1. PEDRO JOSÉ TÓTORA DA GLÓRIA
Infections in the Subadult Skeletons of San Pedro de Atacama: A Case of the Osteological Paradox?
PEDRO JOSÉ TÓTORA DA GLÓRIA
MARIA ANTONIETA COSTA
WALTER ALVES NEVES

2. Objective
Main hypothesis: The influence of the Tiwanaku Empire improved the biological quality of life in San Pedro de Atacama
This hypothesis was tested in subadult skeletons from four distinct time periods of the local prehistory
Unspecific bone infections are used as indicators of biological stress

3. Study Area
• San Pedro de Atacama is one of the driest regions in the world
• Excellent conditions for the preservation of archaeological material

4. Salar de Atacama The region is located at 2500 meters of altitude
The sites are near the San Pedro River
The oasis are the main locations of human settlement

5. Prehistory of San Pedro de Atacama
7500 – 1200 B.C Hunter-gatherers with high mobility and seasonal food resources, hunted camelids and gathered algarrobo and chañar
1200 – 500 B.C Beginning of agriculture, pottery production and the domestication of camelids

6. 500 B.C. – 400 A.D. Stable and diversified agriculture (mainly maize), diversification of handcraft production (textiles, metals, basketry, bone tools, pottery)
400 – 950 A.D Peak influence of the Tiwanaku Empire: important changes in the social organization and material culture of San Pedro de Atacama
Intensification of inter-regional trade, movement of caravans and imported goods from Tiwanaku

7. Tiwanaku´s influence is both religious and economic
950 – 1450 B.C Collapse of Tiwanaku Empire; impoverishment of material culture in San Pedro de Atacama; construction of fortifications (pukaras) near the water sources

8. Unspecific Infections
Periostite and osteomyelite (localized or extensive)
Linked with two main factors:
aggregation and populational density
nutritional intake

9. Material and Methods Sample of 88 subadult skeletons Periods:
Solcor-3 (before Tiwanaku) – 480 A.D skeletons
Solcor-3 (Tiwanaku) – 920 A.D skeletons
Coyo-3 (final influence of Tiwanaku) – 960 A.D skeletons
Quitor-6 (after Tiwanaku) – 1240 A.D skeletons
Chi-square test (contingency table 2x2)

10. Results
Solcor-3 (Tiwanaku) shows the highest prevalence of unspecific infections
Solcor-3 (Tiwanaku) shows the highest prevalence of localized periostite and extensive osteomyelite

11. Discussion
Solcor-3 Tiwanaku has the highest prevalence and degree of infections in subadult skeletons
In adult skeletons, those from Solcor-3 Tiwanaku have the highest stature, lowest prevalence of caries and tooth wear
Adult skeletons and archaeological data point to a picture opposite to that suggested by the infections in subadults

12. Osteological paradox : “lesion frequencies cannot be interpreted in a straightforward fashion”
Better health can be made by worse skeletons

13. Conclusions Inicial hypothesis was not corroborated
We propose that the osteological paradox explains the opposite picture presented by subadult skeletons
Other osteological markers must be analysed to support this interpretation