An Evolution of Creativity and Ritual: the Immortalizing Craftmenship of the Chinchorro Morticians
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1996 An evolution of creativity and ritual: The immortalizing craftmenship of the Chinchorro morticians Russell Allen Hapke University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Hapke, Russell Allen, "An evolution of creativity and ritual: The immortalizing craftmenship of the Chinchorro morticians" (1996). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 592. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/i1oj-rgpl This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. AN EVOLUTION OF CREATIVITY AND RITUAL: THE IMMORTALIZING CRAFTMENSHIP OF THE CHINCHORRO MORTICIANS by Russcli A. Hapkc A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology Depaitment of Anthropology University of Ne%'ada, Las Vegas May 1996 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Nuaober: 1380516 UMI Microform 1380516 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. @1996 Russell A. Hapke All Riglits Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Thesis of Russell A. Hapke for the degree of Masters of Arts in Anthropology is approved. Chairperson. Bernardo^ Aniaza. Ph.é) Exammina Committee Member. Claude N. Warren. Ph.D Examin/tig Committee Member. George Urioste. Ph.D. 6 , 'iluLC Gradui’te Faculty Representative. Carol Kimball. AMusD. Dean of the Graduate Cblleae. Ronald W Smith, PhD. University of Nevada. Las Vegas Mav IQQ6 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT The ancient Chinchoiros are the oldest culture known to have developed elaborate artificial munnnification practices for their deceased. This study tested a Chinchorro sedentary subshence strategy proposed by Arriaza (1995a). This proposition conflicts with the present paradigms concerning prehistoric egalitarian societies. By analyzing the mummified remains o f twenty-seven individuals, radiocarbon dates and ethnographic mortuarial data often other maritime cultures, this thesis builds a base for both supoiting and opposing the sedentary proposition. It is suggested that the Chinchorro were sedentary during the black period (ca. 5050 - 3000 B.C.) but more mobile during the subsequent red and mud-coated periods. The style, technique, and complexity of the mummies indicate Chinchorro morticians played a central social and political role in shaping their society. It is speculated thsi the morticians were females during the black period based on correlations drawn from the mortuary remains reflecting patterns in ethnographic data; while males practiced the mortuary arts during the red period also based on similar correlations drawn from tlte materials and ethnographic data. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................iü LISTOFHGURES.......................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................. vi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1 CHAPTER TWO: DEATH AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY 7 Death and Mummies in General.......................................................... 7 The Conçaiison: Egyptian versus Chinchorro mummies................. 11 Past Chinchorro Research................................................................... 16 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN, MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGIES................................................................24 Research Design................................................................................... 24 Getting Started with Mortuary Data .................................................. 28 Materials.............................................................................................. 30 Methodology......................................................................................... 32 Using the HRAF to aid in the problem o f sedentism ..................... 34 Archaeological Methodology.............................................................. 36 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND INTERPRETATIONS..................... 39 Ethnographic Findings: Burial Practices for other Maritime Societies.................................................................................. 39 Archaeological Findings:..................................................................... 46 Off the Straight and Narrow Path of Tradition.................... 47 Black Style: Sedentary Implications...................................... 94 Mortician Manufacturing Techniques and Deviations 96 Red Style: Sedentary Implications........................................... 101 Mortician Manufacturing Techniques and Deviations 103 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION.................................................................. 107 The Chinchorro and Other Mortuary Theories and Methodologies 118 In Response to Past Theoretical Models......................................... 123 Speculating Social Identity from Style: Black Style...................... 128 Speculating Social Identity from Style: Red Style........................... 130 CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION: MOBILE TRADERS OR SETTLED MORTICIANS?........................................................................132 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................. 141 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES PAGE Figure 1: R. Hertz's trilogy surrounding rites of passage for death rituals.................7 Figure 2: Timeline o f major contributors to the “Chinchorro” research ................... 17 Figure 3: Map of the Atacama Desert along southern Peru and northern Chile 18 Table 1; Observation totals ofmumm. individuals ......................................................32 Table 2; Maritime mortuary observations. HRAF source ........................................ 42 Figure 4: Map of Arica, El Morro (Morro 1 site), and Azapa Valley........................44 Figure 5; Map of the 1983 excavation at the Morro 1 site........................................ 44 Figure 6: Bone knapping and joint joining.............................................................. 49 Figure 7: Maderas Enco Reconstruction phase 1 .................................................... 51 Figure 8; Maderas Enco Reconstruction phase 2 .................................................... 51 Figure 9: Maderas Enco Reconstruction phase 3................................................... 51 Figure 10: Maderas Enco proposed rendering of finished product...................... 52 Figure 11: Color artist’s interpretation