I am a bioarchaeologist/dental anthropologist interested in the microevolutionary and adaptive process of archaeological human populations from different biocultural perspectives
During the first half of the last century, studies of Maya skeletal remains gave emphasis mainly ... more During the first half of the last century, studies of Maya skeletal remains gave emphasis mainly to head shaping and dental decoration, while little or no attention was bestowed to the ancient Maya's skeletal biology and bioarchaeology. It was not until the late 1960's and early 1970's that more comprehensive approaches started visualizing this ancient society from its biological and cultural aspects by perceiving skeletal remains as a direct indicator of past cultural interactions. The recent growth in skeletal studies was also a natural consequence of the emergence of "bioarchaeology" as a specific discipline. From then on, increasing numbers of studies have been carried out, applying more and more sophisticated and modern techniques to the ancient Maya skeletal remains. This works attempts to briefly review the research history on Maya skeletal remains, from the pioneering works in the 1960's to the development of more conscientious approaches based on theoretical, methodological and practical concepts in which the individual is the basic unit of biocultural analysis. Although, ecological issues and the biological evidence of social status differences still remain central cores in Maya bioarchaeology, new methodologically and topically oriented approaches have proliferated in the last years. They contribute to the development of a more complete, wide-angled view of the intermingled biological and cultural dynamics of a population that has not disappeared in the past and that continues to raise the interest of scholars and the public in general.
Temas Antropologicos Revista Cientifica De Investigaciones Regionales, 2013
Resumen El presente Documento de trabajo discute los problemas éticos a los que se enfrentan los ... more Resumen El presente Documento de trabajo discute los problemas éticos a los que se enfrentan los bioarqueólogos en el manejo científico y museológico de restos mortuorios humanos. Con miras a generar un beneficio para la sociedad actual, a la contribución al conocimiento proporcionado por el estudio de las osamentas, se le contraponen limitaciones de origen cultural o religioso; principalmente en países que presentan una historia colonialista de asimilación violenta.
Oxtankah was a Late Preclassic to Middle Postclassic (300 BCE–CE 1200) Prehispanic settlement at ... more Oxtankah was a Late Preclassic to Middle Postclassic (300 BCE–CE 1200) Prehispanic settlement at the southernmost end of the modern state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. This trans-shipment port associated with long distance trade was part of the political sphere of influence of the Kan dynasty of Dzibanche and Calakamul. Archaeological and biological evidence links its inhabitants with the central lowland region of Mexico and Guatemala. Residential mobility has been investigated through the analysis of strontium and oxygen isotopic ratios in the teeth of 18 individual of both sexes, commoners and elite, dated to the period of occupation. The results showed that 35.3% of the sample is outside the local strontium baseline, indicating that these individuals were possibly immigrants originating between the Peten, Palenque, and Guatemala, and from the northern Yucatan peninsula and Gulf of Mexico. Their relocation to Oxtankah is likely related to trading, familial ties, and changes of power in the Kan dynasty.
The present study applies a dental morphological perspective to the understanding of the complex ... more The present study applies a dental morphological perspective to the understanding of the complex pre-contact population history of the South Central Andes, through the detection of the underlying dynamics, and the assessment of the biological ties among groups. It presents an analysis of 1591 individuals from 66 sites that date from the Archaic to the Late Intermediate phases from Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The results suggest this area is characterized by significant movement of people and cultures and, at the same time, by long standing population continuity, and highlight the need for wider perspectives capable of taking into account both the different micro-regional realities and the region in its entirety.
Paleodemographic simulations are rare in the Maya region, because generally the skeletal collecti... more Paleodemographic simulations are rare in the Maya region, because generally the skeletal collections do not represent well the ancient living population, are poorly preserved, and lead to flawed age-at-death estimations. The skeletal collection of Xcambó, however, is suitable for paleodemographic analysis and is large enough to enable comparison of paleodemographic trends between the Early (AD 250-550) and Late Classic (AD 550-750) periods. Three demographic simulations were generated ; two relied on growth rates calculated from the site's previous archaeodemographic data, and a third simulation was based on a stationary scenario by applying Weiss's (1973) and Séguy and Buchet's (2013) models. All simulations indicate that Xcambó's Late Classic population was growing faster than its Early Classic peers, with higher rates of survivorship and more severe mortality rates. We argue that the differences are more likely due to shifts in lifestyle and wealth than to environmental changes, as is confirmed by other bioarchaeological and skeletal indicators.
The human experience of Yaxuna’s settlers is the focus of this chapter. This includes metabolic d... more The human experience of Yaxuna’s settlers is the focus of this chapter. This includes metabolic diseases and physiological stress episodes during childhood, occupational patterns and robusticity. We address daily dietary habits here and discuss them in terms of social status, sex and gender. Diet and access to dietary resources constitute one of the essential elements that characterize society. While food intake is related to the individuals’ biological needs to survive and reproduce, the kind and quality of diets are as related to prevailing availability and subsistence pattern, as to the roles individuals’ play within their society. Both isotopic signatures and indirect indicators of diet and daily habits (like oral pathologies – carious lesions and dental wear) are called upon here to discern and discuss the quality of health and lifestyle.
2Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
3Applied Pale... more 2Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico 3Applied PaleoScience, Bothell, Washington Correspondence Andrea Cucina, Facultad de Ciencias Antropológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 1 Carretera Mérida-Tizimin, 97305 Merida, Yucatán, Mexico. Email: [email protected] James C. Chatters, Applied Paleoscience, 10322 NE 190th St, Bothell, Washington, 98011. Email: [email protected] Funding information DirectAMS; Archaeological Institute of America; INAH; Waitt Foundation; National Geographic Society | James C. Chatters3  Abstract Objectives: To increase understanding of the subsistence practices of the first Americans through analysis of the near-complete dentition of a young woman dating to the terminal Pleistocene of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Materials and Methods: The skeleton is that of “Naia” a 15 to 17-year-old female from the submerged natural trap of Hoyo Negro found in association with remains of numerous extinct species of megafauna. Superbly preserved remains included the skull with 28 teeth, which are analyzed for evidence of caries, periodontal disease, wear patterns, and malocclusion. Results: Naia exhibits a high frequency of dental caries, along with aggressive peri- odontal disease that threatened all her teeth, particularly her incisors. Dental attrition was extremely light for a hunter-gatherer, reaching to four on the Molnar scale on only one tooth. Lack of wear is associated with severe mandibular retrognathia, and low masticatory forces. Discussion: Naia's dental condition is compared with that of other northern Paleo- americans, mostly females, dating before 11,000 cal BP. These exhibit a high degree of variability in both caries and tooth wear. All, however, exhibit rapid anterior wear owing to technological use of the front teeth. Naia exhibits the highest rate of caries, similar to that of the earliest South Americans, and one of the lowest rates of attri- tion. This demonstrates that she had a nonabrasive diet that was at least seasonally rich in carbohydrates. This does not mean her diet was low in meat, however, because similarly light dental attrition is seen in the Arch Lake female, a Paleo- american from a big-game hunting society.
Journal of Archaeological Science Report 23:490-500, 2019, 2018
Different hypotheses exist to explain population development and replacement on the East Coast of... more Different hypotheses exist to explain population development and replacement on the East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula after the so-called Maya collapse, a period of dynamic population movement responding to changing socioeconomic and political spheres of influence in the region. Here we investigate this dynamic by combining the evidence from dental morphology, and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and δ 18 O isotopic analyses of the human skeletal remains from the Late Postclassic coastal trader settlements of El Meco, El Rey, and Tulum (1200-1550 CE). Isotopic results show different scenarios by locality. The sample from El Meco does not show foreign individuals, while El Rey presents 20% of the sample as likely non-local. Tulum has the most varied isotopic values of the three, though only one individual could be non-local. The series from the core settlement of Tulum displays lower dental morphological heterogeneity, but higher diversity in artificial head shapes and a small proportion of non-locals, probably due to the small sample size available. El Rey shows homogeneity in head shape and high morphological variability. El Meco is overall the most homogeneous sample from the East Coast of the Peninsula of Yucatán. In the broader contexts of social organization and regional population dynamics, our results indicate broad trends in population movement and cultural cohesion along the Yucatecan coast.
Workers and their families in haciendas in the Yucatán, Mexico, at
the turn of the twentieth cent... more Workers and their families in haciendas in the Yucatán, Mexico, at the turn of the twentieth century experienced very poor living conditions, characterized by diseases and high infant mortality. The death records for the hacienda San Pedro Cholul stored at the Yucatán State Archive, reports mortality data for people living in the hacienda between 1871 and 1900, including cause of death. Infant mortality for children under two years of age reached 54.5%, while it was 70.2% for children under five years of age. Gastrointestinal disorders, fever, and ‘alferecía’ characterized infant mortality in children aged one year, while diarrhoea and fever mostly affected infants after that age. Male infant mortality predominated over that of females in children less than five years of age but the trend reversed after that age. About one quarter of people died during measles, smallpox and whooping cough epidemics. Harsh living conditions are also suggested from the bottles retrieved during archaeological excavations of the hacienda. Many of these would have contained medical treatments against dysentery, intestinal parasites and malnutrition, and were intended also for infants and children. This combined historical and archaeological investigation provides insights in relation to the morbidity and mortality of the people who both lived at and worked for the henequen haciendas. It also reveals how they tried to counteract the numerous and varied ailments they suffered during their everyday lives.
A successful endodontic treatment requires knowledge of the internal configuration of dental root... more A successful endodontic treatment requires knowledge of the internal configuration of dental root canals. Most of the people who live in Yucatan are of Maya origin, characterized by a Mongoloid dental pattern. Because of their ethnicity, variations are expected. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the morphological characteristics and variability of this population. One hundred and five extracted first mandibular premolars of Mexican Maya population were analyzed; the sample was obtained from the Oral Surgery Clinic in the School of Dentistry at the Autonomous University of Yucatan with written informed consent. Analyses were performed by means of Cone Beam Computed Tomography. Vertucci´s Type I was the most prevalent configuration with 51.4 %, but 41 cases (39.1 %) presented a radicular groove and a C-shaped canal configuration. Overall, we documented 1, 2, 3, and 4 root canals. Mandibular first premolars are very variable in the Yucatecan population. The variability and frequency of C-shape is similar to mandibular second molars confirming the importance of the ethnic background for the endodontic treatments.
VEGA-LIZAMA, E. M.; AGUILAR-VERA, L. L.; TIESLER, V.; RAMÍREZ-SALOMÓN, M.; ALVARADO-CÁRDENAS, G.;... more VEGA-LIZAMA, E. M.; AGUILAR-VERA, L. L.; TIESLER, V.; RAMÍREZ-SALOMÓN, M.; ALVARADO-CÁRDENAS, G.; LÓPEZ-VILLANUEVA, M. E. & CUCINA, A. Morfología radicular y mediciones apicales en primeros molares en una población maya. Int. J. Morphol., 36(4):1229-1234, 2018. RESUMEN: El conocimiento preciso de la morfología radicular dental son claves para el éxito en las terapias endodónticas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las distintas variaciones de la morfología radicular y apical en primeros molares superiores e inferiores de una población maya moderna. Se observaron microfotografías provenientes de 80 primeros molares superiores e inferiores, presentadas en cortes transversales a 1 y 2,5 mm del vértice apical, así como de las porciones 1/3 , 1⁄2 , 2/3 del largo radicular y en la unión amelocementaria. Se determinó el número de raíces, conductos y configuración de Vertucci, así como forma y medidas de diámetro mayor y menor a 1 mm del vértice apical. El 90 % de primeros molares superiores reportó la presencia de 3 raíces y el 10 % mostró 2. En tanto que el total de primeros molares inferiores (100 %) reportó 2 raíces. En general, en las raíces mesiales prevaleció el Tipo II de Vertucci mientras que en las distales y palatinas la Tipo I. En el corte a 1 mm del vértice apical la forma redonda fue la de mayor prevalencia en los conductos de primeros molares superiores (44,5 %), seguida de la irregular (34,1 %) y la oval (21,4 %); mientras que en los primeros molares inferiores la más prevalente fue la irregular (54, 5 %), seguida de la redonda (23,9 %) y oval (21,6 %). Los diámetros mayor y menor de los conductos mesiales a 1 mm apical midieron 0,46 y 0,23 mm y 0,64 y 0,25 mm en molares superiores e inferiores respectivamente. La frecuencia de MB2 en primeros molares superiores fue del 77,8 %. Los conductos con mayor variabilidad fueron los mesiales. Se observó baja frecuencia de conductos ovales. Los diámetros mayores de los conductos mesiales en general, fueron superiores a 0,45 mm.
We take an archaeodemographic approach and provide new insights into the population and demograph... more We take an archaeodemographic approach and provide new insights into the population and demographic shifts of the prehispanic site of Xcambo, Yucatan, Mexico. Located in the coastal marshlands, Xcambo functioned as a salt production locale, administration center, and port during the Early Classic (AD 250–550) and Late Classic (AD 550–750) periods. Sierra-Sosa extensively excavated the settlement, and more than 600 skeletons, representative of all age groups, were recovered. We apply growth simulation models that combine archaeo-and paleodemographic approaches. Our simulation specifically takes into account Wood's (1998) theorem. Results show that Xcambo grew slowly during the Early Classic, with estimated figures ranging from about 860 individuals at the onset of the period to some 1,073 at the end. During the Late Classic, populations ranged from about 1,103 to 1,728 people at its peak occupation (AD 625). Eventually population drastically declined due to out-migration. During this last stage, the settlement had to face the consequences of political and economic shifts in the area. Considered jointly, both approaches provide a new research venue, because their application documents the population profiles and growth of a typical Maya coastal site over its 500 years of occupation. Este trabajo proporciona nuevas herramientas analíticas en materia de arqueo-demografía. Los estudios se realizaron en el asentamiento y puerto de Xcambo, localizado en una ciénaga costera del norte de Yucatán, México. Xcambo funcionó como lugar de producción de sal, centro administrativo y puerto de intercambio con otras regiones del área Maya y del Golfo de México durante el Clásico temprano (250-550 dC) y tardío (550-750 dC). Entre 1996 y 2000 el asentamiento fue objeto de excavaciones extensivas e intensivas bajo la dirección de Sierra-Sosa, durante las cuales se recuperaron más de 600 esqueletos que constituyen una muestra demográficamente representativa. Aplicamos modelos de simulación de crecimiento que combinan enfoques arqueo-y paleodemográficos. Nuestra simulación se basa específicamente en el teorema de Wood (1998) sobre modos de producción. Los resultados sugieren un crecimiento gradual durante el Clásico temprano, con una estimación poblacional de aproximadamente 860 individuos al inicio, ascendiendo a una estimación baja de 1.073 personas hacia fines de esta fase ocupacional. Posteriormente, se observa un crecimiento demográfico con un pico de 1.728 personas (estimación elevada) alrededor de 625 d.C. Finalmente, la población disminuye drásticamente debido a la emigración, lo cual se condice con la evidencia material del último siglo de ocupación que indica cambios político-económicos regionales previos al auge de Chichén Itzá. Considerando en conjunto los diferentes tipos de datos y perfiles de crecimiento poblacional en Xcambo, ofrecemos una visión sobre las dinámicas demográficas durante los 500 años de ocupación. De este modo, brindamos una nueva perspectiva metodológica aplicable a las dinámicas poblacionales mayas del Clásico. M esoamerican scholars have focused their efforts on developing simulations of population and growth in
Objective: The ancient Maya used to practice dental inlays as part of the cultural traditions. Mo... more Objective: The ancient Maya used to practice dental inlays as part of the cultural traditions. Most of those inlays remain in place after more than one thousand years. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the incidence of pulp pathosis associated with ancient Maya dental inlays to assess the impact that such common practice had on the population's oral health. Design: We scored 193 anterior inlaid teeth from 107 pre-Hispanic Maya dentitions studied at three archaeological storage facilities (Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Harvard University, Atlas of Guatemala Project). Two hundred eleven untreated frontal teeth of pre-Hispanic Mayan collections were used as controls. We performed macroscopic, radiographic and microscopic analyses to assess the frequency of caries, pulp calcifications, internal root resorption (IRR), and periapical lesions (PALs). Results: In the inlaid teeth, the frequencies of pulp calcifications, IRR, caries and PALs were 59.8%, 2.2%, 18.5% and 19.2%, respectively. Compared with untreated teeth, inlaid specimens exhibited greater susceptibility to caries, pulp calcifications, IRR and PALs than untreated teeth (pulp calcifications: 44.5%, IRR: 0%, caries: 1.4%, and PAL: 1.9%). Age-at-death did not have any significant influence on susceptibility to pulp calcifications, IRR, caries or PALs. Conclusions: We noted relatively low pulp irritation and a low frequency of carious infections, IRR and PALs in Mayan inlaid teeth. However, these levels exceeded the frequencies of untreated teeth from the same area and time period. We follow that the cements used by the pre-Hispanic Maya to fix the inlays into their sockets provided excellent sealing characteristics on average.
Objectives: The tropics harbor a large part of the world's biodiversity and have a long history o... more Objectives: The tropics harbor a large part of the world's biodiversity and have a long history of human habitation. However, paleogenomics research in these climates has been constrained so far by poor ancient DNA yields. Here we compare the performance of two DNA extraction methods on ancient samples of teeth and petrous portions excavated from tropical and semi-tropical sites in
This chapter explores the techniques and dental looks, health risks and social roles attached to ... more This chapter explores the techniques and dental looks, health risks and social roles attached to dental filings and inlays among the ancient Maya. To this end, skeletal data, portraiture and ethnographic information from the Maya Lowlands were surveyed. The results show that the majority of adult dentitions had been modified during the first millennium AD, many of which emulated the Maya solar sign and sacred wind forces. The initial operation was usually performed in youngsters, although older age groups were subject to the practice as well. Maintenance measures were taken in the form of additional filing and tooth extraction, especially once tooth wear and decay set in. During the heydays of Lowland Maya kingdoms, dental reductions and inlayed materials trace varied regional and local traditions. Past the Maya collapse, during the Postclassic period, tooth modifications turned into a standardized, mostly female practice that was accomplished exclusively by dental filing.
The dynamic interaction among human groups in Prehispanic Mesoamerica led to population exchange ... more The dynamic interaction among human groups in Prehispanic Mesoamerica led to population exchange and migrations that have just recently begun to be understood from a bioarchaeological perspective. Still, little is known about the demic biological affinities between Southern Sierra Madre populations and their coeval neighbors in Mesoamerica. The present paper focuses on biological affinities as assessed though dental morphology among three Prehispanic human collections from the present state of Oaxaca, Mexico, dated to the Classic (Monte Albán) and the Postclassic periods (Zaachila and Cerro Guacamaya). Here, we assess the extent of biological relationships within the region and with select contemporaneous groups from the altiplano (the Valley of Mexico), the Gulf of Mexico and Maya area. Population dynamics within the Oaxaca Valley show continuity between Monte Albán and Cerro Guacamaya. Zaachila, though contemporary to Cerro Guacamaya, diverges from the other Oaxaca groups. At the regional level, affinity is seen between Monte Albán and its coeval sample from the Maya and Mixe-Zoque fringe region. Sites in the altiplano and the Gulf of Mexico show relationships less stable over time. However, Cholula and Teotihuacán are more consistently separate from Oaxaca samples, perhaps indicating population interactions were fairly uncommon between these two regions, at least in the time frame analyzed in this study.
During the first half of the last century, studies of Maya skeletal remains gave emphasis mainly ... more During the first half of the last century, studies of Maya skeletal remains gave emphasis mainly to head shaping and dental decoration, while little or no attention was bestowed to the ancient Maya's skeletal biology and bioarchaeology. It was not until the late 1960's and early 1970's that more comprehensive approaches started visualizing this ancient society from its biological and cultural aspects by perceiving skeletal remains as a direct indicator of past cultural interactions. The recent growth in skeletal studies was also a natural consequence of the emergence of "bioarchaeology" as a specific discipline. From then on, increasing numbers of studies have been carried out, applying more and more sophisticated and modern techniques to the ancient Maya skeletal remains. This works attempts to briefly review the research history on Maya skeletal remains, from the pioneering works in the 1960's to the development of more conscientious approaches based on theoretical, methodological and practical concepts in which the individual is the basic unit of biocultural analysis. Although, ecological issues and the biological evidence of social status differences still remain central cores in Maya bioarchaeology, new methodologically and topically oriented approaches have proliferated in the last years. They contribute to the development of a more complete, wide-angled view of the intermingled biological and cultural dynamics of a population that has not disappeared in the past and that continues to raise the interest of scholars and the public in general.
Temas Antropologicos Revista Cientifica De Investigaciones Regionales, 2013
Resumen El presente Documento de trabajo discute los problemas éticos a los que se enfrentan los ... more Resumen El presente Documento de trabajo discute los problemas éticos a los que se enfrentan los bioarqueólogos en el manejo científico y museológico de restos mortuorios humanos. Con miras a generar un beneficio para la sociedad actual, a la contribución al conocimiento proporcionado por el estudio de las osamentas, se le contraponen limitaciones de origen cultural o religioso; principalmente en países que presentan una historia colonialista de asimilación violenta.
Oxtankah was a Late Preclassic to Middle Postclassic (300 BCE–CE 1200) Prehispanic settlement at ... more Oxtankah was a Late Preclassic to Middle Postclassic (300 BCE–CE 1200) Prehispanic settlement at the southernmost end of the modern state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. This trans-shipment port associated with long distance trade was part of the political sphere of influence of the Kan dynasty of Dzibanche and Calakamul. Archaeological and biological evidence links its inhabitants with the central lowland region of Mexico and Guatemala. Residential mobility has been investigated through the analysis of strontium and oxygen isotopic ratios in the teeth of 18 individual of both sexes, commoners and elite, dated to the period of occupation. The results showed that 35.3% of the sample is outside the local strontium baseline, indicating that these individuals were possibly immigrants originating between the Peten, Palenque, and Guatemala, and from the northern Yucatan peninsula and Gulf of Mexico. Their relocation to Oxtankah is likely related to trading, familial ties, and changes of power in the Kan dynasty.
The present study applies a dental morphological perspective to the understanding of the complex ... more The present study applies a dental morphological perspective to the understanding of the complex pre-contact population history of the South Central Andes, through the detection of the underlying dynamics, and the assessment of the biological ties among groups. It presents an analysis of 1591 individuals from 66 sites that date from the Archaic to the Late Intermediate phases from Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The results suggest this area is characterized by significant movement of people and cultures and, at the same time, by long standing population continuity, and highlight the need for wider perspectives capable of taking into account both the different micro-regional realities and the region in its entirety.
Paleodemographic simulations are rare in the Maya region, because generally the skeletal collecti... more Paleodemographic simulations are rare in the Maya region, because generally the skeletal collections do not represent well the ancient living population, are poorly preserved, and lead to flawed age-at-death estimations. The skeletal collection of Xcambó, however, is suitable for paleodemographic analysis and is large enough to enable comparison of paleodemographic trends between the Early (AD 250-550) and Late Classic (AD 550-750) periods. Three demographic simulations were generated ; two relied on growth rates calculated from the site's previous archaeodemographic data, and a third simulation was based on a stationary scenario by applying Weiss's (1973) and Séguy and Buchet's (2013) models. All simulations indicate that Xcambó's Late Classic population was growing faster than its Early Classic peers, with higher rates of survivorship and more severe mortality rates. We argue that the differences are more likely due to shifts in lifestyle and wealth than to environmental changes, as is confirmed by other bioarchaeological and skeletal indicators.
The human experience of Yaxuna’s settlers is the focus of this chapter. This includes metabolic d... more The human experience of Yaxuna’s settlers is the focus of this chapter. This includes metabolic diseases and physiological stress episodes during childhood, occupational patterns and robusticity. We address daily dietary habits here and discuss them in terms of social status, sex and gender. Diet and access to dietary resources constitute one of the essential elements that characterize society. While food intake is related to the individuals’ biological needs to survive and reproduce, the kind and quality of diets are as related to prevailing availability and subsistence pattern, as to the roles individuals’ play within their society. Both isotopic signatures and indirect indicators of diet and daily habits (like oral pathologies – carious lesions and dental wear) are called upon here to discern and discuss the quality of health and lifestyle.
2Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
3Applied Pale... more 2Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico 3Applied PaleoScience, Bothell, Washington Correspondence Andrea Cucina, Facultad de Ciencias Antropológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 1 Carretera Mérida-Tizimin, 97305 Merida, Yucatán, Mexico. Email: [email protected] James C. Chatters, Applied Paleoscience, 10322 NE 190th St, Bothell, Washington, 98011. Email: [email protected] Funding information DirectAMS; Archaeological Institute of America; INAH; Waitt Foundation; National Geographic Society | James C. Chatters3  Abstract Objectives: To increase understanding of the subsistence practices of the first Americans through analysis of the near-complete dentition of a young woman dating to the terminal Pleistocene of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Materials and Methods: The skeleton is that of “Naia” a 15 to 17-year-old female from the submerged natural trap of Hoyo Negro found in association with remains of numerous extinct species of megafauna. Superbly preserved remains included the skull with 28 teeth, which are analyzed for evidence of caries, periodontal disease, wear patterns, and malocclusion. Results: Naia exhibits a high frequency of dental caries, along with aggressive peri- odontal disease that threatened all her teeth, particularly her incisors. Dental attrition was extremely light for a hunter-gatherer, reaching to four on the Molnar scale on only one tooth. Lack of wear is associated with severe mandibular retrognathia, and low masticatory forces. Discussion: Naia's dental condition is compared with that of other northern Paleo- americans, mostly females, dating before 11,000 cal BP. These exhibit a high degree of variability in both caries and tooth wear. All, however, exhibit rapid anterior wear owing to technological use of the front teeth. Naia exhibits the highest rate of caries, similar to that of the earliest South Americans, and one of the lowest rates of attri- tion. This demonstrates that she had a nonabrasive diet that was at least seasonally rich in carbohydrates. This does not mean her diet was low in meat, however, because similarly light dental attrition is seen in the Arch Lake female, a Paleo- american from a big-game hunting society.
Journal of Archaeological Science Report 23:490-500, 2019, 2018
Different hypotheses exist to explain population development and replacement on the East Coast of... more Different hypotheses exist to explain population development and replacement on the East Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula after the so-called Maya collapse, a period of dynamic population movement responding to changing socioeconomic and political spheres of influence in the region. Here we investigate this dynamic by combining the evidence from dental morphology, and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and δ 18 O isotopic analyses of the human skeletal remains from the Late Postclassic coastal trader settlements of El Meco, El Rey, and Tulum (1200-1550 CE). Isotopic results show different scenarios by locality. The sample from El Meco does not show foreign individuals, while El Rey presents 20% of the sample as likely non-local. Tulum has the most varied isotopic values of the three, though only one individual could be non-local. The series from the core settlement of Tulum displays lower dental morphological heterogeneity, but higher diversity in artificial head shapes and a small proportion of non-locals, probably due to the small sample size available. El Rey shows homogeneity in head shape and high morphological variability. El Meco is overall the most homogeneous sample from the East Coast of the Peninsula of Yucatán. In the broader contexts of social organization and regional population dynamics, our results indicate broad trends in population movement and cultural cohesion along the Yucatecan coast.
Workers and their families in haciendas in the Yucatán, Mexico, at
the turn of the twentieth cent... more Workers and their families in haciendas in the Yucatán, Mexico, at the turn of the twentieth century experienced very poor living conditions, characterized by diseases and high infant mortality. The death records for the hacienda San Pedro Cholul stored at the Yucatán State Archive, reports mortality data for people living in the hacienda between 1871 and 1900, including cause of death. Infant mortality for children under two years of age reached 54.5%, while it was 70.2% for children under five years of age. Gastrointestinal disorders, fever, and ‘alferecía’ characterized infant mortality in children aged one year, while diarrhoea and fever mostly affected infants after that age. Male infant mortality predominated over that of females in children less than five years of age but the trend reversed after that age. About one quarter of people died during measles, smallpox and whooping cough epidemics. Harsh living conditions are also suggested from the bottles retrieved during archaeological excavations of the hacienda. Many of these would have contained medical treatments against dysentery, intestinal parasites and malnutrition, and were intended also for infants and children. This combined historical and archaeological investigation provides insights in relation to the morbidity and mortality of the people who both lived at and worked for the henequen haciendas. It also reveals how they tried to counteract the numerous and varied ailments they suffered during their everyday lives.
A successful endodontic treatment requires knowledge of the internal configuration of dental root... more A successful endodontic treatment requires knowledge of the internal configuration of dental root canals. Most of the people who live in Yucatan are of Maya origin, characterized by a Mongoloid dental pattern. Because of their ethnicity, variations are expected. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the morphological characteristics and variability of this population. One hundred and five extracted first mandibular premolars of Mexican Maya population were analyzed; the sample was obtained from the Oral Surgery Clinic in the School of Dentistry at the Autonomous University of Yucatan with written informed consent. Analyses were performed by means of Cone Beam Computed Tomography. Vertucci´s Type I was the most prevalent configuration with 51.4 %, but 41 cases (39.1 %) presented a radicular groove and a C-shaped canal configuration. Overall, we documented 1, 2, 3, and 4 root canals. Mandibular first premolars are very variable in the Yucatecan population. The variability and frequency of C-shape is similar to mandibular second molars confirming the importance of the ethnic background for the endodontic treatments.
VEGA-LIZAMA, E. M.; AGUILAR-VERA, L. L.; TIESLER, V.; RAMÍREZ-SALOMÓN, M.; ALVARADO-CÁRDENAS, G.;... more VEGA-LIZAMA, E. M.; AGUILAR-VERA, L. L.; TIESLER, V.; RAMÍREZ-SALOMÓN, M.; ALVARADO-CÁRDENAS, G.; LÓPEZ-VILLANUEVA, M. E. & CUCINA, A. Morfología radicular y mediciones apicales en primeros molares en una población maya. Int. J. Morphol., 36(4):1229-1234, 2018. RESUMEN: El conocimiento preciso de la morfología radicular dental son claves para el éxito en las terapias endodónticas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las distintas variaciones de la morfología radicular y apical en primeros molares superiores e inferiores de una población maya moderna. Se observaron microfotografías provenientes de 80 primeros molares superiores e inferiores, presentadas en cortes transversales a 1 y 2,5 mm del vértice apical, así como de las porciones 1/3 , 1⁄2 , 2/3 del largo radicular y en la unión amelocementaria. Se determinó el número de raíces, conductos y configuración de Vertucci, así como forma y medidas de diámetro mayor y menor a 1 mm del vértice apical. El 90 % de primeros molares superiores reportó la presencia de 3 raíces y el 10 % mostró 2. En tanto que el total de primeros molares inferiores (100 %) reportó 2 raíces. En general, en las raíces mesiales prevaleció el Tipo II de Vertucci mientras que en las distales y palatinas la Tipo I. En el corte a 1 mm del vértice apical la forma redonda fue la de mayor prevalencia en los conductos de primeros molares superiores (44,5 %), seguida de la irregular (34,1 %) y la oval (21,4 %); mientras que en los primeros molares inferiores la más prevalente fue la irregular (54, 5 %), seguida de la redonda (23,9 %) y oval (21,6 %). Los diámetros mayor y menor de los conductos mesiales a 1 mm apical midieron 0,46 y 0,23 mm y 0,64 y 0,25 mm en molares superiores e inferiores respectivamente. La frecuencia de MB2 en primeros molares superiores fue del 77,8 %. Los conductos con mayor variabilidad fueron los mesiales. Se observó baja frecuencia de conductos ovales. Los diámetros mayores de los conductos mesiales en general, fueron superiores a 0,45 mm.
We take an archaeodemographic approach and provide new insights into the population and demograph... more We take an archaeodemographic approach and provide new insights into the population and demographic shifts of the prehispanic site of Xcambo, Yucatan, Mexico. Located in the coastal marshlands, Xcambo functioned as a salt production locale, administration center, and port during the Early Classic (AD 250–550) and Late Classic (AD 550–750) periods. Sierra-Sosa extensively excavated the settlement, and more than 600 skeletons, representative of all age groups, were recovered. We apply growth simulation models that combine archaeo-and paleodemographic approaches. Our simulation specifically takes into account Wood's (1998) theorem. Results show that Xcambo grew slowly during the Early Classic, with estimated figures ranging from about 860 individuals at the onset of the period to some 1,073 at the end. During the Late Classic, populations ranged from about 1,103 to 1,728 people at its peak occupation (AD 625). Eventually population drastically declined due to out-migration. During this last stage, the settlement had to face the consequences of political and economic shifts in the area. Considered jointly, both approaches provide a new research venue, because their application documents the population profiles and growth of a typical Maya coastal site over its 500 years of occupation. Este trabajo proporciona nuevas herramientas analíticas en materia de arqueo-demografía. Los estudios se realizaron en el asentamiento y puerto de Xcambo, localizado en una ciénaga costera del norte de Yucatán, México. Xcambo funcionó como lugar de producción de sal, centro administrativo y puerto de intercambio con otras regiones del área Maya y del Golfo de México durante el Clásico temprano (250-550 dC) y tardío (550-750 dC). Entre 1996 y 2000 el asentamiento fue objeto de excavaciones extensivas e intensivas bajo la dirección de Sierra-Sosa, durante las cuales se recuperaron más de 600 esqueletos que constituyen una muestra demográficamente representativa. Aplicamos modelos de simulación de crecimiento que combinan enfoques arqueo-y paleodemográficos. Nuestra simulación se basa específicamente en el teorema de Wood (1998) sobre modos de producción. Los resultados sugieren un crecimiento gradual durante el Clásico temprano, con una estimación poblacional de aproximadamente 860 individuos al inicio, ascendiendo a una estimación baja de 1.073 personas hacia fines de esta fase ocupacional. Posteriormente, se observa un crecimiento demográfico con un pico de 1.728 personas (estimación elevada) alrededor de 625 d.C. Finalmente, la población disminuye drásticamente debido a la emigración, lo cual se condice con la evidencia material del último siglo de ocupación que indica cambios político-económicos regionales previos al auge de Chichén Itzá. Considerando en conjunto los diferentes tipos de datos y perfiles de crecimiento poblacional en Xcambo, ofrecemos una visión sobre las dinámicas demográficas durante los 500 años de ocupación. De este modo, brindamos una nueva perspectiva metodológica aplicable a las dinámicas poblacionales mayas del Clásico. M esoamerican scholars have focused their efforts on developing simulations of population and growth in
Objective: The ancient Maya used to practice dental inlays as part of the cultural traditions. Mo... more Objective: The ancient Maya used to practice dental inlays as part of the cultural traditions. Most of those inlays remain in place after more than one thousand years. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the incidence of pulp pathosis associated with ancient Maya dental inlays to assess the impact that such common practice had on the population's oral health. Design: We scored 193 anterior inlaid teeth from 107 pre-Hispanic Maya dentitions studied at three archaeological storage facilities (Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Harvard University, Atlas of Guatemala Project). Two hundred eleven untreated frontal teeth of pre-Hispanic Mayan collections were used as controls. We performed macroscopic, radiographic and microscopic analyses to assess the frequency of caries, pulp calcifications, internal root resorption (IRR), and periapical lesions (PALs). Results: In the inlaid teeth, the frequencies of pulp calcifications, IRR, caries and PALs were 59.8%, 2.2%, 18.5% and 19.2%, respectively. Compared with untreated teeth, inlaid specimens exhibited greater susceptibility to caries, pulp calcifications, IRR and PALs than untreated teeth (pulp calcifications: 44.5%, IRR: 0%, caries: 1.4%, and PAL: 1.9%). Age-at-death did not have any significant influence on susceptibility to pulp calcifications, IRR, caries or PALs. Conclusions: We noted relatively low pulp irritation and a low frequency of carious infections, IRR and PALs in Mayan inlaid teeth. However, these levels exceeded the frequencies of untreated teeth from the same area and time period. We follow that the cements used by the pre-Hispanic Maya to fix the inlays into their sockets provided excellent sealing characteristics on average.
Objectives: The tropics harbor a large part of the world's biodiversity and have a long history o... more Objectives: The tropics harbor a large part of the world's biodiversity and have a long history of human habitation. However, paleogenomics research in these climates has been constrained so far by poor ancient DNA yields. Here we compare the performance of two DNA extraction methods on ancient samples of teeth and petrous portions excavated from tropical and semi-tropical sites in
This chapter explores the techniques and dental looks, health risks and social roles attached to ... more This chapter explores the techniques and dental looks, health risks and social roles attached to dental filings and inlays among the ancient Maya. To this end, skeletal data, portraiture and ethnographic information from the Maya Lowlands were surveyed. The results show that the majority of adult dentitions had been modified during the first millennium AD, many of which emulated the Maya solar sign and sacred wind forces. The initial operation was usually performed in youngsters, although older age groups were subject to the practice as well. Maintenance measures were taken in the form of additional filing and tooth extraction, especially once tooth wear and decay set in. During the heydays of Lowland Maya kingdoms, dental reductions and inlayed materials trace varied regional and local traditions. Past the Maya collapse, during the Postclassic period, tooth modifications turned into a standardized, mostly female practice that was accomplished exclusively by dental filing.
The dynamic interaction among human groups in Prehispanic Mesoamerica led to population exchange ... more The dynamic interaction among human groups in Prehispanic Mesoamerica led to population exchange and migrations that have just recently begun to be understood from a bioarchaeological perspective. Still, little is known about the demic biological affinities between Southern Sierra Madre populations and their coeval neighbors in Mesoamerica. The present paper focuses on biological affinities as assessed though dental morphology among three Prehispanic human collections from the present state of Oaxaca, Mexico, dated to the Classic (Monte Albán) and the Postclassic periods (Zaachila and Cerro Guacamaya). Here, we assess the extent of biological relationships within the region and with select contemporaneous groups from the altiplano (the Valley of Mexico), the Gulf of Mexico and Maya area. Population dynamics within the Oaxaca Valley show continuity between Monte Albán and Cerro Guacamaya. Zaachila, though contemporary to Cerro Guacamaya, diverges from the other Oaxaca groups. At the regional level, affinity is seen between Monte Albán and its coeval sample from the Maya and Mixe-Zoque fringe region. Sites in the altiplano and the Gulf of Mexico show relationships less stable over time. However, Cholula and Teotihuacán are more consistently separate from Oaxaca samples, perhaps indicating population interactions were fairly uncommon between these two regions, at least in the time frame analyzed in this study.
Culture, Environment and health in the Yucatan (Azcorra and Dickinson editors, Springer) peninsula, 2020
Tropical coastal environments expose individuals to a wide array of
stressful conditions, but at ... more Tropical coastal environments expose individuals to a wide array of stressful conditions, but at the same time are supposed to grant settlers a qualitatively richer and more varied diet. The present study analyzes caries and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) in two Classic Period (CE 250-750) coastal sites (Jaina and Xcamb6), located in the Yucatan peninsula's northern coastline, in comparison with inland sites. The analysis reveals the absence of a clear pattern, showing high levels of caries and LEH both in Xcamb6 and in more inland sites, in contrast to lower levels of such stressful indicators at Jaina and in other sites located in the interior of the peninsula. Archaeological and bioarchaeological evidence rules out that social status and wealth, as well as sample composition by sex, or by age at death, can be at the base of such differences. Results, instead, highlight the concept that well-being is the result of the entangled and intettwined interaction between the environmental, biological, and cultural factors that shaped each and every human community.
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Papers by Andrea Cucina
3Applied PaleoScience, Bothell, Washington
Correspondence
Andrea Cucina, Facultad de Ciencias Antropológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 1 Carretera Mérida-Tizimin, 97305 Merida, Yucatán, Mexico.
Email: [email protected]
James C. Chatters, Applied Paleoscience, 10322 NE 190th St, Bothell, Washington, 98011.
Email: [email protected]
Funding information
DirectAMS; Archaeological Institute of America; INAH; Waitt Foundation; National Geographic Society
| James C. Chatters3

Abstract
Objectives: To increase understanding of the subsistence practices of the first Americans through analysis of the near-complete dentition of a young woman dating to the terminal Pleistocene of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
Materials and Methods: The skeleton is that of “Naia” a 15 to 17-year-old female from the submerged natural trap of Hoyo Negro found in association with remains of numerous extinct species of megafauna. Superbly preserved remains included the skull with 28 teeth, which are analyzed for evidence of caries, periodontal disease, wear patterns, and malocclusion.
Results: Naia exhibits a high frequency of dental caries, along with aggressive peri- odontal disease that threatened all her teeth, particularly her incisors. Dental attrition was extremely light for a hunter-gatherer, reaching to four on the Molnar scale on only one tooth. Lack of wear is associated with severe mandibular retrognathia, and low masticatory forces.
Discussion: Naia's dental condition is compared with that of other northern Paleo- americans, mostly females, dating before 11,000 cal BP. These exhibit a high degree of variability in both caries and tooth wear. All, however, exhibit rapid anterior wear owing to technological use of the front teeth. Naia exhibits the highest rate of caries, similar to that of the earliest South Americans, and one of the lowest rates of attri- tion. This demonstrates that she had a nonabrasive diet that was at least seasonally rich in carbohydrates. This does not mean her diet was low in meat, however, because similarly light dental attrition is seen in the Arch Lake female, a Paleo- american from a big-game hunting society.
the turn of the twentieth century experienced very poor living
conditions, characterized by diseases and high infant mortality.
The death records for the hacienda San Pedro Cholul stored at the
Yucatán State Archive, reports mortality data for people living in
the hacienda between 1871 and 1900, including cause of death.
Infant mortality for children under two years of age reached
54.5%, while it was 70.2% for children under five years of age.
Gastrointestinal disorders, fever, and ‘alferecía’ characterized infant
mortality in children aged one year, while diarrhoea and fever
mostly affected infants after that age. Male infant mortality
predominated over that of females in children less than five years
of age but the trend reversed after that age. About one quarter of
people died during measles, smallpox and whooping cough
epidemics. Harsh living conditions are also suggested from the
bottles retrieved during archaeological excavations of the
hacienda. Many of these would have contained medical
treatments against dysentery, intestinal parasites and malnutrition,
and were intended also for infants and children. This combined
historical and archaeological investigation provides insights in
relation to the morbidity and mortality of the people who both
lived at and worked for the henequen haciendas. It also reveals
how they tried to counteract the numerous and varied ailments
they suffered during their everyday lives.
the people who live in Yucatan are of Maya origin, characterized by a Mongoloid dental pattern. Because of their ethnicity, variations are
expected. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the morphological characteristics and variability of this population. One hundred
and five extracted first mandibular premolars of Mexican Maya population were analyzed; the sample was obtained from the Oral
Surgery Clinic in the School of Dentistry at the Autonomous University of Yucatan with written informed consent. Analyses were
performed by means of Cone Beam Computed Tomography. Vertucci´s Type I was the most prevalent configuration with 51.4 %, but 41
cases (39.1 %) presented a radicular groove and a C-shaped canal configuration. Overall, we documented 1, 2, 3, and 4 root canals.
Mandibular first premolars are very variable in the Yucatecan population. The variability and frequency of C-shape is similar to mandibular
second molars confirming the importance of the ethnic background for the endodontic treatments.
3Applied PaleoScience, Bothell, Washington
Correspondence
Andrea Cucina, Facultad de Ciencias Antropológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 1 Carretera Mérida-Tizimin, 97305 Merida, Yucatán, Mexico.
Email: [email protected]
James C. Chatters, Applied Paleoscience, 10322 NE 190th St, Bothell, Washington, 98011.
Email: [email protected]
Funding information
DirectAMS; Archaeological Institute of America; INAH; Waitt Foundation; National Geographic Society
| James C. Chatters3

Abstract
Objectives: To increase understanding of the subsistence practices of the first Americans through analysis of the near-complete dentition of a young woman dating to the terminal Pleistocene of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
Materials and Methods: The skeleton is that of “Naia” a 15 to 17-year-old female from the submerged natural trap of Hoyo Negro found in association with remains of numerous extinct species of megafauna. Superbly preserved remains included the skull with 28 teeth, which are analyzed for evidence of caries, periodontal disease, wear patterns, and malocclusion.
Results: Naia exhibits a high frequency of dental caries, along with aggressive peri- odontal disease that threatened all her teeth, particularly her incisors. Dental attrition was extremely light for a hunter-gatherer, reaching to four on the Molnar scale on only one tooth. Lack of wear is associated with severe mandibular retrognathia, and low masticatory forces.
Discussion: Naia's dental condition is compared with that of other northern Paleo- americans, mostly females, dating before 11,000 cal BP. These exhibit a high degree of variability in both caries and tooth wear. All, however, exhibit rapid anterior wear owing to technological use of the front teeth. Naia exhibits the highest rate of caries, similar to that of the earliest South Americans, and one of the lowest rates of attri- tion. This demonstrates that she had a nonabrasive diet that was at least seasonally rich in carbohydrates. This does not mean her diet was low in meat, however, because similarly light dental attrition is seen in the Arch Lake female, a Paleo- american from a big-game hunting society.
the turn of the twentieth century experienced very poor living
conditions, characterized by diseases and high infant mortality.
The death records for the hacienda San Pedro Cholul stored at the
Yucatán State Archive, reports mortality data for people living in
the hacienda between 1871 and 1900, including cause of death.
Infant mortality for children under two years of age reached
54.5%, while it was 70.2% for children under five years of age.
Gastrointestinal disorders, fever, and ‘alferecía’ characterized infant
mortality in children aged one year, while diarrhoea and fever
mostly affected infants after that age. Male infant mortality
predominated over that of females in children less than five years
of age but the trend reversed after that age. About one quarter of
people died during measles, smallpox and whooping cough
epidemics. Harsh living conditions are also suggested from the
bottles retrieved during archaeological excavations of the
hacienda. Many of these would have contained medical
treatments against dysentery, intestinal parasites and malnutrition,
and were intended also for infants and children. This combined
historical and archaeological investigation provides insights in
relation to the morbidity and mortality of the people who both
lived at and worked for the henequen haciendas. It also reveals
how they tried to counteract the numerous and varied ailments
they suffered during their everyday lives.
the people who live in Yucatan are of Maya origin, characterized by a Mongoloid dental pattern. Because of their ethnicity, variations are
expected. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the morphological characteristics and variability of this population. One hundred
and five extracted first mandibular premolars of Mexican Maya population were analyzed; the sample was obtained from the Oral
Surgery Clinic in the School of Dentistry at the Autonomous University of Yucatan with written informed consent. Analyses were
performed by means of Cone Beam Computed Tomography. Vertucci´s Type I was the most prevalent configuration with 51.4 %, but 41
cases (39.1 %) presented a radicular groove and a C-shaped canal configuration. Overall, we documented 1, 2, 3, and 4 root canals.
Mandibular first premolars are very variable in the Yucatecan population. The variability and frequency of C-shape is similar to mandibular
second molars confirming the importance of the ethnic background for the endodontic treatments.
stressful conditions, but at the same time are supposed to grant settlers a qualitatively richer and more varied diet. The present study analyzes caries and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) in two Classic Period (CE 250-750) coastal sites (Jaina and Xcamb6), located in the Yucatan peninsula's northern coastline, in comparison with inland sites. The analysis reveals the absence of a clear pattern, showing high levels of caries and LEH both in Xcamb6 and in more inland sites, in contrast to lower levels of such stressful indicators at Jaina and in other sites located in the interior of the peninsula. Archaeological and bioarchaeological evidence rules out that social status and wealth, as well as sample composition by sex, or by age at death, can be at the base of such differences. Results, instead, highlight the concept that well-being is the result of the entangled and intettwined interaction between the environmental, biological, and cultural factors that shaped each and every human community.