Posted on 11/10/2006 3:04:51 PM PST by blam
Contact: Suzanne Wu
swu@press.uchicago.edu
773-834-0386
University of Chicago Press Journals
Raiding for women in the pre-Hispanic Southwest?
Study finds more female remains in graveyards during times of political influence
A portion of the large 12th and 13th-century A.D. site of Aztec, near the contemporary town of Aztec, New Mexico.
An important new archaeological study from the December issue of Current Anthropology is the first to document interregional movement of women in the pre-Hispanic Southwest. Using an analysis of grave sites, the researchers found more female remains during periods of political influence, providing an interesting insight into the ways warfare may contribute the local archaeological record.
"Warfare is common in small- and intermediate-scale societies all over the world, now and in prehistory. Capturing women was often either a goal, or a by-product, of such conflict," says archaeologist Tim Kohler (Washington State University), who authored the study with Kathryn Kramer Turner (U.S. Forest Service).
Analyzing data on 1,353 human remains from grave sites, Kohler and Kramer Turner found unexpectedly high ratios of female-to-male remains in the majestic 11th-century ruins in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, and a related 13th-century site to the north called Aztec, which are among the most famous pre-Hispanic sites in North America.
The researchers note that many sites from the same time period in the Mesa Verde region in Southwest Colorado – just north of the Aztec site – contain fewer women than they should. This imbalance may be the result of non-coercive movement, such as women migrating toward elites or the recruitment of women as specialized producers of prized items, such as jewelry or pottery. However, the apparent excesses of women coincide with a period of high young adult mortality, which indicates violence.
"Given the mirror symmetry of their sex ratios in the 1200s and the elevated death rates among young people in both areas, we suggest that societies in the Totah (which encompasses the Aztec site) obtained these women from Northern San Juan societies to the northwest through raiding and abduction," write the authors.
Excavations near the site of Aztec also revealed that some women in the Aztec's region were not buried in the usual respectful manner. Many of the women's remains also bear marks of abuse.
GGG Ping.
how politically incorrect of these researchers! their grants should be removed immediately!
we suggest that societies in the Totah (which encompasses the Aztec site) obtained these women from Northern San Juan societies to the northwest through raiding and abduction," write the authors.
Raiding and abduction eh, sure sounds more fun than hanging out in smokey bars AND you might get a horse too.
Maybe the Mexicans will come kidnap our gays now that gay unions are legal in Mexico City.
Cortez did them all a big favor -- too bad they don't have the sense to appreciate it.
Raiding for booty.
Dismemberment? Cannilbalism?
I don't know where you got this sexist propaganda, but it contributes to the idea that until the recent feminist movement, women were the spoils of war, rather than it's warriors.
If only the women of that time knew that they could make themselves a knife and spear and defeat the men, or at least stand toe to toe and fight to the death in battle.
I saw a blurb on PBS about finding high incidences of infant mortality in some of the declining subcultures down there. The conclusion was it was weather related... bad weather lowering crops yields, thus malnutrition, etc.
Could be the exact same cause for the male/female ratios. Facing decling crops, the males could have had to fall back on more of a hunter/gatherer type existence. A fall back to a lifestyle they were ill equipped to make.
Total speculation on my part, but if these scientist folks are gonna try to present something as if it were solved, ya gotta ask questions.
I wondered exactly the same thing. Could we tell by checking his teeth? LOL.
Historical Review: Megadrought And Megadeath In 16th Century Mexico (Hemorrhagic Fever)
Some pretty staggering numbers considering we're talking new-world, not Europe or China.
BUMP!
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It's really tough being a scholar.
The limbs some climb out on are pretty limber.
Chaco Meridian Bump
I had a colleague in my History Master's degree program from S. Texas. He told me that one of the traditions down there among the old families was for the husband to abduct the bride, sometimes, because of family objections, the abduction was real and sometimes it was fake.
He claimed his grandmother was one of the real abductions.
Just sounds like typical slavery to me.
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