Secondary burials with intentional manipulation in Brazil: a case study on the archaeological site Pedra do Cachorro, Buíque, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

This article reports on a case study of a secondary burial excavated at the site Pedra do Cachorro, 760 ± 30 B.P., Buíque, Pernambuco, Brazil. This site contains human bone remains of an adult male individual, whose bioarchaeological analysis revealed signs of active defleshing of the body and other evidence of intentional manipulation of fresh bones, such as cuts, fractures, blows and crushing. The methodology of analysis used to identify perimortem manipulation of bones, may help to understand the complexity of this funerary practice and its context in relation to other archaeological finds from Brazilian prehistory.

Keywords Secondary burials; Intentional manipulation; Bioarcheology; Brazilian Northeast; Pedra do Cachorro