Isotopes - Research Methods in Human Skeletal Biology - page 422

investigate archaeological questions regarding diet and residential mobility at the site of
Santa Rita B on the north coast of Peru.

Archaeological ContextdSanta Rita B
As has been discussed throughout this chapter, analyses of stable isotopes of the organic
and inorganic components of human skeletal and dental tissues have been reported from
numerous archaeological regions throughout the world, including the Andes ( Burger and
van der Merwe, 1990 ; Tomczak, 2003 ; Knudson et al., 2007 ). While numerous researchers
have reported stable isotopic data from archaeological contexts throughout the Andean
Cordillera, few have presented data from the north coast of Peru. This is surprising, given
the amount of scholarly attention paid to archaeological cultures such as Moche and
Chimu and monumental archaeological sites like Huacas de Moche and Chan Chan ( Pills-
bury, 2001 ). The work presented in this case study adds to the few studies published from
the north coast by presenting stable isotopic results from the Santa Rita B archaeological
project.
The Santa Rita B archaeological site is located on the western slopes of the Andes in
northern Peru. It can be found in the lower portion of the middle Chao Valley at an average
elevation of 484 m above mean sea level, approximately 25 km from the Pacific Ocean
( Figure 15.1 ). For over ten years, the Santa Rita B Archaeological Project was involved
with defining the nature of the human occupation of the site and investigating selected
aspects of its economic, social, political, and ideological history. Most recently, excavations
were targeted in areas of apparent domestic architecture, representing complexes or rooms.
One of these, known as “Archaeological Complex No. 3” (or CA3), is a rock-walled

compound measuring about 29 m 25 m, and is subdivided into numerous rooms. Rich

archaeological deposits were recovered from CA3 and include numerous classes of artifacts
such as ceramics and lithics, as well as zooarchaeological and botanical remains. Moreover,
several Spondylus shell caches (including complete bivalves and worked shell) have been
recovered, along with numerous articulated camelid (llama or alpaca) skeletons ( Gaither
et al., 2008, 2009 ).
Beginning in 2002, excavators at Santa Rita B began recovering human skeletal remains
from CA3 ( Figure 15.2 ). All individuals were buried 30 e 40 cm below the ground surface
in alluvial strata superimposed on top of other culturally derived deposits. Though some
looting has occurred at CA3, the majority of individuals have been excavated from sealed
contexts and little postmortem commingling has occurred. The upper strata containing
human skeletal remains were deposited sometime between 1050 and 1280 A.D., based on
calibrated radiocarbon dates derived from bone collagen.
Interestingly, several individuals from Santa Rita B present perimortem trauma (i.e., cut-
marks and blunt force injuries) and burial positions indicative of the pan-Andean practice of
human sacrifice ( Gaither et al., 2009 ). Figure 15.3 illustrates atypical body positioning of one
individual who presented with perimortem trauma (for a detailed discussion of trauma see
Kroman and Symes [Chapter 8], this volume). In addition, two individuals recovered from
CA3 represent what might be classified as principal burials. Entierro (Burial) 4, a child
aged 5 e 9, was buried with a young camelid and presented no perimortem trauma and
Entierro 8, an adult male, was buried in an extended, supine position. Though this burial