학술논문

First Archaeological Record of the Torture and Mutilation of Indigenous Mapuche During the 'War of Arauco,' Sixteenth Century
Document Type
article
Source
Open Archaeology, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 307-369 (2023)
Subject
northern patagonia and la araucanía
warfare phase
hispanic-indigenous contact
hand mutilations
Archaeology
CC1-960
Language
English
ISSN
2300-6560
Abstract
Newen Antug is a multicomponent (residential and funerary) archaeological site located in the Lácar basin south of Neuquén, Argentina, in the east Andean section of the binational basin of the Valdivia River. Two human skeletons were discovered during the excavation of the site. Based on radiocarbon dating and associated material contexts, the burials can be associated with the period of first contact between the indigenous people of the region with the Spanish. Based on the analysis of historical sources, bioanthropological studies, and forensic data, we postulate that these individuals were tortured victims of the war waged by the Spaniards against the indigenous inhabitants. The skeletal remains present various perimortem trauma. The left hand and distal end of the left forearm was absented in situ and which are discussed as being possible form of mutilations of the upper limbs. Individual 1♀ had a horse (Equus caballus) leg replacing or symbolising the missing left limb. The mutilation practice is recorded as part of the power devices characteristic of the Warfare Phase (1536–1655) of the conquest, when the Spanish were attempting to establish a pre-disciplinary machinery of their “Sovereign Power” in the south-central Chile. The findings reported here extend this process to Northeastern Patagonia in Argentina.