Date of Award
2006
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Program
Anthropology
Supervisor
Dr. Christine White
Second Advisor
Dr. Fred Longstaffe
Abstract
Oxygen-isotope analysis of bone and enamel phosphate was used to test the hypothesis that geographic foreigners were present in two populations of dietarily distinct, suspected sacrificial victims from the ancient Maya sites, Altun Ha, Belize and Iximché,Guatemala. Geographicandclimaticvariablesresultedinalowerlocaloxygen value at Iximché (15.7± 0.4‰) than at Altun Ha (18.9± 0.8‰). Most of the individuals from Altun Ha had local oxygen values but some foreigners were also identified. In contrast, the majority of individuals from Iximché had foreign oxygen values but local individuals were also present. At both sites, more than one geographic origin was represented. In addition, carbon-isotope analyses suggested that individuals from Iximché were more heavily reliant on C4 foods (e.g. maize) than those from Altun Ha.
No trauma was evident in the remains to suggest that the dedicatory burials at Altun Ha were victims of sacrifice. However, the burials from different structures seem to have had different social contexts. No temporal, age or sex trends in oxygen values were observed, and no singular origin or pattern of migration was associated with particular structures. Individuals at some structures may have had access to isotopically distinct water and instances of high oxygen values may indicate consumption of evaporating water sources at the site. At Iximché, skeletal trauma strongly indicated that individualsweresacrificedbydecapitation. Thelargestvarietyofoxygenvalues occurred among adult males, whereas all of the adult females were identified as locals. The oxygen-isotope data, burial context and ethnohistoric evidence all suggest that human sacrifice was used as a political tool at Iximché to maintain control over
Surroimding communities.
Recommended Citation
Olsen, Karyn C., "DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE: AN OXYGEN-ISOTOPE STUDY OF HUMAN REMAINS FROM ALTUN HA, BELIZE AND IXIMCHÉ, GUATEMALA" (2006). Digitized Theses. 4988.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4988