The Oldest Case of Decapitation in the New World (Lapa do Santo, East-Central Brazil)

Abstract

We present here evidence for an early Holocene case of decapitation in the New World (Burial 26), found in the rock shelter of Lapa do Santo in 2007. Lapa do Santo is an archaeological site located in the Lagoa Santa karst in east-central Brazil with evidence of human occupation dating as far back as 11.7–12.7 cal kyBP (95.4% interval). An ultra-filtered AMS age determination on a fragment of the sphenoid provided an age range of 9.1–9.4 cal kyBP (95.4% interval) for Burial 26. The interment was composed of an articulated cranium, mandible and first six cervical vertebrae. Cut marks with a v-shaped profile were observed in the mandible and sixth cervical vertebra. The right hand was amputated and laid over the left side of the face with distal phalanges pointing to the chin and the left hand was amputated and laid over the right side of the face with distal phalanges pointing to the forehead. Strontium analysis comparing Burial 26’s isotopic signature to other specimens from Lapa do Santo suggests this was a local member of the group. Therefore, we suggest a ritualized decapitation instead of trophy-taking, testifying for the sophistication of mortuary rituals among hunter-gatherers in the Americas during the early Archaic period. In the apparent absence of wealth goods or elaborated architecture, Lapa do Santo’s inhabitants seemed to use the human body to express their cosmological principles regarding death.

Archaeoanthrosol formation and evolution of the “Santana do Riacho” archaeological shelter: An old burial site in South America

“…Archaeological research in the Lagoa Santa region identified the evidence of human groups in shelters dating back to Late Pleistocene or early Holocene (Araújo et al., ; da Gloria et al., ; Laming‐Emperaire, Prous, Vilhena de Morais, & Beltrão, ; Neves et al., ; Prous, 1992/1993; Strauss et al., ). The systematic study of more than 300 human skeletons by Neves, Prous, González‐José, Kipnis, and Powell () revealed an ancient immigration by Australo‐Melanesian people, leading to the disputed proposal of “two main biological components” for the human occupation of South America (Neves et al., , ; Neves & Pucciarelli, ).…”

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Neolithic Life Reconstruction

“…Strauss et al 2015;Sarasketa-Gartzia et al 2018;Villalba-Mouco et al 2018 Sr values than younger geological formations such as volcanic rock. Strontium enters ecosystems and mammal tissues without fractionation (Faure and Powell 1972;Graustein 1989), being a specific geological strontium signature incorporated into body hard tissues by substituting calcium (Ericson 1985).…”

Os padrões de sepultamento do sítio arqueológico Lapa do Santo (Holoceno Inicial, Brasil)

“…Desde o século XIX já se havia percebido que esses grupos compartilham, pelo menos até certo ponto e em contraste com os grupos Tupi (mais especificamente os Tenetehara), uma morfologia craniana semelhante (Strauss et al, 2015b). Uma interpretação possível dessa observação é a de que os grupos Gê (ou parte deles) teriam uma relação de descendência (dêmica) com os habitantes de Lagoa Santa.…”

“…Na Lapa do Santo também foi identificado um registro pictórico do início do Holoceno produzido pela técnica do picoteamento e que retrata antropomorfos fálicos . Estudos da morfologia craniana dos indivíduos da Lapa do Santo indicam forte semelhança com os crânios oriundos dos demais sítios da região de Lagoa Santa (Neves et al, 2014;Strauss et al, 2015a). Outra oposição que caracteriza os sepultamentos desarticulados incluídos no Padrão 2B é aquela entre 'dentes isolados' e 'alvéolos vazios'.…”