Pikillacta: The Wari Empire in Cuzco

8 Human Skeletal Remains from Pikillacta

8 Human฀Skeletal฀Remains฀ from฀Pikillacta john฀w.฀verano Human skeletal remains recovered from excavations at Pikillacta include four complete or partial skeletons and a cache of ten crania, as well as isolated skeletal elements recovered from various excavation units. The crania from the cache pit, excavated during the 1982 field season, have been described previously by Thomas and Brian Bauer (Bauer and Bauer 1987). During visits to Cuzco in 1989 and 1992, I was able to study four skeletons found during subsequent field seasons and examine three of the crania from the cache. Tombs in the Southwest Perimeter Wall Wall Tomb 1 Tomb 1 contained the skeletons of an adult male (Skeleton 1) and adult female (Skeleton 2). Skeleton 1 is an adult male, mostly complete except for some hand and foot bones. Age at death was estimated at 35 to 45 years based on the morphology of the pubic symphysis, sternal end of the fourth rib, dental attrition, cranial suture closure, and degenerative changes on the joints and vertebral bodies. Sex was determined on the basis of pelvic and cranial morphology. Maximum length of the left femur (405 millimeters) yielded an estimated living stature of approximately 158 centimeters, or 5 feet 2 inches, using Genovés’s (1967) stature formulae. Skeletal pathologies include degenerative changes on the left acromioclavicular joint (porosities and joint surface breakdown) and slight marginal lipping on the proximal ulnae and glenoid fossae of the scapulae. The third and fourth lumbar vertebral bodies have pronounced osteophytes; other vertebrae do not show degenerative changes. A large semicircular depression is present on the left maxilla below the orbital margin (fig. 8.1). It appears to be a well-healed depressed fracture from a blow to the face. The 126 | verano 8.1. Cranium of Tomb 1, Skeleton 1. A semicircular depression (arrow) is present on the body of the left maxilla. cranium shows artificial cranial deformation in the form of angular flattening of the frontal and occipital squama (fig. 8.2). Dental attrition is moderate, limited to patches of dentine exposure on the occlusal surfaces of the first molars and cusp-blunting of the second molars. The upper third molars appear to have been congenitally absent. Three teeth were lost antemortem and carious lesions are present on the distal interproximal surfaces of both lower second molars. There is pronounced alveolar resorption around the roots of the left first and second lower molars, suggesting periodontal disease. Skeleton 2 is complete, although some vertebrae are poorly preserved and long bones were not complete enough to be used to calculate living stature. Age at death is estimated at approximately 35 to 50 years, based on morphology of the pubic symphysis and degenerative changes in the postcranial skeleton. Sex was determined by the presence of a well-defined preauricular sulcus and a wide greater sciatic notch. Degenerative changes are present on the proximal and distal ends of the left radius, on the proximal end of the left ulna and capitulum of the left humerus. Lipping is present on the bodies of the tenth and twelfth thoracic and fifth lumbar vertebrae. The fifth lumbar vertebra also shows pronounced degenerative changes on the superior and inferior surfaces of the body. Dental pathology is limited to two carious lesions—an occlusal carie on the left upper second molar and a large cervical carie on the lower left third molar. Tooth wear is slightly more pronounced than in Skeleton 1, with more dentine exposure on the occlusal surfaces of the molar teeth. The cranium shows frontal flattening similar to that seen in Skeleton 1. The mandibular body of Skeleton 2 appears unusually thick and mas- Human Skeletal Remains from Pikillacta | 127 8.2. Left lateral view of the cranium of Tomb 1, Skeleton 1. sive, but is otherwise normal in appearance. No other pathological conditions or anomalies were noted. Wall Tomb 2 Tomb 2 contained the complete skeleton of a female , estimated between 17 and 20 years of age based on degree of epiphyseal closure. The following epiphyses showed incomplete union: the iliac crests and ischial tuberosities, distal femora , proximal tibiae and fibulae, the acromion processes of the scapulae, proximal humeri, and distal radii and ulnae. The basilar suture (sphenooccipital synchondrosis) is fully united, and the third molars had erupted and were in occlusion . Maximum length of the left femur (398 millimeters) yielded a living stature estimate of approximately 153 centimeters...