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An archaeothanatological approach for interpreting a complex funerary deposit: the case study of “Burial 2” at Toca do Enoque (Middle Holocene, Northeastern Brazil)

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Abstract

The discovery of funerary deposits with atypical and complex characteristics requires the use of an archaeothanatological approach to better interpret the mortuary practices. This approach comprises the processes of deposit formation and the reconstruction of the funerary cycle. Simultaneously, to best describe and classify some types of mortuary deposits—when traditional categories of classification are insufficient—it is necessary to incorporate complementary analytical categories, such as ongoing tomb use, body reduction process, funerary, extra or post-funerary formation processes, or corporeal relics. We present the case study of Burial 2 at Toca do Enoque, located within a Middle Holocene archaeological funerary site from Northeastern Brazil, whose remarkable features required such an approach and analytical categories towards a step-by-step reconstruction for a proper understanding of the funerary practices. Here, we highlight the funerary and post-funerary cycle of the mortuary deposit including the simultaneous and successive disposal of several bodies within a context of ongoing tomb use, with various phases of use and reuse, tomb re-opening, intentional anthropic disturbance, body-manipulation, commingled human remains formed by a body reduction process, and redundant human bones displayed as corporeal relics.

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Funding

In Memoriam Dr. Fátima Luz. Ana Solari is grateful for the funding of CAPES BRASIL (Coordenação de aperfeiçoamento de pessoal de nivel superior) postdoctoral grant that she received during this research. All the authors are equally grateful for the contribution of the professional technical team of FUMDHAM (Fundação Museu do Homem Americano) that participated in the field and laboratory activities. Also, we appreciate the translation service offered by native English speaker and professional archaeologist Kevin Lane.

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  1. INCT -INAPAS / FUMDHAM, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Arqueologia, Paleontologia e Ambiente do Semiárido do Nordeste do Brasil - Fundação Museu do Homem Americano, Rua João Ferreira dos Santos, s/n -, São Raimundo Nonato, PI, 64770-000, Brazil

    Ana Solari, Anne Marie Pessis, Gabriela Martin & Niede Guidon

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  1. Ana Solari
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  2. Anne Marie Pessis
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Correspondence to Ana Solari.

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Solari, A., Pessis, A.M., Martin, G. et al. An archaeothanatological approach for interpreting a complex funerary deposit: the case study of “Burial 2” at Toca do Enoque (Middle Holocene, Northeastern Brazil). Archaeol Anthropol Sci 12, 223 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01180-5

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