An osteological study of Nasca trophy heads collected by A.L. Kroeber during the Marshall Field Expeditions to Peru

144 Pages·2001·8.1 MB·English

by  Williams, Sloan R

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FIELDIANA
Anthropology
NEW SERIES, NO. 33
An Osteological Study of Nasca Trophy Heads
Collected by A. L. Kroeber During the Marshall
Field Expeditions to Peru
Sloan R. Williams
Kathleen Forgey
Elizabeth Klarich
November 30, 2001
Publication 1516
PUBLISHED BY FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
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Croat,T. B. 1978. FloraofBarroColorado Island. StanfordUniversity Press, Stanford, Calif., 943 pp.
Grubb, P. J., J. R. Lloyd, and T. D. Penmington. 1963. A comparison ofmontane and lowland rain forest in
Ecuador. I.The foreststructure,physiognomy, and floristics. Journal ofEcology, 51: 567-601.
Lanodon, E. J. M. 1979. Yage among the Siona: Cultural patterns in visions, pp. 63-80. In Browman, D. L.,
and R.A. Schwarz, eds.. Spirits, Shamans,and Stars. MoutonPublishers,TheHague,Netherlands.
MuRRA, J. 1946. The historic tribes of Ecuador, pp. 785-821. In Steward, J. H., ed., Handbook of South
American Indians. Vol. 2, The Andean Civilizations. Bulletin 143, Bureau of American Ethnology,
Smithsonian Institution,Washington, D.C.
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FIELDIANA
Anthropology
NEW
SERIES, NO. 33
An Osteological Study of Nasca Trophy Heads
Collected by A. L. Kroeber During the
Marshall Field Expeditions to Peru
Sloan R. Williams*^
Kathleen Forgey*
Elizabeth Klarich*
*DepartmentofAnthropology
University ofIllinois at Chicago
1007 West Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607-7139 U.S.A.
*Adjunct Curator
DepartmentofAnthropology
Field Museum ofNatural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496 U.S.A.
^DepartmentofAnthropology
University ofCalifornia, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3210 U.S.A.
Accepted January 14, 2000
Published November 30, 2001
Publication 1516
PUBLISHED BY FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
© 2001 Field Museum of Natural History
ISSN 0071-4739
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The authors and the publishers gratefully acknowledge the
following for permission to reproduce material: the Univer-
sity of Iowa Press, for Maps 1 and 2, which appeared in
Cahuachi in the Ancient Nasca World, by Helaine Silverman,
and AltaMira Press, for Maps 3 through 10 and the chro-
nology in Chart 1, first published in TheArchaeologyandPot-
tery ofNazca, Peru: Alfred L. Kroeber's 1926 Expedition, edited
by Patrick H. Carmichael. Kroeber's original maps are
housed in the archives of the Anthropology Department,
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.

Table of Contents 2. Superior view of specimen 1 30
3. Specimen 1 mandible 31
4. Frontal view of specimen 2 32
Overview 1 5. Lateral view of specimen 2 33
Nasca Trophy Heads 1 6. Posterior view of specimen 2 34
Archaeological Background 2 7. Frontal view of specimen 3 35
The Kroeber Expeditions 4 8. Lateral view of specimen 3 36
Previous Studies 5 9. Superior view of specimen 3 37
The Kroeber Collection 7 10. Inferior view of specimen 3 38
Methods 7 11. Frontal view of specimen 4 39
The Material 10 12. Lateral view of specimen 4 40
Aja 10 13. Superior view of specimen 4 41
Cahuachi 12 14. Inferior view of specimen 4 42
Cantayo 20 15. Overview of specimen 5 43
Las Canas 23 16. Frontal view of specimen 5 44
Majoro Chico 24 17. Lateral view of specimen 5 45
Paredones 27 18. Posterior view of specimen 5 46
Results 93 19. Frontal view of specimen 6 47
Discussion 105 20. Lateral view of specimen 6 48
Acknowledgments 114 21. Posterior view of specimen 6 49
Literature Cited 114 22. Frontal view of specimen 7 50
Appendix: List of Artifacts Found 23. Lateral view of specimen 7 51
With Trophy Heads 117 24. Posterior view of specimen 7 52
25. Frontal view of specimen 8 53
26. Lateral view of specimen 8 54
27. Superior view of specimen 8 55
Maps 28. Frontal view of specimen 9 56
29. Lateral view of specimen 9 57
30. Superior view of specimen 9 58
1. South coast of Peru 3 31. Inferior view of specimen 9 59
2. Sites where trophy heads were found .. 5 32. Frontal view of specimen 10 60
3. Aja 11 33. Lateral view of specimen 10 61
4. Cahuachi: orientation of subsites 12 34. Superior view of specimen 10 62
5. Kroeber's Cahuachi locations 13 35. Inferior view of specimen 10 63
67.. MUpopuenrdCAantaatyCoa,huAarcehaiA 2113 3367.. FLartoenrtaall vviieeww ooffssppeecciimmeenn 1111 6654
8. Cax, at Cantayo 22 38. Superior view of specimen 11 66
9. Majoro Chico 24 39. Inferior view of specimen 11 67
10. Area A at Majoro Chico 25 40. Frontal view of specimen 12 68
41. Lateral view of specimen 12 69
42. Superior view of specimen 12 70
43. Inferior view of specimen 12 71
Charts
44. Frontal view of specimen 13 72
45. Lateral view of specimen 13 73
Chronology of the Nazca Valley 4 46. Superior view of specimen 13 74
rSaitzieondsistribution of frontal bone perfo- 99 4478.. PForsotnetrailorviveiwewofofspsepceicmiemnen1413 7756
49. Lateral view of specimen 14 77
50. Superior view of specimen 14 78
51. Inferior view of specimen 14 79
Specimens and Grave Artifacts 52. Frontal view of specimen 15 80
53. Lateral view of specimen 15 81
54. Superior view of specimen 15 82
1. Frontal view of specimen 1 29 55. Inferior view of specimen 15 83
56. Frontal view of specimen 16 84 mens 17 and 18, Paredones: jar frag-
57. Lateral view of specimen 16 85 ments 123
58. Superior view of specimen 16 86 76. Grave artifact associated with speci-
59. Inferior view of specimen 16 87 mens 17 and 18, Paredones: plate frag-
ments 24
60. Frontal view of specimen 17 88 1
6621.. LSautpeerrailorviveiwewofofspsepceicmiemnen1717 9809 77. Gmplreeantvesef1la7arrtiainfngadctb1oa8ws,lsoPcairaetdeodnewsi:thinscpeocmi-- 125
63. Posterior view of specimen 17 91 78. Grave artifact associated with speci-
64. Superior view of vault fragment of mens 17 and 18, Paredones: plate 126
specimen 18 92 79. Grave artifact associated with speci-
65. Cut marks along squamosal suture on mens 17 and 18, Paredones: plate 127
specimen 2 106 80. Cloth fragments and sherds associated
66. Horizontal cut marks on right orbital with specimen 15, Grave 6, Majoro
process of frontal bone of specimen 9 ... 107 Chico 128
67. Cut marks on orbital process of right 81. Grave artifacts associated with speci-
frontal bone of specimen 17 108 men 13, Grave 17, Cantayo Cax 129
68. Cut marks on nasal bones and maxilla 82. Tapestry wool cloth, Epigonal type, as-
of specimen 17 109 sociated with specimens 3-8, Mound
69. Vertical cut marks on frontal bone of A, Cahuachi 130
specimen 17 110 83. Grave artifact from Cahuachi: cloth .... 131
84. Grave textiles from Cahuachi 132
70. Cut marks on mandible of specimen 17
Ill
71. Grave artifact associated with speci-
mens 17 and 18, Paredones: "Proto- Tables
Nazca" bowl 119
72. Grave artifact associated with speci-
mens 17 and 18, Paredones: sheet cop- 1. Inventory of specimens 94
per around wood 120 23.. ASguemmaanrdyseoxf tdirsotprhiybuhteioandbiynfsoirtmeation .. 9976
73. Grave artifact associated with speci- 4. Summary of frontal bone perforation
mens 17 and 18, Paredones: Epigonal and cranial base breakage areas 98
jar 121 5. Evidence of trophy head preparation ... 100
74. Grave artifact associated with speci- 6. Cut mark characteristics and distribu-
mens 17 and 18, Paredones: Epigonal tion 101
jar 122 7. Distribution of trophy heads in archae-
75. Grave artifact associated with speci- ological contexts 104
VI
An Osteological Study of Nasca Trophy Heads
Collected by A. L. Kroeber During the Marshall Field
Expeditions to Peru
Sloan R. Williams, Kathleen Forgey, and Elizabeth Klarich
Overview prolonged use is seen in the wear around the per-
foration caused by the rubbing of the suspensory
Trophy head iconography is common throughout cord and in bone polishing where the mandibles
western South America, especially along the Pe- were reattached to the crania.
ruvian coast and in the highlands around Lake Ti- Considerable variation in the size and place-
ticaca. In contrast, actual trophy head finds are ment of the frontal perforation is noted in this
largely confined to Peru's south coast, and more collection. The amount of posterior cranium re-
specifically to the river valleys populated by the moved ranges from a slight expansion of the fo-
Paracas and Nasca cultures. The trophy heads ramen magnum to the complete removal of the
found in this area are characterized by a frontal occipital bone and posterior portions of the pari-
bone perforation and the removal ofsome portion etal and temporal bones. This variation in prepa-
of the posterior cranium. ration represents distinct preparation styles. Un-
A. L. Kroeber recovered 18 trophy heads from fortunately, the small sample size prohibits iden-
the Nazca Valley during the Marshall Field Ex- tification of temporal or spatial trends that might
peditions he led in 1925 and 1926. This collection account for this variation.
is particularly important because the heads were The analysis ofthis collection provides new in-
recovered from well-documented archaeological formation concerning the preparation and treat-
excavations. The heads were recovered from both ment of trophy heads and contributes to the on-
Early Intermediate Period (a.d. 1-800) and Late going debate over their function in Nasca society.
Intermediate Period (a.d. 1000-1476) contexts The considerable diversity in methods and the
and were found in three settings: as grave goods care with which they were prepared indicates that
in tombs, in caches, and in pits inside structures. trophy heads played a complex and important role
An osteological analysis of these trophy heads in the social and ritual practices ofthe Nasca peo-
forms the basis for this study. All ofthe heads are ple.
now skeletalized, although many retain traces of
soft tissue and hair. Fourteen of the heads belong
to adults, two are subadults, and two are children.
Eight of the adult trophy heads are young males, Nasca Trophy Heads
two are females, and the sex of the remaining
specimens cannot be determined. Very little dis- Trophy heads held a special fascination forhuman
ease is observed. A healed cranial fracture is ob- societies of the past, and continue to do so in the
served in one specimen, and only one cranial frac- present. Trophy heads are human skulls that have
ture exhibits characteristics typical ofperimortem been removed from the rest ofthe body at orafter
trauma. death.' Tello (1918) identified two general types
Many ofthe trophy heads show signs ofexten-
sive preparation, including multiple cut marks at ' Because the source and purpose of these heads is
muscle attachment sites, gauze pads placed in the hotly debated, Coelho (1972) argued thatthey shouldbe
osrubbistts,anctehes anpapslailedcatvoittihees,cutorbobnoeth,maragnidnsr.esAinwoiugs mpithohyra"esabhpeepacrdoospmreioarctoeslkmyumltlosenr(mpPerrdaocut"lirxcietu1ta9ol8"r9e;hfeeVaredtsro.atnNhooenme1t9a9hs5e)l",etsrsso,o-
remains attached to one specimen. Evidence of they will be designated as such here.
FIELDIANA: ANTHROPOLOGY, N.S., NO. 33, NOVEMBER 30, 2001, PP. 1-132
of trophy heads: (1) those in which the skull is Archaeological Background
removed in order to "shrink" the remaining soft
tissues, such as those made by the Jivaro tribe of The Nazca Valley is located inland from the San
the Amazon jungle, and (2) those in which the Nicolas Bay on the dry southern coast of Peru
skull is conserved along with the soft tissues, such (Map 1). It is one of ten tributaries forming the
as those found among the Munduruchu of Brazil. Rio Grande de Nazca drainage. These numerous
The Paracas and Nasca- trophy heads fall into the rivers have highly variable and scarce water sup-
lattercategory. They are defined by characteristics plies. They are separated from one anotherby nar-
that include a perforation of the frontal bone and row mountain spurs and desert expanses. The riv-
removal of some portion of the base of the skull er valleys are generally widest where they emerge
(Baraybar 1987; Coelho 1972; Drusini and Bar- from the mountains, but soon narrow to 500 me-
aybar 1990; Seeman 1988; Verano 1995). The ters or less.
frontal perforation allowed a suspensory cord to Uhle (1914) discovered the first evidence ofthe
be attached to the skull. It is generally believed Nasca culture in 1901 in the lea Valley and in the
that the foramen magnum was widened to facili- Nazca drainage a short time later. Based on ce-
tate the removal ofthe brain and othersofttissues. ramic stylistic similarities, he considered this cul-
Browne and colleagues (1993:275) described ture to be a continuation of the Paracas tradition
the following soft tissue characteristics of Nasca but sufficiently unique to warrant its own style.
trophy heads: the lips or eyelids (or both) of the Its pottery was characterized by prefire slip paint-
individual may or may not be sealed with cactus ing depicting complex iconographic themes.
spines {Acacia macracantha); the eye sockets In the decades following Uhle's discovery, sev-
may be stuffed with plain-weave cotton cloth; and eral researchers in addition to Kroeberexploredthe
the skin (when preserved) may be cut under the region. Tello first visited the region in 1915 (Tello
jaw, lifted, and stuffed with plain-weave cotton. 1917). He alsojoined Kroeber during his 1926 ex-
Although soft tissue is limited in the collection pedition and then returned the following year to
described here, evidence of similar preparation is excavate 537 tombs in the Nazca drainage (Tello
present. Gauze pads are found in the orbits and and Mejia Xesspe 1967). Farabee (1922; Mason
nasal cavities of several specimens, and a rudi- 1926) explored some 30 miles along the Rio Nazca
mentary "wig" (consisting of a cotton head cov- but focused the majority ofhis effortsonCahuachi.
ering to which human hair is attached) adheres to In 1932, the Doering expedition excavated a num-
one specimen. ber of burials at Cahuachi and Huayuri, located
areAlptrhimoaurgihlytrsokpehlyeta"lsikzueldlsa"ndretfreropthoyre"mhaeiandss"thatto aloAnglutlhlefRoilolowSeadn,tabuCtrutzhe(Daoreearibnegc1a9m5e8)t.he focus
specimens found with preserved soft tissues, the of research again in the 1950s. Strong surveyed
distinction becomes blurred in the archaeological parts ofthe lea and Nazca Valleys and conducted
record, where preservation often determines the stratigraphic excavations at several sites, includ-
category into which a specimen is placed. The RinogweC,ahMueanczheil,(SWtarlolnagce,195a7n)d. DIanwtshoenmciodn-d1u9c5t0esd,
specimens in this collection will be termed "tro-
phy heads" because, although the remains are extensive investigations on the south coast of
now primarily skeletal, soft tissues remain on the Peru, focusing primarily on the lea Valley (Rowe
et al. 1956).
majority of heads, indicating that disintegration, Dawson's widely accepted sedation of Nasca
not intentional removal, is responsible for their ceramic style, published in a series of articles by
pprheys,entwhicocnhditdieopni.ctsParoanclays atrnodphNyashceaadisc,onnoegvrea-r Rstoylwiestic(1p9h5a9s,es19o6r0.epo1c9h6s1),(Chdaerftine1s). eTihgehtleNnagstchas
skulls, provides further indirect evidence for their ofthese epochs vary and have not been absolutely
original state (Verano 1995). dated, but each probably spans 40-150 years, de-
pending on the specific epoch in question (Car-
michael 1988:20). Absolute dates have been col-
199-3Tah:iisx)toefxtusiwinlglthfeollioxwMlitnhge"Ncaosnvcean"titoondes(iSginlavteermtahne lected for the Nasca sequence, but upper and low-
archaeological culture jnd •Na/xa" for the modern er boundaries have proved difficult to establish
town and valley. with certainty (see Silverman 1993a:Ch. 3). Most
FIELDIANA: ANTHROPOLOGY