Building without Context. Analysis of Pre-Hispanic Bone Elements from the Maltrata Valley

Abstract

In Mexico, it is common to find human bone elements as part of accidental discoveries, in construction work, due to looting, among others. Such mixed contexts are an important source of information despite lacking in situ archaeological records. The human skeleton -per se- is an invaluable biocultural heritage. In this work, we revalue human bones without archaeological context to account for population dynamics in the Maltrata Valley during early periods for Mesoamerica. Based on the osteological, paleopathological, taphonomic, and archaeometric study, we account for the living conditions and health of what could have been a small village at the Preclassic site of Rincón de Aquila.

Keywords: Central Veracruz; Preclassic; Rincón de Aquila: commingled contexts.