Children of Casas Grandes: A Molecular Examination of Subadults at Convento and Paquimé

Authors' Names

Lacy J. HazelwoodFollow
Holli K. McDonaldFollow

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Category

Social Sciences/Humanities

Abstract/Artist Statement

Bioarchaeological research has played a significant role in understanding the Casas Grandes region in northern Mexico. Excavations at the archaeological sites of Convento and Paquimé in Chihuahua, Mexico recovered at least 652 burials dating to AD 700-1450, providing a robust skeletal population for investigations, including research on population demographics, patterns of violence, and social stratification. While there is extensive literature on these individuals, research focusing solely on subadults is nonexistent. This study employs genetic sex-typing using real-time PCR followed by high-resolution melting analysis, as well as strontium isotopic analysis on subadult remains from both Convento and Paquimé to provide estimations of biological sex and migration status. The resulting information is used to address key issues of mobility and social organization. The integration of research of subadults with those of adults is necessary for a better understanding of past societies, and aids particularly in understanding the pre-Hispanic Casas Grandes perception of childhood, violence, and social stratification.

Mentor Name

Meradeth Snow

Personal Statement

The Casas Grandes Archaeological Zone in northern Mexico that is examined in this project has been of anthropological interest for decades to academics and of general curiosity to others for just as long. The prehistoric peoples who built the archaeological sites and inhabited them over time had left many questions unanswered with no written records to tell their stories. We are determined to tell more of their stories left shrouded in mystery, specifically through the lenses of the subadults (infants and children) laid to rest at the prehistoric sites of Paquimé and Convento. Generally speaking, children in the archaeological record were often overlooked until the 1990’s when researchers began to realize that in order to study a culture in a comprehensive manner, you had to understand the role children fulfilled among their adult counterparts. Fortunately, the scientific tools available to anthropologists today allow us to examine the roles of these children through molecular means. At present, the proposed presentation is the first to provide accurate sex determinations for the subadults of the Casas Grandes skeletal assemblage. Due to the fragmentary nature of the skeletal remains, the majority of individuals are of unknown sex. The project’s use of a relatively new method of genetic sex-typing for sex estimation and use of stable isotope analysis for estimations of geographic origins allows us to not just tell the stories of the children of the Casas Grandes, but to share their identities. The value of our work is multifaceted. The first aspect is our understanding of the Casas Grandes culture. This research provides a greater working knowledge of the region, potentially impacting future cross-cultural comparative analyses. Additionally, our work encourages and enhances international research partnerships and collaborations between the United States and Mexico, as indicated by the relationship we have built with the Mexican government who has supported and approved our research along the way. Moreover, the research fosters collaboration within the University of Montana system as several faculty (such as Dr. Meradeth Snow and Dr. John Douglas in the Anthropology Department) and graduate students conduct research within the Casas Grandes region. In conclusion, our aim isn’t just to fulfill our own investigative goals, but to cultivate a community with others who are just as passionate about this field of study and the archaeological sites as we are and to share that knowledge across the globe.