Deposition of modified human remains as evidence for complex mortuary treatment in East Africa during the first millenniumAD

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4686386
AutoresRebecca Watts (0000-0001-8394-5170, Institute of Archaeology University College London WC1H 0PY London UK, autor correspondente), Maurice Mugabowagahunde (Institute of National Museums of Rwanda 2, Huye SH 1 RD Rwanda), André Ntagwabira (Institute of National Museums of Rwanda 2, Huye SH 1 RD Rwanda), John Giblin (0000-0001-6016-5753, Institute of Archaeology University College London WC1H 0PY London UK)
Ano2020
Volume30
Fascículo6
Páginas824-834
Data de publicação2020-11-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.2912
OpenAlexW3044481703
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas38

In 2019 partial, disarticulated human remains with evidence of perimortem fractures and tool marks were excavated from the site of Kabusanza in southern Rwanda (first millenniumAD). The nature and location of these modifications demonstrate that some elements were subject to intentional dismemberment and defleshing, whereas the arrangement of the remains in the burial feature indicates that natural skeletonization had also occurred before final deposition. Human remains with similar patterns of modification and deposition have previously been recovered from the same site, and here we consider the potential behaviours that may have produced this suite of evidence. By comparing the remains with assemblages that have been produced through violence and through ritual activity, we demonstrate that the evidence from Kabusanza is more consistent with complex, multistage mortuary practices than other forms of processing. This may have involved some initial reduction of the body, followed by the retention or circulation of the disarticulated remains before their eventual deposition

Archaeology · Geography · Waterfall · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Geology · Paleontology