD:

Bladen

GOODS

SF 1 : Consej o Red, Estrella Variety bowl LOCATION: Inverted over skull

SF 2 : Consej o Red, Estrella Variety bowl LOCATION: Over limb bones south of skull

SF 3 : Consej o Red, Estrella Variety bowl LOCATION: Over limb bones to the northeast

1 59

of

skull

BURIAL

# :

2

FEATURE

# :

PLAN

•• .•

1 1• 1 1

•

. 1

160

75/25

PERIOD:

Bladen

BURIAL

# :

3

Settlement

LOCATION: PLAN

FEATURE

Pring

#s:

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

ASSOCIATED

Area

and Walton, Pring

CONTEXTS:

ASSOCIATED SKELETAL SEX:

BURIALS:

PARTS:

NA;

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

EXCAVATED:

Bladen 1 975

8 . 19

1 975:

Fig.

below meters

Single burial,

8 .22

- 8 .24

settlement area southeast of the

secondary

postcranial

Middle Adult

interment and dental BUILD:

-

-

Caries

-

DISEASE:

treponemal

Bowing and infections

ESTIMATE:

swelling

of

tibias

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple: Length Width Depth

indicative

of

1 .653m

BURIAL POSITION: F lexed; very tightly f lexed with both arms and legs pressed up against the body so that the bones appear to be parallel GRAVE

PERIOD:

-

DENTAL

STATURE

Fig.

In bedrock located 2 00

AGE:

SHAPING:

TRAUMA:

1 975:

Fragmentary cranial,

Male

CRANIAL

75/38 YEAR

and Walton,

Structure 3 9 which i s central Patio Group

# :

Simple pit, - 0 .90m - 0 .45m - 0 .25m

HEAD

AZIMUTH:

E

FACING:

-

subrectangular; AXIS:

1 61

E/W

BURIAL

# :

3

FEATURE

# :

7 5/38

PERIOD:

Bladen

GRAVE GOODS

Canquin B lack on Red, Variety Unspecified bowl LOCATION: Upright at west end of grave

Mg • ,% , %

Ossory Red on Orange, Variety Unspecified bowl LOCATION: Inverted over f ace

Consejo Red, Estrella Variety bowl LOCATION: South of skull

Copetilla Unsliped, Copetilla Variety bowl with handles LOCATION: North of skull

Chicago Orange, Chicago humanoid f ace, LOCATION:

Variety spouted jar with modelled South s ide of grave on side 1 62

BURIAL

# :

3

FEATURE

# :

PLAN

L ength . 0 .90 m eters

163

75/38

PERIOD:

Bladen

BURIAL

# :

4

LOCATION: PLAN

FEATURE

N 40.00m / E 40.00m

#s:

Donaghey

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

et

al,

1 976:

ASSOCIATED

SEX:

BURIALS:

PARTS:

DENTAL

AGE:

SHAPING:

BURIAL

Fig.

EXCAVATED:

Lopez 1 976

8 Plate

( 76/57)

of Structure 315 which

burial,

cranial,

2b;

primary

interment

postcranial

Young Adult

and

dental

BUILD:

-

NA Caries;

lingual

wear

on

upper

incisors;

-

DISEASE: STATURE

YEAR

PERIOD:

NA

DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

Single

Fragmentary

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: periodontoclasia

GRAVE

NA;

Male

CRANIAL

76/104

Donaghey et al, 1 976: 76 m 3/ 2 2-23, 28-31

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor lies north on Patio Floor V

SKELETAL

# :

ESTIMATE:

POSITION:

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

1 .587m Supine,

Simple: Length Width

extended;

Simple

pit,

- 1 .30m - 0 .40m

AZIMUTH: HEAD FACING:

subrectangular AXIS:

164

W -

E/W

BURIAL

# :

4

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

7 6/104

PERIOD:

Lopez

GOODS

Neck jar, unidentified type ( surface eroded)

LOCATION: Upright on the right side of head

Small bored shell beads

of the PLAN

N 1 65

above two

shell

ornaments

BURIAL

# :

5

LOCATION:

N

PLAN

#s:

FEATURE 3 9.00m

Donaghey

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

# :

/ E 36. 00m

et

al,

1 976:

Fig.

SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

AGE:

SHAPING:

Lambdoid

DENTAL

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA:

1 976

lh,

of

li;

Structure

3 20

interment

postcranial

Adult

and

dental

BUILD:

Robust

f lattening

Caries;

attrition;

periodontoclasia

-

DISEASE: Bowing and treponemal infections STATURE

P late

primary

cranial,

Middle

Lopez

EXCAVATED:

( 76/102)

burial,

Fragmentary

Male

CRANIAL

Single

PERIOD:

8

Donaghey et al, 1 976: 76 m 4/ 1-2, 2 2-24

BURIALS:

1 37

YEAR

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor which lies N on Patio Floor IV ASSOCIATED

76/

ESTIMATE:

swelling

of

tibias

DIMENSIONS:

Length Width

of

1 . 640m

BURIAL POSITION: Supine, extended; left arm extended at side; right arm extended crossing over body to left side with right hand over left GRAVE TYPE: Cist: partly covered by

indicative

Capped pit, a limestone

HEAD

AZIMUTH: FACING:

N -

subrectangular; slab

- 1 .70m - 0 .40m

AXIS:

166

N/S

BURIAL

# :

5

FEATURE GRAVE

Tower Hill Red on

LOCATION: On side

Cream,

# :

PERIOD:

Hill

side

of

Variety body

Cotton Tree Incised, Cotton Tree Variety cross incisions LOCATION: Inverted over skull

by

right elbow PLAN

)

( L ength = 1 .70 m eters

167

bowl hands

bowl

Shell beads LOCATION: Near wrist Two jade beads LOCATION: Near

Lopez

GOODS

Tower

on right

76/137

76 / 137 1 F[

with multiple

BURIAL

# :

5

FEATURE

# :




211

Cocos

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

2 8

N 1 2.50m / E 5 4.70m

#s:

814,

6 53,

6 99,

# :

8 4

PERIOD:

Cocos

YEAR EXCAVATED:

1 979

9 02

9 31

SMALL FINDS #s: NA; A potsherd i s i ndicated on the plan over the left knee but no further reference to i t is made PLAN

# s:

7 3

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In soil ( 693) of Structure ( 688-9) which lies south on Platform 3 4 ASSOCIATED BURIALS: SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

NA;

Single burial,

Fragmentary

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

cranial,

primary

walls

interment

postcranial

Middle Adult

with

and dental

BUILD:

Gracile

Tabular Erect

DENTAL DECORATION:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries - three molar root f ragments indicate destruction by caries down i nto roots with resulting wear polish; premortem tooth loss; attrition; periodontoclasia; calculus TRAUMA:

-

DISEASE: Bowing and treponemal infections STATURE:

swelling

of

tibias

indicative

of

1 .585m

BURIAL POSITION: Supine, extended; AZIMUTH: 50 , N r ight arm extended along side; left arm HEAD FACING: s lightly bent at e lbow with hand over crotch area GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

No

cut discernable

-

AXIS:

212

-

BURIAL

# :

28

FEATURE

# :

PLAN

213

84

PERIOD:

Cocos

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT

N 31. 00m

#s:

Q #s:

560,

SMALL

FINDS

PLAN

FEATURE

29

#s:

371, 575,

PHOTOGRAPH

3 72,

701,

27,

#s:

3 75,

3 1

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 979

3 83

5 79

#s:

22,

/ E 3 8. 10m

# :

7 23,

7 24,

923

57

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of Mass Burial of 31 individuals, Burials 29-60; single burial, primary interment, northern most burial in mass burial SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

Fragmentary

Male

CRANIAL DENTAL

SHAPING:

DENTAL

ESTIMATE: PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA:

Young/Middle Adult

and dental

BUILD:

Robust

Calculus

-

DISEASE:

-

Semi-reclining, legs crossed; arms bent at elbows with hands resting in the lap

GRAVE

postcranial

-

DECORATION:

STATURE

BURIAL

AGE:

cranial,

POSITION:

TYPE:

No

cut

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

8 3 °, E -

discernable;

Mass Burial placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

214

-

BURIAL

# :

2 9

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

3 1

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GOODS

SF 7 01 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Inverted over entire body

SF 7 23 : S ierra Red, Sierra Variety bucket LOCATION: Behind of seated body

SF 7 24 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety " chocolate pot" LOCATION: In front of body over left f oot but probably originally in lap

SF 9 23 : Ceramic r ing fragments LOCATION: Unprovenienced

2 15

was

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

# :

N 3 0.20m / E 3 8.20m

#s:

5 65,

3 77, 6 32,

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

3 0

# s:

PHOTOGRAPH

3 97,

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

3 98,

3 99,

E .

Cocos

1 979

400

6 98

#s:

27,

3 96,

3 3

794,

800,

801,

803,

805,

806,

8 29

1 57

# s:

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 3 2 individuals, burials 29-60; burial 30 and 3 1 are a double burial consisting of one primary interment, burial 30 accompanied by a secondary interment, burial 3 1; this double burial lies north of the two central individuals burials 50 and 51 and south of burial 29 SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

Female?

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

ESTIMATE:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: TRAUMA: DISEASE:

and dental

BUILD: Gracileabnormally so; either unusually small female or dwarf male

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

Adult

postcranial

1 .465m Calculus

-

BURIAL POSITION: arms at sides

Seated,

legs

crossed;

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

W -

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern l imit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

216

-

BURIAL

# :

30

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

3 3

E .

Cocos

GOODS

SF 794 : Beige cowrie shell pendant back and a small drilled hole on top LOCATION:

PERIOD:

with

opening

in

Unprovenienced

SF 800 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety "chocolate LOCATION: Under bowl SF 805 above body

SF 801 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety vertical sided rim bowl with slightly concave bottom LOCATION: Unprovenienced

\

\\ \

\

\ , \ \ ,\ \

SF 803 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Under bowl SF 805 above body

217

pot"

everted

BURIAL

# :

3 0

FEATURE

# :

3 3

PERIOD:

E .

C ocos

SF .805 : S ierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: I nverted over skull

SF 8 06 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Under bowl SF 8 05 above body

SF 8 29 : Two small l ight pink worked conch shell ( Strombus pugilis) ornaments, both without tips and with holes f or suspension LOCATION: Unprovenienced

Original f ield notes mention one jade bead, given no small f inds number, lying below burial, i t i s never mentioned again

2 18

BURIAL

# :

3 1

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

N 3 0.20m / E 3 8.20m

# s:

5 65,

3 77,

6 98

#s:

NA

2 7,

PHOTOGRAPH

3 96,

6 32,

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

FEATURE

3 97,

3 98,

# :

3 3

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED: 3 99,

E .

Cocos

1 979

400

157

# s:

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burial 30 and 31 are a double burial consisting of one primary interment, burial 3 0 accompanied by a secondary interment, burial 31; this double burial lies north of the two central individuals burials 50 and 51 and south of burial 2 9 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary postcranial; long bone fragments only; these bones look more weathered than those of burial 3 0, possibly they were left excarnate for some time prior to burial; four teeth of a young adult individual were also found with this double burial, they may belong to either individual, teeth show attrition SEX:

Male?

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

-

DISEASE:

Robust

-

ESTIMATE:

TRAUMA:

BUILD:

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

Adult

-

BURIAL POSITION:

Disarticulated

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

-

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern l imit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

219

-

BURIAL

# :

3 2

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

N 27.00m / E 3 8.40m

#s:

1196,

1 198,

2036,

2 326,

2 474

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

#s:

#s:

5 4,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 350,

# :

1 48

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 199

1 352

65

#s:

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; Burial 3 2 is a s ingle burial, secondary interment; south of the two central individuals burials 5 0 and 51 and inbetween double burial 3 9 and 4 0 which lies just to the north and burial 3 3 which l ies just to the south SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; postcranial remains consist of only a few fragments of left hand phalanges SEX:

Male

?

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

ESTIMATE:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: TRAUMA: DISEASE:

BUILD:

-

NA

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

Middle Adult

Calculus;

Linear enamel

hypoplasia

-

BURIAL POSITION: Disarticulated; scattered disarticulated left hand and skull

AZIMUTH: HEAD FACING:

-

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 20

-

BURIAL

# :

3 2

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 48

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 350 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall LOCATION: Inverted over skull

Variety bowl

SF 1 352 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bucket, unusually high with an unusually small diameter LOCATION: Inverted over skull

2 21

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

FEATURE

3 3

N 26.70m / E 3 8.60m

# s:

1 326,

1 340,

2 422,

2 430,

2 437

SMALL FINDS PLAN #s:

#s:

1 410,

1 341,

# :

1 65

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 342

1 415

8 2

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

80 i n 10/

2 7

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burial 3 3 is a s ingle burial, primary interment; south of the two central individuals burials 5 0 and 51 and just to the south of burials 3 2, 3 9 and 4 0 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; little of the upper body and cranial cavity were preserved SEX:

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

ESTIMATE:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: TRAUMA: DISEASE:

BUILD:

Robust

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

Young/Middle Adult

Calculus;

attrition

-

BURIAL POSITION: hands in lap

Seated,

legs

crossed;

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

2 80 ° , W -

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 22

-

BURIAL

# :

3 3

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 65

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 410 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety f laring bowl with f lat base and thickened everted rim LOCATION: Inverted over skull

SF 1 415 : Light grey stone ground and celt LOCATION: Beside body to the right

2 23

polished

trapezoidal

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

#s:

1 324,

1 327,

2 425,

2 431,

2 452

# s:

#s:

8 3,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 397,

1 350,

1 71

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 354

1 427

86

#s:

80 m 1 0/

20

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part burials 29-60; burial interment; southwest of 50 and 51 and northeast SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

# :

N 2 7.90m / E 3 7.50m

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

3 4

rubble

( 1195)

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

the

55

- 5 9

postcranial

Years

and dental BUILD:

-

NA

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE ESTIMATE:

above

of a mass burial of 3 2 individuals, 3 4 is a s ingle burial, primary the two central individuals burials of burial 3 5

Fragmentary cranial,

Male

directly

1 .585m

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; premortem tooth loss; dental abscess; attrition - right upper canine shows definite grooving on occlusal surface with extreme wear and "wear polish"; periodontoclasia TRAUMA: Healed and ulna

misaligned

"parry"

fractures

of

left

radius

DISEASE: Vertebrae and sacroiliac joint show signs of arthritis; sinusitis in right maxillary sinus, related to communicating dental abscess; bowing and swelling of tibias indicative of treponemal infections BURIAL POSITION: Left side, f lexed; arms extended between the legs, possibly shrouded or tightly tied into position

AZIMUTH: 1 30 ° , SE HEAD FACING: SE

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 24

-

BURIAL

# :

3 4

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 71

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 397 : Society Hall Red, Society kill hole LOCATION: Inverted over skull

Hall

SF 1 427 : Large polished mother of pearl holes on one side, possible pubic shield LOCATION: Over pelvis

2 25

Variety

ornament

bowl

with

with

two

BURIAL

# :

3 5

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

# :

N 2 7.30m / E 36.80m

# s:

1 325,

1 351,

2 400,

2 426,

2511

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# s:

1 72

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 355

1 436

85

PHOTOGRAPH

# s:

80 i n 10/

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

3 3 rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burial 3 5 is a s ingle burial, primary interment; southwestern most burial of mass burial SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary

-

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

Adult

ribs BUILD:

-

-

STATURE ESTIMATE:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

-

DISEASE:

and

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

long bones

-

BURIAL POSITION: Flexed; arms close to chest and possibly crossed

AZIMUTH: HEAD FACING:

-

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

AXIS:

GRAVE GOODS

SF 1 436 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall LOCATION: Inverted over area where skull 2 26

Variety dish would have been

BURIAL

# :

3 6

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

N 28.30m / E 3 6.90m

# s:

1 363,

1 364,

2 461,

2 494,

2580

SMALL FINDS PLAN #s:

#s:

8 9,

PHOTOGRAPH

# :

1 73

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 374

1 376

1 57

# s:

80 i n 1 1/

7 ,

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

8

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burial 36 i s a single burial, primary interment; southwest of the two central individuals burials 50 and 51, south of body bundle burials 41-44 and northwest of burial 3 4 SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

-

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

ESTIMATE:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: TRAUMA: DISEASE:

Young/Middle Adult

and dental BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

postcranial

Lingual

wear on upper

incisors

-

BURIAL POSITION: semi-reclining; right arm at side bent at elbow with hand in lap; left arm too fragmentary to tell position

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

6 4 ° , NE -

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS: GRAVE

GOODS

SF 1 376 : Long tubular greenstone bead

-

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q f s:

N 2 8.10m / E 3 8.30m

#s:

2 498,

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

3 7

# s:

1 365,

1 366,

# :

1 75

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 367

2 701 #s:

1 564

91

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burial 3 7 is a single burial, primary interment; just south of the two central individuals, burials 5 0 and 51, lying along the left side of burial 51 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary postcranial; some of the skeletal material was mixed up with that of Burial 36 during postexcavation transportation SEX:

-

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

DISEASE:

-

-

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: TRAUMA:

BUILD:

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE:

Adult

-

-

BURIAL POSITION:

Not discernable

AZIMUTH: HEAD FACING:

-

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 28

-

BURIAL

# :

3 7

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 75

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 564 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall LOCATION: Inverted over skull

2 29

Variety dish

BURIAL

# :

3 8

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

FEATURE

N 2 8.20m / E 3 9.70m

#s:

1 368,

2505,

2532

SMALL FINDS PLAN #s:

#s:

9 3,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 369,

1 78

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 370

, 2586 1 482

1 05,

#s:

# :

1 57

80 c 7/ 10 80 m 11/ 9 ,

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

1 0;

1 2/

rubble

1

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burial 3 8 is a single burial, primary interment; easternmost burial of mass burial SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary postcranial; cranium body remain unexcavated extending into section

and

SEX:

BUILD:

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

-

STATURE ESTIMATE:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

-

DISEASE:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

Adult

upper

-

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, slightly reclining

legs

crossed;

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

250 ° , W -

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 30

-

BURIAL

# :

3 8

FEATURE GRAVE

SF

1 482

: Society

LOCATION:

Inverted

Hall Red, in lap

# :

1 78

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GOODS

Society Hall Variety bowl

2 31

BURIAL

1 372,

#s:

2 495,

Q #s:

PHOTOGRAPH

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 373

1 449

#s:

9 3,

#s:

1 79

2 499

SMALL FINDS PLAN

# :

N 2 7.20m / E 3 8.30m

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

3 9

# :

1 57

#s:

8 0

c 7 /

4

CONTEXTS: In center of Patio F loor V

ASSOCIATED

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burials 3 9 and 4 0 are a double burial consisting of two primary i nterments; south of the two central individuals burials 5 0 and 5 1, just north of burials 3 2 and 3 3

ASSOCIATED

SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

Fragmentary cranial,

Male?

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

DENTAL

ESTIMATE: PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA: DISEASE:

and dental BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

Young Adult

postcranial

-

Calculus;

l inear enamel hypoplasia

-

BURIAL POSITION:

Seated,

f lexed

BODY FACING:

-

HEAD FACING:

-

TYPE: S imple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern l imit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) GRAVE

DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

GRAVE

-

GOODS

SF 1449 : Small triangular cross-sectioned greenstone celt with heavy battering on wide end and broken narrow end LOCATION: Near skull

2 32

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

N 2 7.20m / E 3 8.30m

# s:

2 495,

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

FEATURE

4 0

9 3,

1 372,

# :

1 79

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 373

2 499 # s:

NA

1 57

PHOTOGRAPH # s:

8 0

c 7 /

4

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio F loor V

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 i ndividuals, burials 2 9-60; burials 3 9 and 40 are a double burial consisting of two primary interments; south of the two central individuals burials 5 0 and 51, just north of burials 3 2 and 3 3 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary postcranial and dental; cranial f ragments were too eroded and fragmentary to preserve SEX:

Male?

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

Young Adult

-

STATURE ESTIMATE:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

Caries;

DISEASE:

Robust

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

BUILD:

calculus

-

BURIAL POSITION: Not discernable; very disturbed but possibly lying on s ide, f lexed?

left

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

-

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern l imit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 33

-

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

41-44

N 29.30m / E 3 7.10m

#s:

1 375,

1 376,

2537,

2560,

2567

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

#s:

95,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 389,

# :

1 80 YEAR

1 390,

PERIOD: EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 395

1505

99

#s:

80 c 7/ 2 4 80 m 1 1/ 1 7,

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

31

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burials 41-44 are a body bundle consisting of 4 individuals, all secondary interments; west of the two central individuals burials 50 and 51, just north of burial 36 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary postcranial least 4 disarticulated individuals SEX:

2 Male 2-(small

AGE: M or F )

CRANIAL SHAPING:

ESTIMATE:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: TRAUMA:

Adults; 2-Middle Adult 1-Young Adult

dental

BUILD:

of

at

2 Robust 2 Gracile

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

All

and

Linear enamel

hypoplasia

-

DISEASE: ( ?/A) - Bowing and swelling of tibias indicative of treponemal infections BURIAL POSITION: Disarticulated body bundle; BODY FACING: layering of body parts; lower level HEAD FACING: posibly contains the seated lower half of one individual who may have hands crossed in lap, though these articulations are uncertain; upper layers contain miscellaneous body parts which are very closely packed appearing to have been f leshed prior to burial GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS: 2 34

-

BURIAL

# :

41-44

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 80

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1505 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety tumbler LOCATION: Lies partly under lower level of bones

235

BURIAL

# :

45

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

N 2 7.20m / E 3 9.80m

#s:

1 378,

2517,

#s:

#s:

9 4,

PHOTOGRAPH

# :

1 82

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 379

2572

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

NA

9 7,

#s:

1 57

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burials 45 and 46 are a double burial consisting of two primary interments; southeasternmost burial of mass burial SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; most of burial remains unexcavated extending into section SEX:

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

Young Adult

Romero

STATURE ESTIMATE:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

Calculus

DISEASE:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

BUILD:

C 2

or C6

-

BURIAL POSITION:

Not discernable

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

-

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 36

-

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

#s:

1 378,

2517,

# s:

# :

N 2 7.20m / E 3 9.80m

#s:

9 4,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 82 YEAR

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

EXCAVATED:

1 980

directly

above

1 379

2572

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

46

NA

97,

#s:

1 57

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

( 1195)

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burials 45 and 46 are a double burial consisting of two primary interments; southeasternmost burial of mass burial SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; most of burial remains unexcavated extending into section SEX:

Male?

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

DISEASE:

-

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Extreme lingual periodontoclasia; calculus TRAUMA:

BUILD:

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE ESTIMATE:

Middle Adult

wear

on

upper

incisors;

-

BURIAL POSITION:

Not discernable

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

-

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) i n rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 37

-

BURIAL

# :

4 7-49

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

N 2 9.00m / E 3 7.90m

# s:

1 381,

1 385,

2 535,

2 573,

2 595

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# :

# s:

1 00,

PHOTOGRAPH

# s:

1 83

& 6

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 386

1 615

1 03,

1 12,

1 26,

1 57

8 0 c 7 / 2 5, 2 6; 8 / 80 i n 1 1/ 3 2; 1 3/2

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio F loor V

rubble

2 8

( 1195)

directly

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burials 4 7-49, all secondary interments constitute a disarticulated body bundle of at least three individuals; west and at the f eet of the two central individuals burials 5 0 and 5 1 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, of at least three individuals SEX:

3 - Male?

CRANIAL SHAPING:

AGE:

1 - Young Adult 2 - Young/Middle Adult

and dental

BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE ESTIMATE:

postcranial

One

individual

- 1 .645m

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; l inear enamel hypoplasia; calculus - this data cannot be assigned to any one individual TRAUMA:

-

DISEASE: Cervical vertebrae and foot phalanx show s igns of arthritis; possible ossified subperiosteal hemorrhages - this data cannot be assigned to any one i ndividual BURIAL POSITION: Disarticulated body bundle; BODY FACING: bottom layer possibly contains articulated HEAD FACING: arms of one individual which are crossed at the wrists over an i lium, though these articulations are uncertain; upper layers contain totally disarticulated body parts GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern l imit of mass burial extends into s ection) i n rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS: 2 38

-

BURIAL

# :

4 7-49

FEATURE

# :

1 83

& 6

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS

SF 1 615 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Inverted over postulated skull area of in lower layer of body bundle

individual

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: - Due to the lack of grave cuts within the mass burial there was some question during excavation whether Feature 1 83 was actually later and part of mass burial Feature 1 28, intrusive into F 1 86, or part of Feature 1 86. In the f ield Feature 1 83 was i dentified as more than one disarticulated i ndividual and Feature 1 86 as one disarticulated individual with extra bones that were speculated to be f rom body bundle Feature 2 03 which l ies next to and to the east of Feature 1 86. After post-excavation skeletal analysis i t was f ound that Feature 1 83 represented at l east two individuals and Feature 1 86 represented at least two i ndividuals, one individual from each Feature i s the same person, and neither of these three i ndividuals are the individuals from Feature 2 03. Most l ikely Feature 1 83 and 1 86 belong together as part of the mass burial. Body bundle Feature 1 83 and 1 86 i s very similar to Body bundle Feature 1 80 a lso of the mass burial. Both of these body bundles contain two layers of disarticulated individuals. This interment i s also s imilar to the interment of the central primary individuals in both mass burials. It i s a lso possible that body bundle Features 1 83 and 1 86 i s some more of body bundle Feature 2 03 as there i s l ittle spatial difference between the two. -

2 39

BURIAL

# :

50

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

# :

N 2 8.80m / E 3 8.50m

#s:

2583,

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

#s:

1 387,

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 394

2587 #s:

1 03,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 388,

1 88

#s:

1 589,

1 04,

1 590,

1 12,

1 21,

1 595,

1 596,

1 25,

1 26,

80 c 8/ 0 , 1 ; 9/ 2 , 80 m 1 2/ 0 , 1 0; 1 3/

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

1 597,

1 650

1 28

3 , 16-27 1 3, 1 4, 31-36;

( 1195)

directly

1 4/

0-4

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 29-60; burial 50 i s a single burial, primary interment; one of two individuals, the other being burial 5 1, placed in the center of the mass burial; these were the first two burials of the mass burial; this individual has more grave goods than burial 51 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; two extra teeth of another adult individual were also included but these are most likely from body bundle Feature 2 03 which lies partially in the lap of this burial SEX:

Male

AGE:

Young/Middle Adult

CRANIAL SHAPING: DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: periodontoclasia; TRAUMA: DISEASE:

Caries; lingual wear on upper incisors; linear enamel hypoplasia; calculus

-

BURIAL POSITION: left

BUILD: More Robust and older than burial 51

Semi-reclining, f lexed; arm extended at side;

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

2 45 ° , SW -

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

2 40

-

BURIAL

# :

5 0

FEATURE

# :

1 88

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS

SF 1 589 : Sierra Red, Ahuacan Variety bowl LOCATION: Beside to the l eft of the skull in body bundle Feature 2 03 and f an handle SF 1 595 generally in the lap area of body

SF 1 590 : Sierra Red, Ahuacan Variety " chocolate pot" LOCATION: Below skull of body bundle Feature 2 03 generally i n the l ap area of body

SF

1 595

: Deer bone

LOCATION: generally

f an handle with a pop design

Partly under skull i n the l ap of body

of

2 41

body

bundle

Feature

2 03,

BURIAL

SF

1596

# :

: Deer

LOCATION:

SF

1597

50

Under

FEATURE

188

PERIOD:

bone fan handle with a serpent right knee

: Deer

LOCATION:

# :

bone f an handle with pop design Held by left hand 2 42

E .

form

Cocos

BURIAL

# :

5 0

FEATURE

# :

1 88

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

\

\

SF 1 650 : Bone f an handle with squared of scroll/rain c loud motif design LOCATION: Over upper r ight l eg probably held by r ight hand

A number of smashed pots, none whole, given no small f inds numbers were l ocated above the skulls of burials 5 0 and 5 1; these consisted of a Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bucket, olla and f laring bowl

2 43

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

FEATURE

51

# :

N 28.50m / E 3 8.80m 1 391,

1 392,

1 393,

1 394

2561,

2568,

2571,

2594,

2605

PLAN # s:

#s:

1 03,

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

1 493,

1 04,

1 528,

112,

1 21,

1 529,

1 535,

1 25,

1 26,

80 c 8/ 0 , 1 ; 9/ 2 , 80 i n 1 2/ 0 , 1 0; 1 3/

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

#s:

SMALL FINDS

1 89

rubble

1 568,

Cocos

1 980

1 592,

1 594

1 28

3 , 1 6-27 1 3, 1 4, 31-36;

( 1195)

E .

directly

1 4/

0 -4

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 29-60; burial 51 is a single burial, primary interment; one of two individuals, the other being burial 50, placed in the center of the mass burial; these were the first two burials of the mass burial; this individual has less grave goods than burial 50 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; long bones are only from the left side; ten extra teeth of another individual were also included but these are most l ikely from body bundle Feature 2 03 which lies partially in the lap of this burial SEX:

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

Young Adult

BUILD: Less Robust and younger than burial 51

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Lingual wear on upper incisors; periodontoclasia; linear enamel hypoplasia; calculus TRAUMA: DISEASE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: left leg only; e lbow s lightly

Semi-reclining, BODY FACING: f lexed; HEAD FACING: left arm bent at f lexed with hand in crotch

2 95 ° , W Burial

5 0

GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS: 2 44

-

BURIAL

# :

5 1

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 89

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 493 : Deer bone f an handle with pop design LOCATION: Beside body

SF 1 528 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety amphora LOCATION: On side to the left and beside left leg resting inside SF 1 529

bowl

SF 1 529 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bowl LOCATION: Upright to the left and beside left leg with 1 528 amphora resting on its side in it 2 45

SF

BURIAL

# :

5 1

FEATURE

# :

1 89

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

SF 1 535 : Shell ornament LOCATION: Unprovenienced SF 1 568 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety f laring bowl with thickened erect rim LOCATION: Smashed over pelvis

SF 1 592 : Society Hall Red, LOCATION: Unprovenienced

Society Hall Variety bowl

SF 1 594 : Deer bone fan handle with pop design LOCATION: Above where right knee should be possibly held by missing right hand

A number of smashed pots, none whole, given no small f inds numbers were located above the skulls of burials 50 and 51; these consisted of a Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bucket, o lla and f laring bowl 2 46

BURIAL

# :

5 2-60

LOCATION:

1 639,

1 640,

2641,

2674,

2 704

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# :

N 2 9.00m / E 3 8.49m

# s:

CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

#s:

1 03,

PHOTOGRAPH

# s:

203

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

E .

Cocos

1 980

1 641

1 537

104,

1 12,

1 21,

1 25,

1 26,

80 c 8 / 0 , 1 ; 9/ 2 , 80 i n 1 2/ 0 , 1 0; 1 3/

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In center of Patio Floor V

rubble

1 28

3 , 1 6-27 1 3, 1 4, 31-36;

( 1195)

directly

1 4/

0-4

above

the

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial containing 3 2 individuals, burials 2 9-60; burials 5 2-60, all secondary interments, make up a disarticulated body bundle of nine individuals; in the laps of and by the feet of the two central individuals burials 5 0 and 51 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, of at least nine individuals SEX:

9 - Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

ESTIMATE:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

7 - Adult 1 - Young Adult 1 - Middle Adult

BUILD:

and dental

4 - Robust 2 - Medium 3 - Gracile

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

postcranial

One

individual

Caries;

- 1 .645m

attrition

TRAUMA: One broken toe phalanx; possible spondylolisthesis indicated on one lumbar vertebrae superior articular process, but spondylolisthesis i s unknown in the Maya area - data cannot be assigned to any one person - A hole punched in the skull was noted in the f ield. It was speculated that this hole may have been either the cause of death or a postmortem "kill" hole. Unfortunately due to the necessity of using PVA in the f ield to strengthen poorly preserved bones it i s not possible to do further analysis to determine the cause of this hole. DISEASE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Disarticulated body bundle; BODY FACING: basically two bundles; one to the south HEAD FACING: around SF 1 528, amphora, which contains totally disarticulated body parts; another to the north in which some of the body parts are articulated; vessel

2 47

BURIAL

# :

5 2-60

FEATURE

# :

2 03

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

fragments are wedged i nbetween some of the body parts i ndicating that these parts were l eft excarnate and f leshed prior to burial, other body parts must have remained at least f leshy before burial as some articulation remains; body bundles may have been tied or shrouded as they form neat packages GRAVE TYPE: Simple: No cut discernable; this mass burial was placed in a depression 5 .00m N-S by 4 .00m E-W ( eastern limit of mass burial extends into section) in rubble ( 1195) DIMENSIONS:

-

AXIS:

GRAVE

GOODS

SF 1 537 : Irregular light green jade bead LOCATION: Among bones at the north end of bone pile

2 48

-

BURIAL

# :

29

- 60

FEATURE

# :

PLAN

Mass

Burial

PERIOD:

Cocos

BURIAL

# :

50

-

6 0

FEATURE

# :

1 88 - 9 ,

203

PERIOD:

E .

Cocos

PLAN

( Close-up of central group i llustrating the l ocation of grave goods)

c a rved

b ones ( 6)

( sku l l

(p e lv is

u nde r)

u nde r)

e ,

2 0 CMS

2 51

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

6 1

# :

N 3 8.80m / E 3 8.60m

# s:

9 56,

9 07,

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 021

1 024

SMALL FINDS

# s:

PLAN

1 36

# s:

908,

1 06

7 ,

PHOTOGRAPH

# s:

NA

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In layer l ies north on Plaza Floor X

( 381)

of

Structure

3 00

which

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; west of burial 1 9 and north of burials 6 3 and 6 7 which also lie in ( 381) SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary postcranial only represented by SEX:

Male

?

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

DENTAL

ESTIMATE: PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA: DISEASE:

Young Adult

BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

cranial and postcranial; f ew unidentifiable pieces

Premortem tooth

loss;

periodontoclasia

-

BURIAL POSITION: Not discernable; the bone distribution shown on plan suggests position may have been seated or on side, f lexed GRAVE TYPE: Cist: Two stones cover grave DIMENSIONS:

Length Width

AZIMUTH: HEAD FACING:

Partial cist, subrectangular; the northwest and southeast ends

- 0 .65m - 0 .32m GRAVE

AXIS:

of

-

the

NW/SE

GOODS

Q956 : A concentration of sherds f ound in the 1 979 f ield season were put down as f ill and given no small f inds numbers but are most l ikely grave goods placed above and with the body LOCATION: Above body 252

BURIAL

# :

61

FEATURE

# :

106

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

2 0 CMS

3 820/38

.

253

.

.

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT

N

#s:

Q #s:

981,

SMALL

FINDS

PLAN

FEATURE

62

#s:

30. 00m 1101,

/

E

# :

36. 59m

1102,

110

PERIOD:

YEAR

Swasey

EXCAVATED:

1 980

1103

2652 #s:

1170

6

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

80

c 1/

20,

80

i n 1/

1 2-14

21

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Possibly cut cobblestone surface north of Structure 328, into underlying bedrock ASSOCIATED

BURIALS:

SKELETAL PARTS: upper SEX:

body

DENTAL

Single

unexcavated AGE:

SHAPING:

burial,

ESTIMATE:

in

primary

postcranial and dental;

section

flattening

BUILD: and

possible

feet

Tump.

1 . 598m linear

enamel

-

DISEASE: BURIAL

Treponemal

POSITION:

higher

than

inflammation

Supine, head;

extended;

arms

AZIMUTH:

extended

at

HEAD

10 ° , N

FACING:

sides GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS: down

as

rest

Simple only

cut,

of

subrectangular

grave

extends

into

Length

- 0 .90m

Width

- 0 .75m

from

1170

: 1 small

LOCATION:

round

pelvis

level

section;

GRAVE

SF

-

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Calculus; periodontoclasia; hypoplasia; enamelona on upper third molar TRAUMA:

( 2352)

interment

Young Adult

Lambdoid

DECORATION:

STATURE

NA;

Fragmentary cranial,

remains

Female

CRANIAL

?

GOODS

shell

bead

Unprovenienced

254

AXIS:

N

-

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

#s:

984,

#s:

# :

N 47.20m / E 3 9.00m 1025, 1072,

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

6 3

#s:

1 4,

1 026,

1 027,

1 048,

1 9,

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1048

90,

80 80

1 238 1 36

#s:

ASSOCIATED lies north

CONTEXTS: In layer on Plaza Floor X

c 1 / i n 1 /

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: 1 9

PERIOD:

1 092

PHOTOGRAPH

of burials in ( 381)

112

and

26, 21

Single

61,

and

36

( 381)

burial, north

of

of

Structure

primary burial

300

which

interment;

south

6 7

which

also

lie

SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental, only postcranial bones excavated intact were humeri SEX:

-

AGE:

CRANIAL DENTAL

SHAPING:

DENTAL

-

PATHOLOGY:

-

arms GRAVE

-

-

DISEASE: BURIAL

BUILD:

NA

ESTIMATE:

TRAUMA:

years

-

DECORATION:

STATURE

1 0-11

-

POSITION:

extended TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

at

Seated, legs crossed; sides

Simple: Diameter

Simple

cut,

- 0 .45m

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

1 40 ° , SE -

subcircular AXIS:

255

-

BURIAL

# :

6 3

FEATURE

# :

1 12

PERIOD:

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS

SF 1 048 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Inverted over skull

SF 1 238 : Sierra Red, LOCATION: In lap

Sierra Variety bowl

PLAN

256

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

#s:

1 050,

1 051,

1056,

1027,

1 044,

1093,

2 712

# s:

# :

N 48.80m / E 31.30m

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

6 4

#s:

11,

PHOTOGRAPH

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

1057,

1 6,

80 80

75,

c 2/ m 3 /

90,

SKELETAL SEX:

5 , 27-29 10, 36; 5/

Fragmentary

-

AGE: SHAPING:

0 ,

DENTAL

-

PATHOLOGY:

-

Bowing

treponemal

right left

304 which

5-7

cranial,

postcranial

years

and

west

dental

BUILD:

-

-

DISEASE:

BURIAL

of Structure

-

ESTIMATE:

TRAUMA:

1

-

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

1064

BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; 81, 82 and 85 which also cut ( 1046)

PARTS:

CRANIAL

1 980

1 36

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut floor ( 1046) lies northwest on Plaza Floor VII ASSOCIATED of burials

Cocos

1581

1 3,

#s:

1 21

and

swelling

arm

tibias

indicative

infections

POSITION:

arm

of

Seated, legs crossed; extended to right knee

resting

in

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

1 20 ° , SE -

lap

GRAVE TYPE: Cist: Uncapped cist, subcircular; lined with stone slabs arranged in a circle around body DIMENSIONS:

Diameter

- 0 . 55m

AXIS:

257

of

BURIAL

# :

6 4

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 21

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1581 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety LOCATION: Inverted over skull PLAN

F 12 1 d iameter = 0 .55 m eters

258

bowl

BURIAL

6 5

# :

1 045,

#s:

Q #s:

1 086,

1 091

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

PLAN

# :

N 4 2.50 1 i t / E 3 0.80m

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

1 061,

1 23

PERIOD:

YEAR

Nuevo Tzakol

EXCAVATED:

1 980

1 062

1 229,

1 231

8 0 c 2 / 80 i n 5 /

3 4 8

2 0

#s:

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

Cut cobble wall ( 1052) ( wall runs NE/SW) 3 01 which l ies northwest of P laza F loor IX

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS:

of Structure ASSOCIATED SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

DENTAL

AGE:

SHAPING:

DENTAL

ESTIMATE: DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

primary

interment

and postcranial

Adult

BUILD:

-

-

DECORATION:

STATURE

Single burial,

Fragmentary cranial

Male?

CRANIAL

NA;

BURIALS:

-

-

DISEASE:

-

POSITION: Right s ide, f lexed; arms f lexed tightly against chest, bones possibly crushed or bound to f it BURIAL

GRAVE

TYPE:

grave

cut

i s

DIMENSIONS:

AZIMUTH: HEAD

1 70 ° , S E

FACING:

in grave

Cist: Capped pit, subrectangular; covered by capstones Length Width

- 0 .80m - 0 .45m

AXIS:

259

N/S

BURIAL

6 5

# :

FEATURE GRAVE

SF

: Red

1 229

f laring

1 23

# :

PERIOD:

Nuevo Tzakol

GOODS

bowl

with

basal

f lange

and

rounded

bottom LOCATION:

Over left

shoulder

SF 1 231 : I ncomplete obsidian blade LOCATION: Unprovenienced PLAN

ö 24 .01 .4

9

r t i l ?u s

A £4 .0 1 -

L red ius Lf e mur

1 23

2 0 CMS

SKull — OS

I ------ \

•

2 4, 9

2 4'01

2 60

BURIAL

# :

6 6

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

N 4 7.50m

/ E 3 9.50m

# s:

1 071,

1 072,

1 095,

2 026,

2042

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# s:

# :

1 239,

1 073,

1 25 YEAR

1 980

1 074

1 243

# s:

80 c 3 / 80 m 5 /

6 -8; 2 / 3 5, 1 0, 1 7-20

3 6

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor ( 1979) l ies northeast on Plaza Floor VII ASSOCIATED BURIALS: SKELETAL PARTS:

Single burial,

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

of Structure 3 05 which

primary

Fragmentary cranial,

Male

interment

postcranial

Middle Adult

and dental

BUILD:

Robust

NA

DENTAL DECORATION: STATURE

EXCAVATED:

Cocos

2 6

PHOTOGRAPH

SEX:

PERIOD:

ESTIMATE:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; extreme lingual incisors; periodontoclasia; calculus

wear

on

upper

TRAUMA: A hole in the skull was noted in the f ield, but due to transportation damage leaving this skull very crushed it was no longer visible for post-excavation analysis; skull shows signs of postmortem damage DISEASE: Cervical vertebrae may this may be due to an infection BURIAL POSITION: arms GRAVE

crossed TYPE:

D IMENSIONS:

in

Seated, legs crossed; lap

Simple: Diameter Depth

Simple pit, - 0 .70m - 0 .46m

show signs of arthritis but in the cranial vault BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

2 40 ° , SW -

subcircular AXIS:

2 61

-

BURIAL

# :

66

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 25

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

I

SF 1 239 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall LOCATION: Inverted over skull

Variety bucket

SF 1 243 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety deep bowl LOCATION: Upright, probably originally in lap now f allen to f eet area, held by hands

262

BURIAL

# :

66

FEATURE

# :

1 25

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

.

'

•

• 24 .0 1

.• .

•

•

.

2 0 C MS

4 7 /39 .

263

BURIAL

# :

66

FEATURE

264

# :

125

PERIOD:

Cocos

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

67 N 45. 00m 1066,

1067,

Q #s:

2030,

2031,

2043

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

#s:

32,

PHOTOGRAPH

1246,

#s:

c 3/

5 ,

m 5/

16,

CONTEXTS: on

ASSOCIATED

BURIALS:

of

19,

SEX:

61

DENTAL

PARTS:

fill

Floor

burial,

which

( 381)

primary

also

cranial,

15-20

of

Structure

300

X

lie

in

interment;

south

( 381)

postcranial

years

and

dental

BUILD:

-

-

ESTIMATE:

1 . 535m Linear enamel hypoplasia on upper incisors

-

BURIAL POSITION: arms extended at GRAVE

marl

Single 6 3

21

NA

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

DISEASE:

In

AGE:

DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

1980

32-37

Fragmentary

SHAPING:

STATURE

EXCAVATED:

Tzakol

1 250

20,

Plaza

and

Male

CRANIAL

1 249,

80

north

SKELETAL

YEAR

Nuevo

1068

80

which

burials

PERIOD:

1 36

ASSOCIATED lies

1 27

/ E 39.80m

#s:

PLAN

# :

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Supine, sides

Simple:

extended;

Simple

Length

- 1 . 90m

Width Depth

- 0 .35m - 0 . 19m

pit,

AZIMUTH: 180 ° , S HEAD FACING: E

subrectangular AXIS:

265

N/S

BURIAL

# :

6 7

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 27

PERIOD:

GOODS

SF 1 246 : Red on buff LOCATION: To the s ide 266

bowl of body

Nuevo Tzakol

BURIAL

# :

6 7

SF 1 249 : Red s lipped

LOCATION: Beside chin

FEATURE

jar,

# :

1 27

PERIOD:

very eroded

SF 1 250 : Black s lipped cylindrical band LOCATION: On chest

and

Nuevo Tzakol

fragmentary

vase with

incised glyph

Some sherds in f ill over head, assigned no context number, may actually be grave goods representing a smashed vessel over the skull of this burial.

267

BURIAL

# :

67

FEATURE

# :

1 27

PERIOD:

PLAN N

2 0 CMS

( I )

KNNNI 268

Nuevo

Tzakol

BURIAL

# :

6 8

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

& 6 9

FEATURE

N 2 9.00m / E 3 8.90m

# s:

1 141,

1 142,

1 143,

2 045,

2 071,

2078,

2 079

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# :

# s:

2 5,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 248,

31,

# s:

1 257,

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

YEAR EXCAVATED:

1 980

1 150

1 276,

1 277,

1 280

1 57

80 80

c 3 / m 5 /

1 3, 1 9; 3 0-31, 2 4

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut plaster near the center of the plaza

( 1140)

of

Plaza

Floor

VII

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 1 2 individuals, burials 6 8-79; this mass burial was spatially constructed with an hourglass shaped cut f illed at its top level with f ill ( 1142), below this are two pits, an east pit and a west pit both f illed with f ill ( 1180); burials 6 8 and 6 9 are a double burial, both secondary interments, lying mostly along the eastern edge of the top level of the mass burial SKELETAL PARTS: of at least two SEX:

Fragmentary cranial, individuals

2 - Male?

CRANIAL

SHAPING:

AGE:

1 - Young Adult 1 - Middle Adult

STATURE

BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Loose teeth Mandible containing six teeth

DISEASE:

and dental

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

postcranial

( M?/MA) ( M?/YA)

- Caries; attrition; - Periodontoclasia

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Burial 6 8 ( M?/YA) AZIMUTH: S ( burial 6 8) only partly disarticulated as the HEAD FACING: body retains a f lexed on r ight s ide position, i ts skull was lying to the south of the skeletal remains with i ts foramen magnum up and a humerus stuck inside, the mandible lay next to it; Burial 6 9 ( M?/MA) - completely disarticulated long bones and a partial skull which lay to the east of burial 6 8 GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

Simple

Length-1.95m Width - 0 .80m

pit,

hourglass

( West pit), 2 69

shaped

1 .20m

AXIS: E/W ( East pit)

BURIAL

# :

6 8

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 248 : Pale green s lightly speckled LOCATION: By femurs

SF 1 257 : Small pieces of ? mica LOCATION: Stuck to SF 1 277

jade bead,

( or nacre)

SF 1 276 : Small polished Nephronias LOCATION: With SF 1 277 by f emurs

spheroid

shell

SF 1 277 : Very fragmentary polished bivalve shaped LOCATION: With SF 1 276 by f emurs

originally disk

SF 1 280 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Upright south beside skeletal remains

2 70

BURIAL

# :

68

& 6 9

FEATURE

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

2 0 CMS

271

BURIAL

# :

70

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

# :

N 2 9.10m / E 3 7.60m

1 28

1 141,

1 180,

1 318,

1 321

2 232,

2 235,

2 289,

2 450,

2 496,

#s:

#s:

25,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 346,

31,

# s:

1 349,

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

# s:

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

1 355,

Cocos 1 980

2 500

1 357,

1 366,

1 452,1453

1 57

80 c 3 / 80 m 5 /

1 3, 1 9; 3 0-31, 2 4

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut plaster near the center of the plaza

( 1140)

of

P laza

Floor

VII

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 1 2 individuals, burials 6 8-79; this mass burial was spatially constructed with an hourglass shaped cut f illed at its top level with f ill ( 1142), below this are two pits, an east pit and a west pit both f illed with f ill ( 1180); burial 7 0 is a single burial, primary interment located at the bottom of the western pit with body bundle burials 71-74, all secondary interments, in its lap SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental of one individual; also included in the skeletal remains marked ( 1318) was the very fragmentary remains of another individual ( ?/MA) consisting of f ive teeth, a clavicle, f ibula and right hand; as it i s difficult to discern the starting and stopping point of a poorly preserved individual and the disarticulated individuals i n its lap these extra parts are being considered as part of body bundle burials 717 4 misexcavated along with this primary interment in whose lap they were placed SEX:

Male

CRANIAL SHAPING:

AGE:

Young Adult

calculus; periodontoclasia;

l inear

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; enamel hypoplasia -

DISEASE: Bowing and treponemal infections; STATURE

Robust

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

BUILD:

ESTIMATE:

swelling sinusitis

of in

tibias indicative of right maxillary sinuses

-

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, legs crossed; right arm in lap under bowl SF 1 452; Left arm under right f oot 2 72

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

268 ° , W -

BURIAL

# :

7 0

FEATURE

GRAVE TYPE:

Simple,

DIMENSIONS:

Length Width

Simple - 1 .95m - 0 .80m

Pit,

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

hourglass

Cocos

shaped; AXIS:

E/W

( West pit)

GRAVE GOODS

SF 1 346 : Light green LOCATION: Beside body

speckled

jade bead

SF 1 349 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl base LOCATION: Inverted over skull

SF 1 355 : Fragment of spherical

LOCATION: Under bowl SF 1 349

highly

with kill

polished

hole

jade

bead

e z SF 1 357 : Small dark green highly polished LOCATION: Under bowl SF 1 349

SF 1 366 : Fragment of tubular green LOCATION: In mouth 2 73

jade bead

in

jade bead

BURIAL

# :

70

FEATURE

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

SF 1 452 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Upright over right arm

SF 1 453 : Olocuitla Orange Usulutan tetrapod bowl LOCATION: Smashed above both burials 70 and 79

SF 1 464 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Smashed above burial 70 2 74

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

71-74

N 2 9.10m / E 3 7.60m

# s:

1 141,

1 180,

2 289,

2 429,

2 496

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# :

#s:

70,

PHOTOGRAPH

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 322

1 354

7 4,

# s:

1 319,

1 28

7 9,

80

8 0

c 5 / 1 5, 1 7-22; 6 / 9-11, 1 3, 2 8-32; 7 / 2 , 6 , 7 8 0 i n 8 / 21-30; 9 / 3 0-36; 1 0/ 2 , 3 , 9 , 1 0, 2 226, 3 2; 1 1/ 1 , 2

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut plaster near the center of the plaza

( 1140)

of

Plaza

Floor

VII

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 1 2 individuals, burials 6 8-79; this mass burial was spatially constructed with an hourglass shaped cut f illed at its top level with f ill ( 1142), below this are two pits, an east pit and a west pit both f illed with f ill ( 1180); burials 71-74, all secondary interments, are a disarticulated body bundle of at least f our individuals lying in the lap of burial 70 SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, of at least four individuals; SEX:

-

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

postcranial

1 - Young Adult BUILD: 2 - Young/Middle Adult 1 - Middle Adult

and dental

1 - Gracile 1 - Robust

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Teeth ( ?, YA) - Caries; calculus; l inear enamel hypoplasia; teeth ( ?/MA, ? /Y-MA) - Linear enamel hypoplasia; One adult maxilla ( no teeth remain), may belong to any of the teeth - periodontoclasia; dental abscess TRAUMA: DISEASE: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Disarticulated; f orming a neat package of bones; very compactly put together suggesting that bones were excarnate prior to burial GRAVE

TYPE:

D IMENSIONS:

Simple:

Simple pit,

Length-1.95m;

-

the

hourglass

Width-0.80m 2 75

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

shaped;

( West pit)

AXIS:

E/W

BURIAL

# :

70-74

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1354 : Jade bead LOCATION: Unprovenienced, associated with burials 70-74, mentioned in original field notes and then never again

276

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

7 5-78

N 2 8.80m / E 3 8.60m

#s:

1 141,

1 180,

2 289,

2 396,

2 428

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# :

70,

# s:

1 385,

7 4,

PHOTOGRAPH # s: 6 , 7 ; 80 i n 8 / 1 1/ 1 , 2

79,

1 320,

1 28

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 323

1 465 80

80 c 5 / 1 5, 1 7-22; 6 / 9-11, 1 3, 2 8-32; 7/ 2 , 21-30; 9/ 3 0-36; 1 0/ 2 , 3 , 9 , 1 0, 2 2-26, 3 2;

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut plaster near the center of the plaza

( 1140)

of

Plaza

Floor VII

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 1 2 individuals, burials 6 8-79; this mass burial was spatially constructed with an hourglass shaped cut f illed at its top level with f ill ( 1142), below this are two pits, an east pit and a west pit both f illed with fill 1 180; burials 75-78, all secondary interments, are a disarticulated body bundle of at least four individuals lying in the lap of burial 7 9 in the east pit SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, of at least four individuals SEX: 3 - Male AGE: 1 - small Male or Female CRANIAL SHAPING:

postcranial

2 - Young Adult ( Males) 1 - Young/Middle Adult 1 - Middle Adult ( Male)

and dental

BUILD: ( Unsexed)

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Teeth ( M/YA) - Caries; Teeth ( M/YA) Caries; linear enamel hypoplasia; Teeth ( M/Y-MA) - linear enamel hypoplasia; Teeth ( M/MA) - Caries; Extreme lingual wear; l inear enamel hypoplasia; periodontoclasia TRAUMA: DISEASE: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Disarticulated; f orming a neat package of bones; very compactly put together suggesting that bones were excarnate prior to burial GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

Simple pit,

Length-1.95m;

-

the

hourglass

Width-1.20m 2 77

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING:

shaped

( East pit)

AXIS:

E/W

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

#s:

1 141,

1 180,

1 352,

2 289,

2 435,

2 439,

2 440

# s:

# :

N 2 8.80m / E 3 8.60m

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

7 9

# s:

70,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 323,

7 4,

# s:

7 9,

1 414,

1 28

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 356

1 418

80

80

c 5 / 1 5, 1 7-22; 6 / 9-11, 1 3, 2 8-32; 7/ 2 , 6 , 7 80 m 8 / 21-30; 9/ 3 0-36; 1 0/ 2 , 3 , 9 , 10, 2 226; 1 1/ 1 , 2

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut plaster near the center of the plaza

( 1140)

of

P laza

F loor

VII

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Part of a mass burial of 1 2 i ndividuals, burials 6 8-79; this mass burial was spatially constructed with an hourglass shaped cut f illed at i ts top level with f ill ( 1142), below this are two pits, an east pit and a west pit both f illed with f ill ( 1180); burial 7 9 i s a single burial, primary interment located at the bottom of the eastern pit with body bundle burials 75-78, all secondary interments, in its lap SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental of one individual; also included in the skeletal remains marked ( 1352) was the very fragmentary remains of two other i ndividuals ( M/YA, ? /Y-MA); one i s a small male/female consisting of fragments of right tibia and left radius, other parts of this individual were found in body bundle burials 7 5-78; the other individual, a male adult, consisted of f emur, humerus and occipital bone; as i t i s difficult to discern the starting and stopping point of a poorly preserved i ndividual and the disarticulated i ndividuals in i ts lap thus these extra parts are being considered as part of body bundle burials 75-78 misexcavated along with this primary interment i n whose lap they were placed SEX:

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

BUILD:

Caries;

linear

enamel

hypoplasia

TRAUMA: Healed fracture in left distal radius, lunate and navicular DISEASE: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

Robust

-

DENTAL DECORATION: DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

Young Adult

2 78

left capitate,

BURIAL

# :

FEATURE

7 9

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

BURIAL POSITION: Semi-reclining, f lexed; BODY FACING: 2 72 ° , W ankles pulled up i nto the pelvis; left HEAD FACING: arm bent across chest; right arm extended l aterally away from body GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

Simple pit,

Length - 1 .95m Width - 1 .20m

hourglass

shaped; AXIS:

E/W

( East pit)

GRAVE

GOODS

SF 1 323 : Yellow brown banded chert to Colha industry LOCATION: In lap

stemmed dagger;

SF 1 385 : Sierra Group, dichrome LOCATION: Smashed above burial

red

SF 1 414 : Large obsidian blade midsection LOCATION: In lap under dagger SF 1 323

similar

on buff bowl

SF 1 418 : Lumps of red ocher LOCATION: Beside body

SF 1 465 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Smashed above burial 7 0 north of 2 79

bowl

SF

1 385

BURIAL

# :

70-79

FEATURE

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN ( Ceramics

smashed

above

burials

70

and

79)

2 0 CMS

r• -• -• !

BURIAL

# :

71-74

& 75-78

FEATURE

280

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

2 82013720 !

Cocos

BURIAL

# :

7 0

& 79

FEATURE

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

2 0 C MS

BURIAL

# :

6 8-79

FEATURE

# :

1 28

PERIOD:

Cocos

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Miscellaneous human bone found throughout the f ill of Feature 1 28, not associated with a particular individual or bundle, was collected and recorded as ( 1187). This bones consisted of eight teeth of at least three individuals, all males, two young adults and one young/middle adult, and the cranial and postcranial scraps of at least two adult individuals. These bones may belong to any of the burials in Feature 1 28 or not be related to this f eature at all ( intrusive). These bones will not be i ncluded i n the count of individuals in Feature 1 28 in this study as their context is obscure and controversial. The bones of context ( 1187) are counted as three individuals in the physical analysis of Saul and Saul ( in prep.: Fig. 7 .2C, i ndividuals 1 187 a-c).

2 81

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

#s:

1 090,

1 091,

2 080,

2097,

2114

# s:

# :

N 4 7.30m / E 3 7.50m

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

80

#s:

3 3,

PHOTOGRAPH

PERIOD:

Cocos

YEAR EXCAVATED:

1 980

1 211

1 288

90,

#s:

1 092,

1 32

1 36

80 c 3 / 80 i n 6 /

2 3-26 0-6

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In subfloor 3 05 which lies northeast on P laza

f ill ( 1080) F loor VII

of

Structure

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; of burials 8 2, 8 4, 8 9 and 8 8 which are also in 1 080 SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

Female

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

postcranial

Young/Middle Adult

and dental

BUILD:

Lambdoid f lattening and occipital

DENTAL DECORATION:

west

Gracile

" bunning"

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; premortem tooth loss; periodontoclasia; possible enamel defect or just incipient caries on the occlusal surface of the lower third molars TRAUMA:

-

DISEASE: Possible ossified subperiosteal hemorrhages on right humerus; s light to moderate bowing and swelling of tibiae i ndicative of treponemal infections; enlarged mental foramina and mandibular foramina which may i ndicate some problem with the mandibular nerve STATURE

ESTIMATE:

1 .598m

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, kneeling; BODY FACING: 35 ° , NE knees spread around SF 1 288, Sierra Red HEAD FACING: up globular jar/olla; upper torso hunched over SF 1 288;arms extended at sides parallel to upper legs, head tilted s lightly upwards GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple: Diameter Depth

Simple pit, - 0 .60m - 0 .32m

subcircular AZIMUTH:

2 82

-

BURIAL

# :

80

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 32

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 288 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety o lla LOCATION: Upright between knees with upper body hunched over olla PLAN

2 0 CMS

4 7/37

L

283

BURIAL

# :

81

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

N 4 8.80m / E 3 2.20m

# s:

1 058,

1 059,

1 095,

1 046,

2013,

2123,

2148

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

# s:

#s:

3 6,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 34

PERIOD:

Cocos

YEAR EXCAVATED: 1 096,

1 097,

1 980

1 212

1 290

46,

# s:

# :

5 7,

75,

8 0 c 4/ 8 0 i n 6 /

76,

8 8,

90,

3 , 4 , 1 6, 1 7, 20, 21; 7/ 0 ,

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor ( 1046) l ies northwest on Plaza Floor VII

1 36 3 1 1 ,

2 4

of Structure 3 04 which

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Southwest burial of a double burial consisting of burials 81 and 8 2, both primary interments; west of burial 6 4 and 8 5 which also cut f loor ( 1046) SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

Female

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

TRAUMA:

Young/Middle Adult

-

DENTAL DECORATION: DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

postcranial

and dental

BUILD: Gracile more gracile than burial 8 2

Caries;

linear enamel

hypoplasia

-

DISEASE: Bowing and swelling of tibiae and f ibulae indicative of treponemal infections; bone spur on nonarticular surfaces of two left metatarsals STATURE

ESTIMATE:

1 .485m

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, f lexed; BODY FACING: 1 30 ° , SE the legs are loosely f lexed, s lightly HEAD FACING: 45 ° , NE tilting to the right so that the feet ( toward Burial 8 2) of this burial could rest on the knees of burial 8 2; the left arm i s behind burial 8 2; the right arm extends across the body to clasp the left hand of burial 8 2; the pelvis touches the pelvis of Burial 8 2; the head i s turned to f ace burial 8 2 GRAVE TYPE: Simple: Simple pit, truncated conical base DIMENSIONS:

Diameter Depth

- 0 .80m - 0 .51m

subcircular;

AXIS:

2 84

-

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

8 2

N 4 8.80m / E 3 2.20m

# s:

1 058,

1 059,

1 095,

1 046,

2013,

2 123,

2 143

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# s:

3 6,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 34

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED: 1 096,

1 097,

Cocos 1 980

1 225

1 290

46,

# s:

# :

5 7,

75,

80 c 4 / 80 m 6 /

76,

8 8,

90,

3 , 4 , 1 6, 1 7, 20, 21; 7/ 0 ,

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor ( 1046) lies northwest on P laza Floor VII

1 36 31 1 ,

2 4

of Structure 3 04 which

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Northeast burial of a double burial consisting of burials 81 and 8 2, both primary interments; west of burials 6 4 and 8 5 which also cut f loor ( 1046) SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

Female

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

Young/Middle Adult

NA

DENTAL DECORATION:

and dental

BUILD: ; more robust than burial 8 2

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; periodontoclasia; l inear enamel TRAUMA:

postcranial

premortem hypoplasia;

tooth calculus

loss;

-

DISEASE: Bowing and swelling of tibiae and f ibulae indicative of treponemal infections STATURE

ESTIMATE:

1 .598m

BURIAL POSITION: Semi-reclining, f lexed; BODY FACING: 1 30 ° , SE arms extended at sides; left hand HEAD FACING: clasps the right hand of burial 81; GRAVE TYPE: Simple: Simple pit, truncated conical base DIMENSIONS:

Diameter Depth

- 0 .80m - 0 .51m

subcircular;

AXIS:

2 85

-

BURIAL

# :

8 1

& 8 2

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 34

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1290 : S ierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl with mend hole LOCATION: Inverted over skulls of double burial 8 1 and 8 2 PLAN

2 0 C MS

I4 8 4 0/3 1 6 0

L._ 2 86

_

_ J

BURIAL

# :

81

& 8 2

FEATURE

# :

1 34

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

23 5 9 A L HU M2R .U5

2 0 CMS*

r 4 8 4 0/3 1 6 0

L ._ .

287

I

._ J

BURIAL

# :

83

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

#s:

1 098,

1099,

2137,

2149,

2 219

#s:

#s:

35,

PHOTOGRAPH

3 9,

#s:

northwest

1100,

1 35

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 210

1 310 57,

80 80

6 4,

c 4/ i n 6/

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: lies

# :

N 48.40 1n / E 30. 00m

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

on

88,

5 , 6 , 2 2-24

Cut

Plaza

ASSOCIATED BURIALS:

76,

NA;

90,

1 36

1 2

floor

( 1076)

of Structure

304 which

Floor VII Single

burial,

primary

interment

SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; part of burial remains unexcavated extending into section SEX:

Male

CRANIAL

AGE:

SHAPING:

PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA:

BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION: DENTAL

Adult

NA Periodontoclasia

-

DISEASE: Severe bowing and swelling indicative of treponemal infections on all long bones, clavicle and skull STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Seated; arms crossed in lap GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple: Diameter Depth

Simple

BODY FACING: HEAD FACING: pit,

- 0 . 50m - 0 . 50m

45 ° , NE -

subcircular AXIS:

288

-

BURIAL # :

FEATURE

8 3

# :

1 35

PERIOD:

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS

\

SF

1 310

: Laguna

Verde

Incised,

Laguna

\ N

Verde

Variety

bowl

with mending LOCATION: Inverted over skull PLAN

2 0 CMS

2 89

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

84

N 47. 50m / E 38. 50m

#s:

1 212,

Q #s:

2151,

2223

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

PLAN

#s:

39,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 213,

lies

#s:

80

i n 7/

BURIALS: 80 and 86

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1980

1 215

3

on

Plaza

Single

( 1080)

of Structure 305

Floor VII

burial,

primary

and west of burials 89

interment;

east

and 88 which also

( 1080)

SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

YEAR

In subfloor f ill

northeast

of burials in

PERIOD:

1 36

ASSOCIATED lie

1 37

NA

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: which

# :

Fragmentary cranial, AGE:

-

CRANIAL

SHAPING:

5-7

Lambdoid

postcranial

and

years

flattening

dental

BUILD: with

slight

-

occipital

"bunning" DENTAL

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA:

BURIAL arms GRAVE

Linear

enamel

hypoplasia

-

DISEASE: STATURE

-

ESTIMATE:

POSITION:

extended TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

at

Seated,

flexed;

sides

Simple: Diameter

Simple

BODY HEAD

pit,

- 0 .40m

FACING:

FACING:

10 ° , -

subcircular AXIS:

290

-

BURIAL

# :

84

FEATURE

# :

137

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

2 0 CMS

J

291

BURIAL

# :

85

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

N 4 8.50m / E 3 3.50m

# s:

1 221,

1 222,

2145,

2148,

2153

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

#s:

40,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 38

YEAR EXCAVATED:

57,

75,

80 c 4/ 80 i n 7/

1 980

76,

3 2 21,

8 8,

90,

1 36

2 5 of Structure 3 04 which

BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; 6 4, 81 and 8 2 which also cut ( 1046)

SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Cocos

1 224

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor ( 1046) l ies northwest on Plaza Floor VII ASSOCIATED of burials

PERIOD:

1 325

45,

#s:

1 223,

# :

Fragmentary cranial,

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

postcranial

Middle Adult

east

and dental BUILD:

-

NA

DENTAL DECORATION:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Extreme lingual wear on upper incisors and canines; periodontoclasia; linear enamel hypoplasia; calculus TRAUMA:

-

DISEASE: Bowing and treponemal infections STATURE

ESTIMATE:

swelling

of

tibiae

indicative

of

-

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, f lexed; BODY FACING: 3 00 ° , NW very tight f lex with feet apart and HEAD FACING: knees together at chest; arms at extended at s ides GRAVE TYPE: Simple: Simple pit, truncated conical base DIMENSIONS:

Diameter Depth

- 0 .50m - 0 .58m

subcircular;

AXIS:

2 92

-

BURIAL # :

8 5

FEATURE

# :

1 38

PERIOD:

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS

SF 1 325 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bowl LOCATION: Inverted over skull Small solid roll of prepared f inds number LOCATION: Unproven i enced

ocher

pigment,

given

no

small

PLAN

2 0 CMS

r --

-• - •-1 4 8/33

2 93

BURIAL

# :

85

FEATURE

# :

1 38

PERIOD:

2 0 CMS

2 94

Cocos

BURIAL

1 233,

#s:

Q #s:

2 230,

2 244

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

PLAN

#s:

5 3,

PHOTOGRAPH

l ies

1 41

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 243

1 343

90,

#s:

1 234,

1 36

80 c 5 / 80 i n 8/

5 1 0

In subfloor f ill ( 1080) on Plaza Floor VII

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS:

which

# :

N 4 7.50m / E 3 7.90m

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

8 6

# :

northeast

of Structure 3 05

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, primary i nterment; between

burial 80, which l ies to the west, which lie to the east in ( 1080) SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

Fragmentary cranial,

-

AGE:

CRANIAL

SHAPING:

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

DISEASE: STATURE

postcranial

8-9 years

8 9

and 8 8

and dental BUILD:

-

-

linear enamel

hypoplasia

ESTIMATE:

-

POSITION: Seated, f lexed; right leg f lexed to right elbow; left leg indeterminable; arms crossed

BURIAL

GRAVE

8 4,

NA

DENTAL

TRAUMA:

and burials

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

No

cut

BODY HEAD

FACING: FACING:

45 0 , NE -

discernable

-

AXIS:

2 95

-

BURIAL

# :

8 6

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 41

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

1 SF

one

1343

: Ground

s ide,

LOCATION:

Spondylus shell possible pubic shield On pelvis

with

two

holes

pierced

on

PLAN

2 0 CMS

4 7/31 U

L .

2 96

BURIAL

8 7

# :

FEATURE

N 4 4.00m / E 3 5.25m

LOCATION:

#s:

1 238,

1 239,

Q #s:

2 344,

2 473,

2 477

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

CONTEXT

PLAN

5 7,

#s:

PHOTOGRAPH ASSOCIATED

( 1226) VII

of

80 m 1 0/

CONTEXTS:

SEX:

NA; to the

PARTS:

AGE: SHAPING:

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

BURIAL

Secondary skull burial; possible construction of Structure 3 05 cranial

and dental

5-9 years

BUILD:

-

ESTIMATE:

POSITION:

-

NA;

skull -only

AZIMUTH:

-

FACING:

-

AXIS:

-

HEAD GRAVE

-

-

DISEASE: STATURE

1 427

-

DENTAL

TRAUMA:

1 980

1 2

Fragmentary

-

CRANIAL

EXCAVATED:

In f ill ( 1229) below retaining wall 3 05 which lies northeast on Plaza Floor

BURIALS:

dedicatory burial SKELETAL

YEAR

Cocos

90

Structure

ASSOCIATED

PERIOD:

1 362

7 3,

#s:

1 240,

1 43

# :

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

Simple pit,

Diameter - 0 .30m GRAVE

SF

subcircular;

1362

GOODS

: S ierra

LOCATION:

Red, Sierra Variety bowl Inverted over skull 2 97

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

#s:

1 247,

1 248,

1 249,

2 309,

2 319,

2 343,

2 432

# s:

# :

N 4 7.80m / E 3 8.70m

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

8 8

# s:

5 7,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 353,

5 9,

# s:

6 2,

1 360, 6 2,

80 m 9/

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 404

1 36

1 9

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In f ill ( 1080) lies northeast on Plaza F loor VII ASSOCIATED of burials

PERIOD:

1 384

9 0,

6 ,

1 46

of

Structure

305

BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; 80, 8 4, 86 and 8 9 which also l ie in ( 1080)

which

east

SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; two incisors from another adult i ndividual were identified during post-excavation analysis i ncluded with this burial; as they were not identified in the f ield i t is impossible to say whether they represent another adult secondary interment included with this burial but it i s most likely that they are i ntrusive from the f ill SEX:

Female

CRANIAL SHAPING:

AGE:

Middle Adult

BUILD:

Lambdoid f lattening and occipital

DENTAL DECORATION:

-

"bunning"

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: periodontoclasia

Premortem

tooth

loss;

attrition;

TRAUMA: f ield notes suggest that this individual may have suffered a crushing blow in the left temporal region but this could not be determined by post-excavation analysis of the cranial material DISEASE: portion,

Osteoarthritic l ipping or palm side of hand phalanges

STATURE ESTIMATE:

rheumatoid on distal indicating arthritis

1 .485m

BURIAL POSITION: Left side, f lexed; AZIMUTH: 3 25 ° , NW the left leg i s loosely f lexed; the HEAD FACING: 9 0 °, E r ight leg i s tightly f lexed with the knee pointing s lightly away from the body - a possible explanation f or this position might be that the burial was shrouded and the shroud came loose upon placement in the grave; right hand holding right ankle and left hand near left ankle holding SF 1 360, Sierra Red, Sierra Variety plate; head upright

2 98

BURIAL

# :

8 8

FEATURE

GRAVE TYPE: Cist: Head cist, large stones surround skull DIMENSIONS:

# :

1 46

PERIOD:

Cocos

subcircular;

Diameter - 0 .70m

AXIS:

-

GRAVE GOODS SF 1 353 : F lattened tubular greenstone bead LOCATION: Beside skull

SF 1 360 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety plate LOCATION: By ankle, held by left hand SF 1 384 : Chicago Orange, Chucun Variety o lla LOCATION: Inverted over skull PLAN

\ \ 1 1 i I

i

F 1 4

i i

SI 1

I / /

2 0 CMS

x : r- • -• -. i

1 I

2 99

i

4 7 •20/

0

I

1

BURIAL

# :

88

FEATURE

# :

1 46

PERIOD:

Cocos

2 0 CMS

: • • • • : L . . . 4 7 -20/38 -20

I • I .

L. _. _. _.

300

BURIAL

8 9

# :

#s:

1 250,

1 251,

2 299,

2 411,

2 424

CONTEXT

SMALL FINDS PLAN

#s:

5 7,

PHOTOGRAPH

ASSOCIATED

1 396,

#s:

6 0,

71,

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

7 7,

90,

1 6 7 ;

1 36

1 0/12

In fill ( 1080) P laza Floor VII

on

1 980

1 462

CONTEXTS:

lies northeast

Cocos

1 508

80 c 6 / 80 m 9 /

#s:

1 422,

1 47

# :

N 4 7.60m / E 3 7.00m

LOCATION:

Q #s:

FEATURE

of

Structure

305

which

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: S ingle burial, primary interment; burials

8 0, 8 4 and 8 6 lie to the west and burial also in ( 1080) SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

Fragmentary cranial,

Female

CRANIAL

AGE:

SHAPING:

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA:

lies to the east

postcranial

Middle Adult

and dental

BUILD:

Gracile

-

DENTAL

linear enamel

8 8

-

Premortem hypoplasia

tooth

loss;

periodontoclasia;

-

Bowing and swelling of tibiae and f ibulae indicative of treponemal infections

DISEASE:

STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

Seated, legs crossed; left arm extended at side; right arm around o lla, SF 1 396

BURIAL POSITION:

GRAVE

TYPE:

large

stones

DIMENSIONS:

BODY FACING: HEAD

FACING:

3 00 0 , NW -

Cist: Head cist; cover skull Diameter - 0 .80m

AXIS:

3 01

-

BURIAL

# :

8 9

FEATURE

# :

1 47

PERIOD:

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS SF 1 396 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety o lla with and globular body LOCATION: In lap with right arm around o lla

-, -

- , .. . . . . . . . . . ._

" .

. .

-

.. . . . . . ..

-

f laring neck

. . .d . . .,› -

r J ")

-- > , — , 1—

L

1i

/

7

/

I

SF 1 508 : Laguna Verde Incised, L aguna Verde Variety bowl LOCATION: Inverted and smashed over skull PLAN

\

2 0 C MS

3 02

BURIAL

# :

89

FEATURE

# :

1 47

PERIOD:

Cocos

2 0 CMS

303

BURIAL

# :

90

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

# :

N 4 4.25m / E 3 8.10m

#s:

1 287,

1 288,

2 337,

2 409,

2 443

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

# s:

# s:

6 9,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 364,

76,

#s:

7 8,

1 289,

1 383,

1 58

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED: 1 290,

1 389,

Cocos 1 980

1 291

1 424

1 36

80 m 1 0/

4 ,

5

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor ( 1292), sealed by plaster patch ( 1291) possibly indicating use of f loor ( 1292) after placement of this burial in the f loor, of Structure 3 07 which lies northeast on Plaza Floor V ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, of skull burial 9 2 which also cuts SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

-

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

DISEASE: STATURE

Young Adult

interment;

postcranial

east

and dental

BUILD:

Gracile

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

primary ( 1292)

-

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Left side, f lexed; r ight arm extended over right knee; left arm indeterminable; skull lying on i ts left side facing northwest GRAVE TYPE: Simple: southern edge DIMENSIONS:

Diameter Depth

Simple pit,

subcircular with

- 0 .50m - 0 .35m

GRAVE

AZIMUTH: 1 50 ° , SE HEAD FACING: 3 30 ° , NW

square

off

AXIS:

-

GOODS

SF 1 364 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety f laring bowl thickened everted rim, very badly smashed LOCATION: Inverted over skull

3 04

with

BURIAL # :

9 0

FEATURE

# :

1 58

PERIOD:

Cocos

SF 1 383 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Over legs encircled by right arm

SF 1 389 : Richardson Peak Unslipped, Unspecified Variety o lla LOCATION: Next to skull to the southwest PLAN

3 05

BURIAL

# :

90

FEATURE

306

# :

158

PERIOD:

Cocos

BURIAL

FEATURE

91

# :

N 26.30m / E 3 9.25m

LOCATION:

#s:

1 309,

1 310,

1 311,

Q #s:

2 388,

2 414,

2 434,

2 438

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

CONTEXT

PLAN

6 5,

#s:

PHOTOGRAPH

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 317

1 381

6 7,

#s:

1 61

# :

6 8

80

c 6 /

6

CONTEXTS: Possibly cut from plaster ( 1316) of P laza Floor I , which was very eroded in the spot and patched with ( 1193), into the southern edge of layer ( 1194) and ( 1349) the f ill of the larger mass burial ASSOCIATED

NA;

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

Fragmentary cranial,

Male

CRANIAL DENTAL

AGE:

SHAPING:

DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

DISEASE: STATURE

1 8

primary

interment

postcranial

and dental

- 2 5

BUILD:

-

-

DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

Single burial,

-

Caries;

linear enamel hypoplasia;

calculus

ESTIMATE:

-

POSITION: Seated, f lexed; BODY FACING: 2 70 ° , W arms between the legs with the right HEAD FACING: 2 25 ° , SW hand up and the left hand down; the tightness of the legs against the arms and chest may indicate they were tied or wrapped BURIAL

GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple: Length Width

Simple pit, - 0 .60m

irregular AXIS:

- 0 .40m

3 07

-

BURIAL

# :

91

FEATURE GRAVE

SF

1381

# :

1 61

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

: Society Hall

LOCATION:

At

feet

Red, Society Hall Variety bucket slightly to the west in front of seated

body PLAN

.

e

Q )

* .

6

Q

( 3 0

00

2 0 CMS

: .

308

0 .c 5 : . „

i

t

1

j

1 1 i

i . i

BURIAL

# :

FEATURE

91

# :

161

PERIOD:

Cocos

0

c s0

T r z ,

o ‘

•

0 , . cf l lx4k 1

r

1 6 1 I .r ad ,U r . S

I .u l na

r ad iuS

S ku l l ( f ro e0 l r ) • "es r :u lna O o

n . 7 9

0

0° I .

I .f i bu la I .f emur 2 28 8

hu merus 0 0 ' • •

i

, 9

0 0 -

i o 0 . 2 0 CMS1

2 6 / 39

BURIAL

# :

9 2

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q #s:

# :

N 44.80m / E 35.75m

#s:

1 429,

1 430,

2412,

2 420,

2 472

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

#s:

#s:

1 393,

1 431,

1 63

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 440

1 394

76

PHOTOGRAPH

#s:

80 c 6/ 1 4 80 i n 10/ 6

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor ( 1292) of Structure 307 which lies northeast on Plaza Floor V ; probably a dedicatory offering for the laying of floor ( 1088) of Structure 307 ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Secondary 90 which also cuts ( 1292) SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

Fragmentary

-

AGE:

CRANIAL

SHAPING:

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

BURIAL

west

burial

only

years

BUILD:

-

-

ESTIMATE:

POSITION:

NA;

Skull-only HEAD

GRAVE

of

-

DISEASE: STATURE

dental

burial;

-

DENTAL

TRAUMA:

3-4

skull

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple: Diameter

Simple

pit,

- 0 .30m

310

AZIMUTH:

-

FACING:

-

AXIS:

-

subcircular

BURIAL

# :

9 2

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

163

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 393 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Inverted over skull

SF 1 394 : Sierra LOCATION: Beside

Red, Sierra SF 1 393

311

Variety

dish

BURIAL

# :

9 3

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

# :

N 4 5.90m / E 3 8.50m

#s:

1 443,

1 444,

2 432,

2 436,

2 476

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

# s:

# s:

8 4,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 408,

90,

# s:

1 445,

1 66

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 446

1 409

1 36

80 c 7 / 0 , 1 80 m 1 0/ 3 0, 3 1;

1 1/

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor ( 1088) l ies northeast on Plaza Floor VI

4 of Structure 3 07 which

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, perpendicular to burial 9 4 which also of burial 9 4 cross and are s lightly burial

primary interment; cuts ( 1088);the feet above those of this

SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary cranial, postcranial and dental; teeth were never received by the lab SEX:

Female?

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

TRAUMA: DISEASE: STATURE

Gracile

" bunning"

-

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Supine, extended; legs crossed at ankles, arms extended at sides; head lying on left side facing north GRAVE

BUILD:

Lambdoid f lattening and occipital

DENTAL DECORATION: DENTAL PATHOLOGY:

Middle Adult

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

Simple pit,

AZIMUTH: HEAD FACING:

2 70 ° , W 3 60 ° , N

subrectangular AXIS:

Length - 1 .65m Width - 0 .50m Depth - 0 .23m

3 12

E/W

BURIAL

# :

9 3

FEATURE

# :

1 66

PERIOD:

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS

LN

\

‘4

\

SF 1 408 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Inverted over left shoulder

SF 1 409 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety bowl LOCATION: Upright over skull

3 13

BURIAL

# :

FEATURE

93

# :

166

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

. .

• .• .• .

•

• ..• • .• . •• • •

•

.

. •

••

• • .

•

,

...

•

•

•

•

•

• •

.

. •

.

•

. •

•

• .

•• •

• .

... .

•

t o

3

.

-n

• • ,

..• . . •.• • . .

,

•

• •

• • • •

••

.• .'• ;•

•• •

3

2 0 CM Si • . .:

314

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

9 4 N 45.80m

/ E 3 9.20m

#s:

1 447,

1 448,

Q #s:

2423,

2547,

2758

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

PLAN

#s:

81,

PHOTOGRAPH

# :

1 449,

167

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 450

1 395

90,

1 36

#s:

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: Cut f loor ( 1088) lies northeast on Plaza Floor VI

of Structure

307 which

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; perpendicular to burial 93 which also cuts ( 1088); the feet of burial 9 3 cross and lie below the feet of this burial SKELETAL PARTS: Fragmentary postcranial; fragments preserved SEX:

-

AGE:

CRANIAL

SHAPING:

PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA:

BURIAL GRAVE

BUILD:

-

-

-

DISEASE: STATURE

Adult

-

DENTAL DECORATION: DENTAL

only three long bone

ESTIMATE:

POSITION: TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Extended;

Simple:

Simple

Length - 1 .75m; Depth - 0 .27m

AZIMUTH: pit,

Width - 0 .20m to 0 .35m

GRAVE

180 ° , S

HEAD FACING: subrectangular

-

AXIS:

GOODS

SF 1 395 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety LOCATION: Upright on pelvic area 315

"chocolate

pot"

N/S

BURIAL

# :

FEATURE

94

# :

PLAN

2 0 CMS

4 4/39

L ._ .

. 316

167

PERIOD:

Cocos

BURIAL

# :

9 5

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

FEATURE

N 4 8.00m / E 3 7.60m

# s:

1 451,

1 452,

2 444,

2 446,

2523

SMALL FINDS PLAN # s:

# s:

1 454,

# :

1 68

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 532

1 428

8 7

PHOTOGRAPH

# s:

80 c 7/ 4 , 5 80 m 1 0/ 3 4-36

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In fill ( 1279) of rear terrace Structure 3 0 .7 which lies northeast on Plaza Floor VI ASSOCIATED BURIALS: SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

NA;

Single burial,

Fragmentary cranial,

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

interment

postcranial

Middle Adult

and dental BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; dental abscess; calculus; hypoplasia TRAUMA:

primary

of

premortem tooth loss; possible periodontoclasia; linear enamel

-

DISEASE: Bowing and swelling of tibiae indicative of treponemal infections; hand phalanges and the f irst metacarpal show signs of arthritis STATURE ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, f lexed; BODY FACING: 88 ° , NE ankles close together but knees spread HEAD FACING: with body inbetween knees leaning slightly to the left; left arm extended at side; right arm extended toward right knee and reaching into bowl SF 1 428 GRAVE TYPE:

Simple:

DIMENSIONS:

-

No

cut discernable AXIS:

317

-

BURIAL

# :

95

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

168

PERIOD:

C ocos

GOODS

SF 1428 : P uletan Red and Unslipped, Variety Unspecified bowl LOCATION: Upright on r ight knee with r ight hand reaching i nto

i t PLAN

318

BURIAL

1 441,

#s:

Q #s:

2 427

SMALL

FINDS

PLAN

#s:

# :

N 46.00m / E 3 7.50m

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

96

# :

PHOTOGRAPH

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 442

NA

#s:

9 0,

1 69

1 36

#s:

-

In the interface of fill ( 1080) and f ill ( 1279) of the rear terrace of Structure 3 07, abutting f loor ( 1088); Structure 3 07 lies northeast on Plaza Floor VI

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS:

NA;

ASSOCIATED BURIALS: SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

AGE: SHAPING:

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

BURIAL

Birth

- 1 year

BUILD:

-

ESTIMATE:

POSITION:

-

Skull

upright

AZIMUTH: HEAD

GRAVE

-

-

DISEASE: STATURE

burial

-

DENTAL

TRAUMA:

skull

Fragmentary cranial

-

CRANIAL

Secondary

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

FACING:

-

3 60 ° , N

No cut discernable

-

AZIMUTH:

319

-

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

# :

N 48.75m / E 3 2.50m

# s:

1 480,

2 530,

#s:

#s:

96,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 481,

1 482,

1 84

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 483

2536

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

9 7

1 480

97

#s:

80 c 7 / 80 i n 7 /

1 3, 1 3,

1 4 1 4

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In f ill ( 1530) of Structure 3 10 which l ies northwest on Plaza Floor I II, possibly cut from f loor ( 1461) of Structure 3 06 but as there i s no distinct cut and the top of the grave is disturbed by later construction this i s impossible to tell ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; part of a line of burials in f ill ( 1530) extending east from burial 9 9 & 100, 1 01, 9 7 to 9 8; also burials 1 05, 1 07 and 1 17 l ie to the west and south in ( 1530) SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

-

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

5-7

postcranial

years

and dental BUILD:

-

NA

DENTAL DECORATION:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries or lack of enamel formation; severe nonlinear enamel hypoplasia probably occurring at 9-18 months TRAUMA: DISEASE: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, f lexed; arms f lexed with elbows at sides GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

BODY FACING: 1 42 ° , SE HEAD FACING: -

No cut discernable AXIS:

-

3 20

-

BURIAL

# :

9 7

FEATURE

# :

1 84

PERIOD:

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS

SF 1 480 : Sierra Red, Sierra Variety LOCATION: - Inverted over skull

"chocolate pot"

PLAN

1 92

1 84

1 85

2 0 C MS

3 21

BURIAL

# :

97

FEATURE

# :

1 84

PERIOD:

Cocos

. \

2 0 CMS

3 22

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

# s:

1 484,

1 485,

2 568,

2607,

2 825

# s:

# :

N 4 8.45m / E 3 3.00m

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

9 8

#s:

9 8,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 506,

1 07,

#s:

1 486,

1 513,

1 85

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 487

1 514

1 36

8 0 c 7/ 1 5, 1 6, 8 0 m 1 1/ 20-22,

1 9, 2 0; 8 / 1 8-20 2 6 , 2 7; 1 2/ 2 9,

3 0

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In f ill ( 1530) of Structure 310 which l ies northwest on Plaza F loor I II; possibly originally cut from later Structure 3 06 but as there i s no distinct cut and the top of the grave i s disturbed by later construction this i s impossible to tell ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; part of a row of burials in ( 1530) extending east from burial 9 9 & 100, 1 01, 9 7 and 9 8; also burials 1 05, 1 07 and 1 17 lie to the west and south in ( 1530) SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary AGE:

Female

CRANIAL SHAPING:

Young/Middle Adult

STATURE

and dental BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; enamel hypoplasia

DISEASE:

postcranial

NA

DENTAL DECORATION:

TRAUMA:

cranial,

calculus; periodontoclasia;

linear

ESTIMATE:

1 .500m

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, f lexed; BODY FACING: 3 50 ° , N right arm extended around olla HEAD FACING: up SF 1 506 left arm pulling bowl SF 1 514, to chest; head smashed and tilted up with mandible fallen into rib area - possibly postburial; tightness of torso and legs indicates the body may have been tied GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

No

cut determinable

-

AXIS:

3 23

-

BURIAL

# :

9 8

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 85

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

SF 1 506 : Puletan Red and Unslipped, Unspecified Variety o lla LOCATION: Right arm wrapped around o lla

SF 1 513 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bowl LOCATION: Smashed and inverted over head

\ L .

/

SF 1 514 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety bowl LOCATION: Left arms around bowl holding it close to chest

3 24

BURIAL

# :

FEATURE

98

# :

185

PERIOD:

PLAN

•

1 84

25s 6

f • •: I.

z

,

3 25

Cocos

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

N 4 9.50m / E 3 1.95m

# s:

2534,

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

9 9

# s:

1 479,

1 87

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 505

2 655 # s:

1 01,

PHOTOGRAPH

# :

NA

1 14,

# s:

1 36

80 c 7 / 1 6-18 80 m 1 1/ 2 3-25

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In f ill ( 1530) of Structure 3 10 which l ies northwest on P laza Floor I II; posthole ( 1494) cut into the back half of the cranial vault which is now missing; possibly cut from later Structure 306 but as the cut i s indistinct and the top of the grave has been disturbed by later construction this is impossible to tell ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Double burial consisting of burial 9 9 and child burial 1 00, both primary interments; part of a line of burials in ( 1530) extending east f rom burials 9 9 & 1 00, 1 01, 9 7 and 9 8; also Burials 1 05, 1 07 and 1 17 l ie to the south and west in ( 1530) SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary

Male

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

20

cranial,

postcranial

- 2 4

and dental BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION:

-

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; l inear enamel hypoplasia; enameloma on upper third molar; calculus TRAUMA: DISEASE: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Left, f lexed; legs f lexed tightly on left side with feet near pelvis; arms f lexed with elbows away from the shoulder, left hand near left knee GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

No

cut

AZIMUTH: HEAD FACING: body;

right

260 ° , W down

hand

under

discernable AXIS:

-

3 26

-

BURIAL

Q #s:

#s:

2535,

SMALL FINDS PLAN

#s:

# :

N 49.50m / E 3 1.95m

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

1 00

# :

1 479,

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 505

2655 NA

#s:

1 01,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 87

1 14,

#s:

1 36

8 0 c 7/ 1 6 -1 8 8 0 m 1 1/ 2 3-25

CONTEXTS: In f ill ( 1530) of Structure 3 10 which l ies northwest on Plaza Floor I II; possibly cut from later Structure 3 06 but as there is no distinct cut and the top of the burial is disturbed by later construction this is impossible to tell

ASSOCIATED

Double burial consisting of burial 9 9 and child burial 1 00, both primary interments; part of a line of burials in ( 1530) extending east from Burial 9 9 & 1 00, 1 01, 9 7 and 9 8; also Burials 1 05, 1 07 and 1 17 lie to the south and west in ( 1530)

ASSOCIATED BURIALS:

SKELETAL SEX:

PARTS:

Fragmentary cranial

-

AGE:

CRANIAL

SHAPING:

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

BURIAL

BUILD:

-

Linear enamel

hypoplasia

ESTIMATE:

POSITION:

-

Indeterminable; HEAD

GRAVE

-

-

DISEASE: STATURE

2 - 4 years

-

DENTAL

TRAUMA:

and dental

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

No

AZIMUTH: FACING:

-

AXIS:

-

cut discernable

-

3 27

BURIAL

# :

99

& 100

FEATURE

# :

1 87

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

1 92

2 0 CMS

328

BURIAL

# :

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

# :

N 4 8.80m / E 3 1.95m

# s:

2 640,

SMALL FINDS PLAN #s:

FEATURE

1 01

1 500,

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 504

2 670 #s:

1 08,

PHOTOGRAPH

1 503,

1 92

1 536,

1 582

1 19

# s:

80 c 8 / 3 6 80 i n 1 3/ 1 0,

1 1

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In f ill ( 1530) of Structure 310 which l ies northwest on Plaza Floor III; possibly cut from later Structure 3 06 but as there i s no distinct cut and the top of the grave has been disturbed by later construction this i s impossible to tell ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; part of a l ine of burials extending east from burial 9 9 & 1 00, 1 01, 9 7 and 9 8 in ( 1530); abutted to the southwest by burial 1 05; also burials 1 07 and 1 17 lie to the west and south in ( 1530) SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

Male?

CRANIAL sutures shape

AGE:

postcranial

Adult

and dental

BUILD:

Gracile

SHAPING: s light occipital "bunning" but also all are closed internally giving the skull a strange

DENTAL DECORATION:

NA

DENTAL PATHOLOGY: Caries; premortem tooth loss; possible dental abscess; s light lingual wear on upper incisors; periodontoclasia; calculus TRAUMA: A "dent" in the right campillo's cranial erosion DISEASE: Bowing and treponemal infections STATURE

ESTIMATE:

parietal

swelling

of

tibiae

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

could

indicate

indicative

of

-

BURIAL POSITION: Seated, legs crossed; arm at sides bent at elbows with hands in lap; head f acing burial 9 7 GRAVE

lobe

Simple:

No

BODY FACING: 1 24 ° , SE HEAD FACING: 1 24 ° , SE and Burial 9 7

cut discernable

-

AXIS:

3 29

-

BURIAL

# :

1 01

FEATURE GRAVE

# :

1 92

PERIOD:

Cocos

GOODS

X

SF 1 536 : Society Hall Red, LOCATION: Inverted over skull

Society

Hall

Variety

SF 1 582 : Society Hall Red, Society Hall Variety " chocolate pot" LOCATION: Upright in lap with both hands holding " chocolate pot"

3 30

bucket

BURIAL

# :

101

FEATURE

# :

192

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN 1 87

1 92

2 0 CMS

1 84

3 31

BURIAL

# :

1 02

LOCATION: CONTEXT Q # s:

N 46.85m / E 3 1.70m

#s:

1 510,

2603,

#s:

1 511,

# :

1 94

PERIOD:

YEAR EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 512

2606

SMALL FINDS PLAN

FEATURE

#s:

1 515,

1 516,

1 517

110

PHOTOGRAPH

# s:

80 c 8 / 2 9-30 80 m 1 3/ 3

ASSOCIATED CONTEXTS: In f ill ( 1530) of Structure 3 10 which l ies northwest on Plaza Floor I II; possibly cut from later Structure 3 06 but as there i s no distinct cut and the top of the grave i s disturbed by later construction this i s impossible to tell ASSOCIATED BURIALS: Single burial, primary interment; burial 1 07 lies to the southeast, burial 1 17 lies to the northwest and burials 9 7, 9 8, 9 9 & 1 00, 1 01 and 1 05 l ie to the north and northeast all also in ( 1530) SKELETAL PARTS: SEX:

Fragmentary cranial,

-

AGE:

CRANIAL SHAPING:

PATHOLOGY:

TRAUMA: DISEASE: STATURE

2 - 4 years

and dental BUILD:

-

-

DENTAL DECORATION: DENTAL

postcranial

-

ESTIMATE:

-

BURIAL POSITION: Seated or f lexed; BODY FACING: 56 ° , NE head disarticulated to the left side HEAD FACING: 2 36 ° , SW f acing backwards over the shoulder - possibly postburial GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

No

cut discernable

-

AXIS:

3 32

-

BURIAL # :

1 02

FEATURE

# :

1 94

PERIOD:

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS SF 1 515 and 1 516: 2 9 graduated shell disk beads and a small broken greenstone bead ( necklace?) LOCATION: Above skull

SF 1 517 : Ground Spondylus shell with hinge preserved and two holes pierced on one s ide LOCATION: Next to skull with some bone powder under it, right location to be a pubic shield i f this burial was seated PLAN

b eads s he l l 2 3 3 5

z " " . .

2 0 CMS

3 33

BURIAL

N 4 7.00m / E 3 9.10m

LOCATION: CONTEXT

FEATURE

1 03

# :

1 513,

#s:

Q #s:

2 705,

2 725

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

PLAN

1 10,

#s:

1 20,

80 m 1 3/

CONTEXTS:

PARTS:

Fragmentary cranial postcranial and dental

Male

DENTAL

AGE:

SHAPING:

3 08

which

interment;

( too

west

crushed

Young/Middle Adult

BUILD:

to

-

-

DECORATION:

DENTAL

Structure

Single burial, primary which also l ies in ( 1455)

SKELETAL

CRANIAL

of

BURIALS:

1 04

excavate),

1 980

8

In f ill ( 1455) Plaza F loor IV

on

of burial

SEX:

EXCAVATED:

1 56

ASSOCIATED

ASSOCIATED

YEAR

Cocos

NA

#s:

northeast

PERIOD:

1 514

PHOTOGRAPH

l ies

1 95

# :

-

PATHOLOGY:

Caries;

dental

abscess;

calculus;

periodontoclasia TRAUMA: DISEASE: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

POSITION: Supine, f lexed; r ight arm passing between right leg and chest to join left arm on left side of body clasping ankle

BURIAL

GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

No

AZIMUTH: HEAD

FACING:

2 95 ° , NW -

cut discernable

-

AXIS:

3 34

-

BURIAL

# :

103

FEATURE

# :

1 95

PERIOD:

Cocos

PLAN

2 0 CMS1

3 35

BURIAL

1 04

# :

FEATURE

N 4 7.00m / E 3 7.50m

LOCATION:

#s:

1 515,

1 516,

Q # s:

2669,

2 708,

3 011

SMALL

FINDS

#s:

CONTEXT

PLAN

1 17,

#s:

1 18,

PERIOD:

YEAR

EXCAVATED:

Cocos 1 980

1 517

1 56

80 c 8/ 3 2 80 m 1 3/ 6

#s:

ASSOCIATED

CONTEXTS:

northeast

1 96

1 576

PHOTOGRAPH

l ies

# :

In f ill ( 1455) on Plaza Floor IV

of

Structure

3 08

which

Single burial, primary interment; burial east also in ( 1455)

ASSOCIATED BURIALS:

1 03

lies

to

SKELETAL SEX:

the

PARTS:

Fragmentary cranial,

Male

CRANIAL

AGE:

SHAPING:

Young/Middle Adult

Lambdoid

DENTAL

DECORATION:

DENTAL

PATHOLOGY:

postcranial

and dental

BUILD:

Gracile

f lattening

Caries;

premortem

tooth

loss;

calculus;

periodontoclasia TRAUMA: Field notes indicate that l eft humerus was broken at midshaft but the nature of this break was indeterminable in post-excavation analysis DISEASE: STATURE

ESTIMATE:

-

POSITION: Left s ide, f lexed; right arm extended into pelvic area; head lying on left side BURIAL

GRAVE

TYPE:

DIMENSIONS:

Simple:

No

AZIMUTH: HEAD

FACING:

2 45 ° , W N

cut discernable

-

AXIS:

3 36

-

BURIAL

# :

1 04

FEATURE

# :

1 96

PERIOD:

Cocos

GRAVE GOODS

SF 1 576 : Laguna Verde Incised, LOCATION: Inverted over skull

Grooved Incised Variety plate

PLAN

Z3

05

1 96

\ : 7 3 07

e I 1 4

I

OS