Abstract

KOZAMEH, Livia; TAPIA, Alicia; LOPEZ, Manuel  and  TESTA, Nora. Fragmented human skeletal remains of Baradero indigenous cemetery: Scope and limitations of the bioarchaeological study. Comechingonia [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.1, pp.131-154. ISSN 1851-0027.

We analyze a collection of fragmentary human skeletal remains from "Cementerio Indígena" site, located in Baradero, Buenos Aires province. According to the materials characteristics that were found associated with burials, they was attributed to the first half of the seventeenth century and this estimation has been corroborated by two radiocarbon dates. The archaeological records has been associated with the "Santiago del Baradero" Franciscan mission, founded in 1615 by Hernandarias. Among the objectives pursued with this study we emphasize: the revalorization of bioarchaeological information which can provide the fragmentary bone remains with similar characteristics to those of an ossuary, and the relevance of this record, since it is only of its kind and may provide insights into the impact of colonial evangelization enterprise into the area. Although the bioarchaeological study is constrained by a lack of integrity of the cranial and postcranial skeletal pieces, we rescued information about the minimum number of individuals, age, sex, the possible pathologies indicators and the more frequent activities. Also, pondering a minimum of 19 individuals we assess indicators of nutritional stress and diet by dental analysis. We discuss its relationship with the sociocultural context and the possible changes brought about the interethnic conflict.

Keywords : Ossuary; Indigenous reduction; Bioarchaeology; Historical Archaeology.

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