Catherine Gaither | Metropolitan State University of Denver (original) (raw)
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Papers by Catherine Gaither
International Journal of Paleopathology, 2012
The cemetery of Puruchuco-Huaquerones in Lima, Peru, has yielded human remains dating from the La... more The cemetery of Puruchuco-Huaquerones in Lima, Peru, has yielded human remains dating from the Late Horizon until after Spanish conquest (circa AD 1470-1540). The analysis of 242 non-adult skeletons has documented trauma, including both common childhood injuries and injuries suggestive of the violent consequences of Spanish conquest. Additionally, an increase in perimortem trauma in the Early Post-Contact Period has been documented (Gaither and Murphy, 2012). Previous research, however, does not adequately address the question of physical child abuse, and whether or not that played a role in the changes seen after the arrival of the Spanish. This paper will address the controversial question of physical child abuse and propose new categories of violence for use in analyzing non-adults in the archeological record; categories that will hopefully give researchers more flexibility in analyzing nonadults remains. It will then test the hypothesis of what role, if any, what is referred to in this paper as 'Likely Caregiver-Induced Violence' played in the Late Horizon and Early Post-Contact Period populations at Puruchcuo-Huaqerones. Finally, this paper discusses the theoretical models that address cultural changes seen in populations under stress that result in an increase and change in the nature of the violence perpetrated against non-adults.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2011
This paper examines bioarchaeological evidence of violence and traumatic injury on subadult skele... more This paper examines bioarchaeological evidence of violence and traumatic injury on subadult skeletal remains from two Late Horizon (A.D. 1470–1540) cemeteries within the archaeological zone of Puruchuco-Huaquerones, Peru. Here we present the frequency and types of traumatic lesions on the 242 subadults analyzed. We observed significant increases in the frequency of subadult trauma, particularly among the burials associated with Spanish Conquest. Specifically, we noted a statistically significant increase in the frequency of cranial trauma in a subsample of individuals from one of two cemeteries at the site, 57AS03. These perimortem cranial injuries suggest an intensification of violence and lethality that may have affected the children from this community. We then discuss the biocultural implications of this analysis within the context of Spanish invasion and conquest.► We examine subadult trauma at the archaeological site of Puruchuco-Huaquerones. ► Two distinct cemetery areas are examined, one including post- contact material. ► The nature and frequency of subadult trauma changes in post-contact materials. ► An increase in frequency and lethal injuries is associated with Spanish conquest.
American journal of …, 2010
America is understood primarily through ethnohistorical documents, archaeological evidence, and o... more America is understood primarily through ethnohistorical documents, archaeological evidence, and osteological analyses. However, in the Central Andes, the colonial enterprise and its effects are understood only from postcontact historical and ethnohistorical sources. Few archaeological and bioarchaeological studies have investigated Spanish Conquest and colonialism in the Andean region [for exceptions see Klaus and Tam: Am J Phys Anthropol 138 (2009) 356-368; Wernke, in press; and Quilter, in press]. Here we describe bioarchaeological evidence of violence from the cemeteries of Huaquerones and 57AS03 within the archaeological zone of Puruchuco-Huaquerones, Peru (circa A.D. 1470-1540). A total of 258 individuals greater than 15 years of age were analyzed for evidence of traumatic injuries. Individuals were examined macroscopically and evidence of traumatic
Latin American Antiquity, 2008
A number of sites in the Andean region have yielded sizable samples of human remains from differe... more A number of sites in the Andean region have yielded sizable samples of human remains from different contexts. These sites offer researchers a unique opportunity to study the mortuary practices of various cultures in a specific region through time. Among the most notable cultures whose mortuary practices have been extensively studied are both the Moche (ca. A.D.
Archaeobios, 2007
Estamos contentos de tener la oportunidad de escribir el prólogo para la nueva revista electrónic... more Estamos contentos de tener la oportunidad de escribir el prólogo para la nueva revista electrónica "Archaeobios". La aparición de esta revista es uno de los mejores eventos que se ha realizado a lo largo de nuestros 37 años de estudios arqueobotánicos y arqueozoológicos en el Perú. También, la revista es la culminación natural de un proceso largo del desarrollo del Centro de Investigaciones Arqueobiológicas y Paleoecológicas Andinas-"ARQUEOBIOS", todo gracias a los esfuerzos de Víctor Vásquez Sánchez y Teresa Rosales Tham.
El estudio de los isótopos estables de Carbono y Nitrógeno de 11 entierros humanos recuperados de... more El estudio de los isótopos estables de Carbono y Nitrógeno de 11 entierros humanos recuperados del Conjunto Arquitectónico 3 de Santa Rita B, que datan para el Periodo Intermedio Tardío, indican que estos individuos consumían plantas C4 en este caso maíz. Adicionalmente, los resultados δ 15 N confirman que estos individuos consumían proteínas terrestres. El rango de los valores de Estroncio 87 con Estroncio 86 en cuatro entierros Chimú de CA3, indican que los valores fluctúan entre 0.705032 y 0.705223, valores que están comprendidos en el rango isotópico del área más cercana al valle de Chao. Por lo tanto, es obvio que estos individuos consumían alimentos de la misma zona geológica o de zonas geológicas con rangos isótopicos de estroncio similares. Estos resultados son un primer paso importante para entender el comportamiento humano en Santa Rita B, valle de Chao durante el Período Intermedio Tardío.
This dissertation presents a growth and development study of prehistoric coastal Peruvian populat... more This dissertation presents a growth and development study of prehistoric coastal Peruvian populations. Previous research indicates considerable variability between human populations in growth and development events. This research establishes growth and development standards for two prehistoric coastal Peruvian populations. Both dental and long bone standards are presented. Adult stature and sexual dimorphism are also studied as a culmination of growth and development and as indicators of general population health. Results indicate that dental and long bone subadult aging standards, developed from North American Indian samples are not appropriate for prehistoric Andean populations. These results support previous evidence of variability between human populations and suggest that further research is necessary to establish better subadult skeletal and dental age standards for other parts of the world. 3 First
International Journal of Paleopathology, 2012
The cemetery of Puruchuco-Huaquerones in Lima, Peru, has yielded human remains dating from the La... more The cemetery of Puruchuco-Huaquerones in Lima, Peru, has yielded human remains dating from the Late Horizon until after Spanish conquest (circa AD 1470-1540). The analysis of 242 non-adult skeletons has documented trauma, including both common childhood injuries and injuries suggestive of the violent consequences of Spanish conquest. Additionally, an increase in perimortem trauma in the Early Post-Contact Period has been documented (Gaither and Murphy, 2012). Previous research, however, does not adequately address the question of physical child abuse, and whether or not that played a role in the changes seen after the arrival of the Spanish. This paper will address the controversial question of physical child abuse and propose new categories of violence for use in analyzing non-adults in the archeological record; categories that will hopefully give researchers more flexibility in analyzing nonadults remains. It will then test the hypothesis of what role, if any, what is referred to in this paper as 'Likely Caregiver-Induced Violence' played in the Late Horizon and Early Post-Contact Period populations at Puruchcuo-Huaqerones. Finally, this paper discusses the theoretical models that address cultural changes seen in populations under stress that result in an increase and change in the nature of the violence perpetrated against non-adults.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2011
This paper examines bioarchaeological evidence of violence and traumatic injury on subadult skele... more This paper examines bioarchaeological evidence of violence and traumatic injury on subadult skeletal remains from two Late Horizon (A.D. 1470–1540) cemeteries within the archaeological zone of Puruchuco-Huaquerones, Peru. Here we present the frequency and types of traumatic lesions on the 242 subadults analyzed. We observed significant increases in the frequency of subadult trauma, particularly among the burials associated with Spanish Conquest. Specifically, we noted a statistically significant increase in the frequency of cranial trauma in a subsample of individuals from one of two cemeteries at the site, 57AS03. These perimortem cranial injuries suggest an intensification of violence and lethality that may have affected the children from this community. We then discuss the biocultural implications of this analysis within the context of Spanish invasion and conquest.► We examine subadult trauma at the archaeological site of Puruchuco-Huaquerones. ► Two distinct cemetery areas are examined, one including post- contact material. ► The nature and frequency of subadult trauma changes in post-contact materials. ► An increase in frequency and lethal injuries is associated with Spanish conquest.
American journal of …, 2010
America is understood primarily through ethnohistorical documents, archaeological evidence, and o... more America is understood primarily through ethnohistorical documents, archaeological evidence, and osteological analyses. However, in the Central Andes, the colonial enterprise and its effects are understood only from postcontact historical and ethnohistorical sources. Few archaeological and bioarchaeological studies have investigated Spanish Conquest and colonialism in the Andean region [for exceptions see Klaus and Tam: Am J Phys Anthropol 138 (2009) 356-368; Wernke, in press; and Quilter, in press]. Here we describe bioarchaeological evidence of violence from the cemeteries of Huaquerones and 57AS03 within the archaeological zone of Puruchuco-Huaquerones, Peru (circa A.D. 1470-1540). A total of 258 individuals greater than 15 years of age were analyzed for evidence of traumatic injuries. Individuals were examined macroscopically and evidence of traumatic
Latin American Antiquity, 2008
A number of sites in the Andean region have yielded sizable samples of human remains from differe... more A number of sites in the Andean region have yielded sizable samples of human remains from different contexts. These sites offer researchers a unique opportunity to study the mortuary practices of various cultures in a specific region through time. Among the most notable cultures whose mortuary practices have been extensively studied are both the Moche (ca. A.D.
Archaeobios, 2007
Estamos contentos de tener la oportunidad de escribir el prólogo para la nueva revista electrónic... more Estamos contentos de tener la oportunidad de escribir el prólogo para la nueva revista electrónica "Archaeobios". La aparición de esta revista es uno de los mejores eventos que se ha realizado a lo largo de nuestros 37 años de estudios arqueobotánicos y arqueozoológicos en el Perú. También, la revista es la culminación natural de un proceso largo del desarrollo del Centro de Investigaciones Arqueobiológicas y Paleoecológicas Andinas-"ARQUEOBIOS", todo gracias a los esfuerzos de Víctor Vásquez Sánchez y Teresa Rosales Tham.
El estudio de los isótopos estables de Carbono y Nitrógeno de 11 entierros humanos recuperados de... more El estudio de los isótopos estables de Carbono y Nitrógeno de 11 entierros humanos recuperados del Conjunto Arquitectónico 3 de Santa Rita B, que datan para el Periodo Intermedio Tardío, indican que estos individuos consumían plantas C4 en este caso maíz. Adicionalmente, los resultados δ 15 N confirman que estos individuos consumían proteínas terrestres. El rango de los valores de Estroncio 87 con Estroncio 86 en cuatro entierros Chimú de CA3, indican que los valores fluctúan entre 0.705032 y 0.705223, valores que están comprendidos en el rango isotópico del área más cercana al valle de Chao. Por lo tanto, es obvio que estos individuos consumían alimentos de la misma zona geológica o de zonas geológicas con rangos isótopicos de estroncio similares. Estos resultados son un primer paso importante para entender el comportamiento humano en Santa Rita B, valle de Chao durante el Período Intermedio Tardío.
This dissertation presents a growth and development study of prehistoric coastal Peruvian populat... more This dissertation presents a growth and development study of prehistoric coastal Peruvian populations. Previous research indicates considerable variability between human populations in growth and development events. This research establishes growth and development standards for two prehistoric coastal Peruvian populations. Both dental and long bone standards are presented. Adult stature and sexual dimorphism are also studied as a culmination of growth and development and as indicators of general population health. Results indicate that dental and long bone subadult aging standards, developed from North American Indian samples are not appropriate for prehistoric Andean populations. These results support previous evidence of variability between human populations and suggest that further research is necessary to establish better subadult skeletal and dental age standards for other parts of the world. 3 First