Cannibalism in the Mesa Verde Region

This semester, I (Anna) have had the privilege of taking Steve Plog’s class “Archaeology of the American Southwest”. Professor Plog is a well-known archaeologist, specializing in Southwestern archaeology, particularly the dramatic population shifts in New Mexico and Arizona around the end of the 13^th century. One of our recent class discussions focused on evidence for conflict and cannibalism in a place outside of Chaco canyon—specifically in the Mesa Verde region. This blog will discuss the case presented in class as well as evidence from a neighboring site. While one could conclude (and some have) that evidence for cannibalism in northern Arizona is insufficient or sensationalized, the archaeology in the Mesa Verde region of Colorado seems to present a more compelling case for warfare and cannibalism. By comparing evidence for cannibalism and violence from a different region, we can more critically evaluate arguments by archaeologists like Christy Turner.

The site we focused on is 5MTUMR-2346, which is located near the Mancos River in southwestern Colorado. The burials at this site were scattered throughout multiple rooms, but not in patterned clusters like in Chaco canyon. The bones had cut marks and some had been smashed by a hammer-stone, potentially to extract marrow. Tim D. White analyzed these remains in comparison with remains of artiodactyls (antelope and deer) from Yellow Jacket to see if human bones resembled bones butchered for food. He observed a similar breakage pattern in bones and frequency of types, although there were some differences between the sets. Overall, however, they seemed to have been processed in the same way. White also compared the bones from Mancos to bones from a Native American cemetery, and they did not match up to each other; this indicates that the bones were treated more similarly to animal than other human bones.

These human remains alone are not enough to prove that cannibalism occurred, though. But when evaluated within the broader context of the region at that time, a clearer picture begins to emerge. In the 12^th and 13^th centuries, populations began to concentrate in villages, with fewer people overall, but larger settlement populations. Cliff-faces became a more common place to build houses. These locations were more dangerous and more difficult to access, but provided a line of sight to other villages. All of these factors have convinced many archaeologists that warfare and violence were common in the region around this time.

Castle Rock Pueblo, a site in the same region and approximate time period as 5MTUMR-2346, provides additional convincing evidence. Not only were the bodies here subjected to excessive violence and trophy-taking, but they were systematically dismembered. Some parts of bodies were put under heat, many were broken, and "at least one fractured long bone was polished," indicating that it had been boiled in a ceramic vessel (Kuckelman, et al.:2002). One mug and at least two cooking vessels showed signs of having muscle tissue placed in them at one time. Roasting or cooking flesh also seems probable (Kuckelman, et al.:2002). It also seems highly unlikely that this was the result of endocannibalism, or that any form of consumption indicating respect, such as religious ritual or consumption to keep ancestors close, was practiced in the Mesa Verde area (Kuckelman, et al.:2002).

Christy Turner makes broad claims about cannibalism in Chaco canyon, while archaeologists such as White and Kuckelman have done a more systematic analysis of remains. They have also refrained from making leap-of-faith claims and have not only looked at evidence that is likely to support their claims, such as Turner seems to do. The broader landscape and population movement in the Mesa Verde region also seems to support the hypothesis of cannibalism more than the context of Chaco.

Join us next time as we wrap up our discussion and recap what we’ve learned this semester!

Bibliography:

Kuckelman, Kristin A., Ricky R. Lightfoot and Debra L. Martin. "The Bioarchaeology and Taphonomy of Violence at Castle Rock and Sand Canyon Pueblos, Southwestern Colorado. American Antiquity, Vol. 67, No. 3 (July 2002), pp. 486-513.

Photo of Castle Rock Pueblo: http://photos.chrisskopec.com/ImagesBySize/8x12/AW-8x12/Sand-Canyon-Trail-Ruins/1063445079_2ZGah-600x600-3.jpg