Walled Settlements, Buffer Zones, andHuman Decapitation in the Acari Valley, Peru

摘要

Severed human heads constitute one of the hallmarks of the Early Intermediateperiod of the Peruvian South Coast region. The ancient art of this region (includingpottery and textiles) frequently portrays severed heads that are often associated e with mythical beings. Actual heads, identified as trophies, have also been found inall the valleys of the region, suggesting that human decapitation and trophy headtaking were important aspects of Early Intermediate period society on the SouthCoast. Notwithstanding the occurrence of trophies, decapitated human bodies areseldom found in the archaeological record. Recent archaeological excavationscarried out at Amato, an Early Intermediate period site in the Acari Valley,resulted in the unprecedented finding of dozens of decapitated bodies buried insidea centrally located structure. In addition to the heads, several cervical bonesare also absent, and the uppermost cervical vertebrae that remain often exhibitunmistakable cut marks. Victims of decapitation represent all ages and both sexes,some of whom had their wrists and ankles tied. Many of the victims exhibit parryfractures, which indicate a violent, face-to-face confrontation. The presence inAcari of several sites with constructed defensive systems (and with buffer zonesbetween them), in conjunction with the evidence of decapitation, strongly indicatethat outright violence occurred in Acari and that human decapitation likely was adirect outcome of that conflict.