Browsing by Author "Bettcher, Katrina J."

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Decapitación y cabezas humanas del valle de Acarí, Perú
    (2010) Valdez, Lidio M.; Williams, Jocelyn S.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Dausse, Lucie; Dausse, Lucie
    Archaeological excavations at Amato, a site established at the beginning of the Early Intermediate period (circa 50 BC – 300 AD) in the Acari Valley of the Peruvian south coast, uncovered two isolated human heads from different contexts. One head was found near an area where dozens intentionally decapitated skeletons were recovered. The second head was located in association with the main wall that encloses the site. Both heads were buried in similar fashion to Early Intermediate period south coast trophy heads; however, these heads from Amato were not culturally modified (e.g. perforated frontal bone and/or artificially enlarged foramen magnum). These two isolated heads demonstrate that not all human decapitation in the Acari Valley was for the purposes of securing trophy heads. Based on these findings, we suggest that the purpose and motivation for human decapitation and head-taking in the past was complex.
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    Marayniyoq, un establecimiento wari en el valle de Ayacucho, Perú
    (2000) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Vivanco, Cirilo
    In this paper we discuss the initial results of archaeological excavation carried out at Marayniyoq, a specialized Wari facility in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru. The discovery of a series of flat worked stones used for grinding, along with rocker grinders strongly suggests that the role of Marayniyoq was focused on grain processing, probably grinding corn. Because the grinding stones are immense cut blocks it is also apparent that enormous human energy was invested in the preparation, transportation and final setup of the facility. At the same time, the presence of large ceramic vessels and other evidence suggests that the function of Marayniyoq was the grinding of malted corn (qora) for corn-beer production.
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    Mortuary preferences and selected references: a comment on Middle Horizon Wari burials
    (2006) Valdez, J. Ernesto; Ochatoma, José A.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Valdez, Lidio M.
    In a recently published paper, Isbell (2004; see also Isbell 2000; Isbell and Cook 2002) reports the finding of several Wari mortuary structures from the site of Conchopata. On the basis of this information and additional data from the main Wari site also in the Ayacucho Valley, Isbell has developed a Wari mortuary typology varying from very simple graves to an elaborate chamber complex that is argued to be the tomb of ‘an emperor’. Isbell argues that this mortuary variability mirrors status difference and social inequality. At the same time, Isbell asserts that some high-ranking Wari individuals practiced polygyny. While the paper under consideration provides important data for understanding Wari society, Isbell unfortunately has ignored other equally relevant information. Indeed, published reports of other Wari mortuary structures excavated during the last six years in the Ayacucho Valley are not included in the discussion. Consequently, Isbell's analysis is incomplete and misleading. To amend this situation, our aim is to present the information that we and other colleagues have accumulated in the Ayacucho Valley. All available data considered, Wari mortuary variability is even greater than the simple hierarchical typology promoted by Isbell.
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    New Wari mortuary structures in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru
    (2002) Valdez, Lidio M.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Recent archaeological salvage excavations in the Ayacucho Valley of the Peruvian Central Highlands resulted in the discovery of two totally new mortuary structure forms for the region andfor the Wari culture in particular. Thefirstform consists of two rectangular mortuary chambers, each with a small east-facing entrance and holding the interred remains of several individuals. The second form consists of several cylindrical cists, each containing the remains of a single individual. We describe both mortuaryf orms and compare them to other known Warim ortuary structures of the region. Since both chambers evidently were accessible, we also discuss their possible implications with regard to ancestor worship, keeping in mind that an important aspect of Inka ayllu organization was the veneration of ancestors' mummified bodies kept in accessible mortuary buildings
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    Posoqoypata, un cementerio Wari en el valle de Ayacucho, Perú
    (2001) Valdez, Lidio M.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Recently we carried out an archaeological salvage excavation at a Wari cemetery in the Ayacucho Valley of central Peru. This intervention resulted in the discovery of two totally new mortuary structure forms for the region and the Wari culture in particular. The first form is a rectangular mortuary chamber, with a small east-facing entrance, where the remains of several individuals were found. The second form is a cylindrical cist built to contain the remains of one individual. In this essay we describe both mortuary forms and compare them to other known Wari mortuary structures of the region. Considering that the first form was evidently accessible, we also discuss the possible implications of this chamber with regards to ancestor worship, keeping in mind that an important aspect of ayllu organization during Inka times was the veneration of the ancestors’ mummified bodies that were kept in accessible mortuary buildings.
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    Posoqoypata, un cementerio Wari en el valle de Ayacucho, Perú
    (2001) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto; Bettcher, Katrina J.
    Recently we carried out an archaeological salvage excavation at a Wari cemetery in the Ayacucho Valley of central Peru. This intervention resulted in the discovery of two totally new mortuary structure forms for the region and the Wari culture in particular. The first form is a rectangular mortuary chamber, with a small east-facing entrance, where the remains of several individuals were found. The second form is a cylindrical cist built to contain the remains of one individual. In this essay we describe both mortuary forms and compare them to other known Wari mortuary structures of the region. Considering that the first form was evidently accessible, we also discuss the possible implications of this chamber with regards to ancestor worship, keeping in mind that an important aspect of ayllu organization during Inka times was the veneration of the ancestors’ mummified bodies that were kept in accessible mortuary buildings.
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    Prácticas mortuorias Wari en Marayniyoq, valle de Ayacucho, Perú
    (2006) Valdez, Lidio M.; Williams, Jocelyn S.; Bettcher, Katrina J.
    Results are presented from the analysis of human remains excavated from two mortuary structures at the site of Wari of Marayniyoq in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru. Until very recently, Wari mortuary studies were aimed mostly at the analysis of the mortuary structures, paying little attention to the human remains. This study of osteological remains from two Wari mortuary structures revealed not only a large population lived at the site of Marayniyoq, but that the structures held individuals of all ages and both sexes. They conclude that during the Wari reign diverse forms of burial were practiced in the valley, and some were used for generations, resulting in an accumulation of numerous remains in the relatively small mortuary structures. Finally the evidence from Marayniyoq is used to elaborate on the population profile of the deposit, which clearly indicates a high infant mortality rate.
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    Production of maize beer at a Wari site in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru
    (2010) Valdez, Lidio M.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Alcohol consumption is not just a current phenomenon; archaeological findings demonstrate that many ancient civilizations around the world also made fermented beverages from a variety of products, including maize. However, the archaeological study of fermented beverages is not straightforward because the raw materials used in alcohol production are recovered only under exceptional conditions of preservation and the equipment remains are fragmentary. In this paper, our aim is to consider how ethnographical and ethnohistorical data may be used to better interpret the potential archaeological evidence for the production of fermented beverages. Here we use as an example the Middle Horizon site of Marayniyoq, from the Peruvian central highlands to discuss the production of fermented beverages.