The Bioarchaeology of the Human Head: Decapitation, Decoration, and Deformation
"A valuable survey of the many ways that human heads have been taken, modified, and curated by various cultures around the world. Good critical reviews of the context and meaning of human head collecting across time and space. Includes some innovative analytical techniques for determining the origins and identities of disembodied heads."—John W. Verano, Tulane University

"A welcome contribution to the growing literature of anthropological perspectives of the human skull."—John Krigbaum, University of Florida

Building on the notion that human remains provide a window into the past, especially regarding identity, the contributors to this volume reflect on intentional and ritualized practices of manipulating the human head within ancient societies. These essays explore the human head’s symbolic role in political, social, economic, and religious ritual over the centuries.

By focusing on the various ways in which the head was treated at the time of death, as well as before and following, scholars uncover the significant social meaning of such treatment. This illuminating collection highlights biological and cultural manipulations of human heads, ultimately revealing whose skulls and heads were collected and why, whether as ancestors or enemies, as insiders or outsiders, as males, females, or children.

Featuring a wealth of case studies from scholars across the globe, this volume emphasizes social identity and the use of the body in ritual, making it particularly helpful to all those interested in the cross-cultural handling of skulls and heads.


1112139652
The Bioarchaeology of the Human Head: Decapitation, Decoration, and Deformation
"A valuable survey of the many ways that human heads have been taken, modified, and curated by various cultures around the world. Good critical reviews of the context and meaning of human head collecting across time and space. Includes some innovative analytical techniques for determining the origins and identities of disembodied heads."—John W. Verano, Tulane University

"A welcome contribution to the growing literature of anthropological perspectives of the human skull."—John Krigbaum, University of Florida

Building on the notion that human remains provide a window into the past, especially regarding identity, the contributors to this volume reflect on intentional and ritualized practices of manipulating the human head within ancient societies. These essays explore the human head’s symbolic role in political, social, economic, and religious ritual over the centuries.

By focusing on the various ways in which the head was treated at the time of death, as well as before and following, scholars uncover the significant social meaning of such treatment. This illuminating collection highlights biological and cultural manipulations of human heads, ultimately revealing whose skulls and heads were collected and why, whether as ancestors or enemies, as insiders or outsiders, as males, females, or children.

Featuring a wealth of case studies from scholars across the globe, this volume emphasizes social identity and the use of the body in ritual, making it particularly helpful to all those interested in the cross-cultural handling of skulls and heads.


31.95 In Stock
The Bioarchaeology of the Human Head: Decapitation, Decoration, and Deformation

The Bioarchaeology of the Human Head: Decapitation, Decoration, and Deformation

The Bioarchaeology of the Human Head: Decapitation, Decoration, and Deformation

The Bioarchaeology of the Human Head: Decapitation, Decoration, and Deformation

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Overview

"A valuable survey of the many ways that human heads have been taken, modified, and curated by various cultures around the world. Good critical reviews of the context and meaning of human head collecting across time and space. Includes some innovative analytical techniques for determining the origins and identities of disembodied heads."—John W. Verano, Tulane University

"A welcome contribution to the growing literature of anthropological perspectives of the human skull."—John Krigbaum, University of Florida

Building on the notion that human remains provide a window into the past, especially regarding identity, the contributors to this volume reflect on intentional and ritualized practices of manipulating the human head within ancient societies. These essays explore the human head’s symbolic role in political, social, economic, and religious ritual over the centuries.

By focusing on the various ways in which the head was treated at the time of death, as well as before and following, scholars uncover the significant social meaning of such treatment. This illuminating collection highlights biological and cultural manipulations of human heads, ultimately revealing whose skulls and heads were collected and why, whether as ancestors or enemies, as insiders or outsiders, as males, females, or children.

Featuring a wealth of case studies from scholars across the globe, this volume emphasizes social identity and the use of the body in ritual, making it particularly helpful to all those interested in the cross-cultural handling of skulls and heads.



Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780813061771
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Publication date: 05/28/2015
Series: Bioarchaeological Interpretations of the Human Past: Local, Regional, and Global
Pages: 344
Product dimensions: 6.13(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.78(d)

About the Author

Michelle Bonogofsky is a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the editor of Skull Collection, Modification and Decoration.

Table of Contents

List of Figures vii

List of Tables xi

Foreword xiii

Preface xvii

1 Contextualizing the Human Head: An Introduction Michelle Bonogofsky 1

Part I Symbolic and Contextual Approaches

2 Heads as Memorials and Status Symbols: The Collection and Use of Skulls in the Torres Strait Islands Heather Bonney Margaret Clegg 51

3 Melanesian Modeled Skulls, Mortuary Ritual, and Dental X-Rays: Ancestors, Enemies, Women, and Children Michelle Bonogofsky Jeremy Graham 67

4 Marquesan Trophy Skulls: Description, Osteological Analyses, and Changing Motivations in the South Pacific Frédérique Valentin Noémie Rolland 97

5 The Social Lives of Severed Heads: Skull Collection and Display in Medieval and Early Modern Ireland Barra O'Donnabhain 122

Part II Bioarchaeological and Biochemical Approaches

6 Identifying the Origins of Decapitated Male Skeletons from 3 Driffield Terrace, York, through Isotope Analysis: Reflections of the Cosmopolitan Nature of Roman York in the Time of Caracalla Janet Montgomery Christopher J. Knüsel Katie Tucker 141

7 Biohistory and Cranial Morphology: A Forensic Case from Spanish Colonial Georgia Christopher M. Stojanowski William N. Duncan 179

8 Skull Deformation during the Iron Age in the Trans-Urals and Western Siberia Svetlana Sharapova Dmitry Razhev 202

9 Marking Ethnicity through Premortem Cranial Modification among the Pre-Inca Chiribaya, Peru María Cecilia Lozada 228

10 Getting a Head Start in Life: Pre-Columbian Maya Cranial Modification from Infancy to Ancestorhood Pamela L. Geller 241

11 How the Wari Fashioned Trophy Heads for Display: A Distinctive Modified Cranium from Cuzco, Peru, and Comparison to Trophies from the Capital Region Valerie A. Andrushko 262

12 Nasca Trophy Head Origins and Ancient DNA Kathleen Forgey 286

List of Contributors 307

Index 309

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