Skeletal evidence for familial interments in the valley of Oaxaca, Mexico

Ethnohistorical data indicate that the many tombs found throughout the arch aeological record of the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, probably contain the mem bers of individual lineages. Skeletal remains from two such tombs exhibit m orphological traits that support such a model. Tomb 1 at San Jose Mogote, d ating to the early portion of the Monte Alban IIIa or Pitao phase (AD 200-3 50), contained the remains of six individuals. The three best preserved ske letons were all adult males, and each exhibited a complete metopic suture. No other individual recovered from the sire had this trait. This supports p revious interpretations of Zapotec tombs as places for the sequential inter ment of lineage heads, and also suggests that these lineages were patriloca l. Tomb 2 at Zaachila, dating to Monte Alban V or the Chila period (AD 1200 -1521), contained sixteen individuals on its floor and fragments of many ot hers in flanking niches. Of the fourteen individuals on the floor with cran ial remains preserved, two exhibit hyperodontia and two bypodontia. Both of these traits occur elsewhere in Oaxaca, but are rare. Although anecdotal, this evidence suggests that familial interments continued to be practiced f or at least a thousand years in the Valley. It also emphasizes the value of a social context when analyzing skeletal data.