Abstract

GORDON, Florencia. Human Taphonomy And Traumatic Injuries From Museum Collections: An Evaluation Of Skulls From Northeastern Patagonian. Intersecciones antropol. [online]. 2009, vol.10, n.1, pp.27-41. ISSN 1850-373X.

In this paper, collections of Late Holocene skulls from two zones of northeastern Patagonia, the lower valleys of the Negro (n= 208) and Chubut (n= 192) rivers are compared. Frequencies of taphonomic variables and marks of possible situations of interpersonal violence were recorded and compared. It is expected that the sample showing higher frequencies of post-depositional variables also presents lower violence marks because the former could obliterate the later. Results indicate that the sample from the lower valley of the Negro river presents higher frequencies of both taphonomic and violence variables. Interpretation of a higher ratio of events of violence in the Negro river valley does not seem to be affected by the differential presence of taphonomic factors. On the contrary, this could be an underestimation produced by the more intensive destruction that this sample shows. What is more, this paper shows the importance that museum collections have, and the relevance of the application of taphonomic criteria when studying them.

Keywords : Human taphonomy; Interpersonal violence; Northeastern Patagonia; Museum's collections.

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