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The Body Context: Interpreting Early Nasca Decapitated Burials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Lisa DeLeonardis
Lisa DeLeonardis*
Affiliation:
Research Associate, Department of Anthropology, Catholic University, Washington, D.C 20064
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Abstract

One of the most enigmatic aspects of decapitation practices among south coastal Peruvian Paracas and Nasca cultures (900 B.C.-A.D. 750) is the near absence of headless bodies in the archaeological record. Drawing on a case study of an Early Nasca, Phase 3 headless burial at Site PV62D13 in the lower Ica Valley, together with examples of headless interments reported in the literature, I examine the nature and disposition of headless burials. Three burial patterns, or forms, are proposed. The burial at PV62D13 is distinguished for its extended posture and interment in a non-cemetery setting and is proposed to be a dedicatory burial. Burial forms for disembodied heads are also examined, and over time, a notable increase in cached heads, buried without grave offerings is observed. Painted ceramic images of Nasca trophy heads and headless bodies are reviewed diachronically and a marked increase in decapitation scenes is noted for Late Nasca. Attention is drawn to the limited number of headless body images overall, and possible solutions to reconcile the visual imagery with the archaeological data are offered.

Resumen

Resumen

Uno de los aspectos más enigmáticos en las prácticas de decapitación humana entre las culturas Paracas y Nasca (900 a.C.-750 d.C.) de la costa sur Peruana, es la casi ausencia de enterramientos de cuerpos sin cabezas. Mientras las cabezas se las encuentran decapitadas o como cabezas “trofeo” y sus equivalentes iconográficos por todas partes, la escasez de cuerpos sin cabezas, y en efecto, la casi ausencia de imágenes visuales respectivas durante Nasca temprano son notables. Aquí examino la índole y método de enterrar los cuerpos decapitados haciendo uso de un caso de enterramiento Nasca temprano, Fase 3 de un cuerpo sin cabeza excavado a Sitio PV62D13 en el valle bajo de Ica, junto con ejemplos de otros enterramientos sin cabezas que se encuentran en la literatura. Se proponen tres patrones o formas de enterramientos. El entierro en el Sitio PV62D13, sugiere ser un enterramiento tipo ofrenda, que se distingue por su postura extendida y su ubicación que no corresponde a aquellos de un cemeterio. Dos fechas radiocarbónicas ubican el enterramiento en un rango de restos culturales de Nasca 3. Aquí se discuten las discrepancias entre estas dos fechas. También, se establecen y comparan las formas de enterramientos de cabezas trofeo a través del tiempo, encontrándose que existe un incremento notable en entierros de cabezas agrupadas sin ofrendas. Se examinan diacrónicamente la cerámica decorada con cabezas trofeo y con cuerpos decapitados, notándose un aumento en la presencia de escenas de decapitación en Nasca tardío. Llama la atención el número restringido de imágenes que muestran cuerpos decapitados y propongo posibles soluciones a fin de conciliar las imágenes visuales con los datos arqueológicos. Finalmente, se concluye que el análisis de enterramientos sin cabezas es un método valioso para aclarar el estudio de los sacrificios humanos y específicamente, la práctica de decapitación.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , December 2000 , pp. 363 - 386
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2000

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