Feature 16

Folder Type:
Archaeological Feature
Primary Title:
Feature 16
Summary Description:
This funerary feature was found to the northwest of F.1 and F.2. Like F.2, it is a cylindrical grave cut into bedrock, which received secondary burials in bundles. It intruded upon an earlier and shallower feature (F. 21), whose contents it seems to have displaced. Claudia Díaz estimates that at least 20 individuals were deposited in 18 packets. Six were adults, evenly divided between the sexes. The 14 children included 11 who died less than five years old, including neonates. F. 16 was found miraculously sandwiched between two “oven” features (F. 15 and F. 23). A bright reddish-yellow clay was used to seal off the grave and contrasts notably with the grayish-purple bedrock. A bundles placed at the bottom of the grave and labeled "packete 1 inferior" contained two individuals, one an adult (Skull #14) and the other an adolescent. Their packet contained lots of ash. The artifacts in this packet are striking and unusual, and have given fuel to the hypothesis that the remains belonged to a shaman-healer and his apprentice (Cooke 1998). On the feature they found artifacts of diverse materials:1) a copper ring tied with cotton string, 2) 31 dog-shaped Spondylus images, 3) two polished stone bars, perforated longitudinally (one is agate and the other an unidentified blue stone), and 4) 74 perforated canines. Fifty-five puma canines were in one group. In the other were: two puma canines, 12 ocelot (Leopdardus pardalis) canines, four raccoon (Procyon lotor) canines and one unidentified tooth. Other groups of artifacts are clustered near particular individuals. For example, five tear-shaped Spondylus beads were placed near an infant (belonging to Skull 12). About 120 thin tubular Spondylus beads were found near Skull 7, belonging to a seven year old child. Fifteen pearls were found near Skull 11, a three-year old child. The fill of this feature included fragments of gold-copper objects, which were analyzed metallurgically by Ilean Isaza at M.I.T. The presence of many beads and other ornaments of several marine shell species, and pearls, indicate that these artifacts were used by a large number of the individuals buried in F. 16. However, the jumbled nature of the deposit and its two depositional phases make it quite difficult to associate specific ornaments or groups of ornaments with particular packets or individuals. The close proximity of some marine shell artifacts to children suggests a relationship symbolic of pre-adult age as Briggs (1989) suggested with regard to the funerary features studied by Alain Ichon (1980) in the southern Azuero Peninsula.
Entity Type: Feature Type
Funerary
PIDTypeTitleMetadataURL
si_118629Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Highlighting group of beads made of Spondylus and Pinctada shell. for pid si_118629Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Highlighting group of beads made of Spondylus and Pinctada shell.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Highlighting group of beads made of Spondylus and Pinctada shell.
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si_118630Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Bundles 1 and 2 showing polished stone bars, perforated transversely. for pid si_118630Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Bundles 1 and 2 showing polished stone bars, perforated transversely.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Bundles 1 and 2 showing polished stone bars, perforated transversely.
Identifier
cjd_s_000190
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si_118631Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. View from above of individual 3 showing Spondylus shell tubular beads. for pid si_118631Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. View from above of individual 3 showing Spondylus shell tubular beads.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. View from above of individual 3 showing Spondylus shell tubular beads.
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si_118632Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of Individual 3 showing Spondylus shell tubular beads. for pid si_118632Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of Individual 3 showing Spondylus shell tubular beads.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of Individual 3 showing Spondylus shell tubular beads.
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si_118633Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Feature 16 showing intrusion into earlier Feature 26 for pid si_118633Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Feature 16 showing intrusion into earlier Feature 26
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Feature 16 showing intrusion into earlier Feature 26
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si_118634Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Feature 16 showing intrusion into earlier Feature 26 for pid si_118634Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Feature 16 showing intrusion into earlier Feature 26
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Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Feature 16 showing intrusion into earlier Feature 26
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si_118635Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of copper ring and Spondylus beads. for pid si_118635Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of copper ring and Spondylus beads.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of copper ring and Spondylus beads.
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si_118636Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of copper ring and Spondylus beads. for pid si_118636Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of copper ring and Spondylus beads.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of copper ring and Spondylus beads.
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si_118637Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of skulls 8 and 9. for pid si_118637Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of skulls 8 and 9.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of skulls 8 and 9.
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si_118638Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of skulls 8 and 9. for pid si_118638Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of skulls 8 and 9.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Close-up of skulls 8 and 9.
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si_118639Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 3, Spondylus shell tubular beads. for pid si_118639Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 3, Spondylus shell tubular beads.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 3, Spondylus shell tubular beads.
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si_118640Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 3, Spondylus shell tubular beads. for pid si_118640Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 3, Spondylus shell tubular beads.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 3, Spondylus shell tubular beads.
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si_118641Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C."missing name" for pid si_118641Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C."missing name"
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C."missing name"
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si_118642Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 1 remains, beads and skull 4. for pid si_118642Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 1 remains, beads and skull 4.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 1 remains, beads and skull 4.
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si_118643Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 1 remains, beads and skull 4. for pid si_118643Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 1 remains, beads and skull 4.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Individual 1 remains, beads and skull 4.
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si_118644Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Highlighting group of beads made of Spondylus and Pinctada shell. for pid si_118644Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Highlighting group of beads made of Spondylus and Pinctada shell.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Highlighting group of beads made of Spondylus and Pinctada shell.
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si_118645Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of bundle 1 and polished stone bars. Perforated transversely. for pid si_118645Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of bundle 1 and polished stone bars. Perforated transversely.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of bundle 1 and polished stone bars. Perforated transversely.
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si_118646Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Level 60-70. Beginning of excavation, feature 16 fill. for pid si_118646Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Level 60-70. Beginning of excavation, feature 16 fill.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Level 60-70. Beginning of excavation, feature 16 fill.
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si_118647Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of Feature 16 in stage 1. for pid si_118647Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of Feature 16 in stage 1.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of Feature 16 in stage 1.
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si_118648Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Lateral view of bundles 1, 2. for pid si_118648Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Lateral view of bundles 1, 2.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Lateral view of bundles 1, 2.
Abstract
Polished stone bars. Perforated transversely. Skulls 3,14,15,16,17.
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si_118649Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of spondylus beads. for pid si_118649Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of spondylus beads.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Close-up of spondylus beads.
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si_118650Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Lateral view of Feature 16 between feature 23 and 15. for pid si_118650Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Lateral view of Feature 16 between feature 23 and 15.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C.Lateral view of Feature 16 between feature 23 and 15.
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si_118651Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Level 60-70. Beginning of Excavation for pid si_118651Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Level 60-70. Beginning of Excavation
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Multiple burial. Type C. Level 60-70. Beginning of Excavation
Abstract
Redish yellow clay seals the grave contrasting with the purple-gray bedrock.
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si_118652Operation 3. Feature 16. Type C. Bottom of Feature 16 and fill at the end of excavation. for pid si_118652Operation 3. Feature 16. Type C. Bottom of Feature 16 and fill at the end of excavation.
TitleInfo/title
Operation 3. Feature 16. Type C. Bottom of Feature 16 and fill at the end of excavation.
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