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01-12-2012 | Case report

A case study of a high-status human skeleton from Pacopampa in Formative Period Peru

Authors: Tomohito Nagaoka, Yuji Seki, Wataru Morita, Kazuhiro Uzawa, Diana Alemán Paredes, Daniel Morales Chocano

Published in: Anatomical Science International | Issue 4/2012

Abstract

The Pacopampa site is located in the northern highlands of Peru and is an archaeological site belonging to the Formative Period (2500–1 BC). The excavation of the Pacopampa site yielded unusual human skeletons from the main platform of a ceremonial center of the site during the 2009 field season. The skeletal remains were associated with a pair of gold earplugs, a pair of gold earrings, and shell objects. This specimen is possibly a female aged 20–39 years. Detailed examination of the neurocranium revealed the presence of artificial cranial deformation with decreased cranial length, increased cranial breadth, and lateral bulging of the parietal bones. The estimated stature of this individual was 162 cm, which is about 15 cm higher than that of contemporary females of Pacopampa and about 20–25 cm higher than that of other Formative Period sites in northern Peru. The peculiarity of this individual, detected not only in the cultural artifacts but also in the physical features, is possible evidence for social stratification in the Formative Period.

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Title: A case study of a high-status human skeleton from Pacopampa in Formative Period Peru
Authors: Tomohito Nagaoka
Yuji Seki
Wataru Morita
Kazuhiro Uzawa
Diana Alemán Paredes
Daniel Morales Chocano
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Anatomical Science International / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 1447-6959
Electronic ISSN: 1447-073X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-011-0120-z

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A case study of a high-status human skeleton from Pacopampa in Formative Period Peru

Abstract

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