Skeleltal Biology of Human Remains from La Tolita, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador

Abstract

Although much of the archeological site of La Tolita has been destroyed by decades of looting, excavations begun in 1982 by the Banco Central of Quito, Ecuador, located undisturbed areas and recovered relatively large samples of human remains representing both primary and secondary burials from various areas of the site. These generally can be dated within the La Tolita Temprano (600 BC to 200 BC), La Tolita Clásico (200 BC to 90 AD), and the La Tolita Tardio (90 AD to 400 AD) periods.<br/>Analysis indicated at least 88 individuals to be present: 7 Temprano, 32 Clásico, and 49 Tardio. Evidence for limited cranial deformation, flesh removal and dismemberment, and manufacturing artifacts from human bone were detected. The temporal transition from Clásico to Tardio involved reduction of trauma, dental caries, the ratio of immatures to adults, the male mean age at death, and periosteal lesions, coupled with increases in living stature, porotic hyperostosis, congenital disorders, and enamel hypoplasia. Compared to other archeologically recovered samples from early Ecuador, the La Tolita remains indicate a well-nourished, healthy population who experienced high levels of skeletal trauma.