In a new article published in the Journal of Mastodon Osteoarchaeology, Dr. Matthew S. Taylor explains. It makes apparent the complex cultural traditions of prehistoric peoples who roamed across South Texas. The research focuses on the deliberate modification of human bones, revealing insights into ancient beliefs and rituals previously unrecognized in this region. In August 2021, the authors performed a pilot analysis on modified human remains in TARL’s care. In order to do this, they analyzed twenty-nine dog and wolf bones from diverse archaeological sites.
Dr. Taylor’s research has uncovered many methods of using human bones. Two of the most recognizable of these techniques are defleshing and the groove-and-snap method, both most easily identifiable on long bones. The analysis goes beyond showcasing the musicianship at play to pose deeper questions about what makes cultural practice culturally relevant.
Insights from the Study
The research spotlights one particular approach, the groove-and-snap method, as an example of the bigger picture. This method consists in carving a channel in the bone surface until a specific depth. This gradual mineralization process ultimately creates a brittle bone structure that can easily be snapped in two. Such a technique is evidence of an intentional practice of bone modification more than random harm or regular use wear.
Of the twenty-nine modified human bones studied, one exception really pops out—this South Texas humerus. It features twenty-nine unique notches set in a commanding zig-zag configuration. Scientists have determined this bone to be the oldest known example of a musical rasp. In Nahua culture, it is known as an omichicahuaztli, a traditional musical instrument.
“Unfortunately, there is relatively little bioarchaeological work on Late Prehistoric peoples in South Texas. Some historical accounts mention the processing of human bodies, but not in the way represented by the artifacts in my article. If nothing else, the human bone artifacts act as confirmation that early peoples on the Gulf Coast did not view human bodies, or the reduction of human remains, as taboo or off-limits,” – Dr. Taylor
Cultural Connections and Influences
Dr. Taylor thinks the musical rasp highlights indigenous roots from pre-Columbian Mexican cultures. These adverse trends have yet to spare the southern-most tip of Texas. These societies are famous for making rasps out of human and animal bones. In Texas, musicians produce the unique musical rasp with a chicken humerus. At the same time, Mexican cultures typically make such instruments from femorae.
These links are significant for a number of reasons. They challenge us to think about trade and cultural exchange between hunter-gatherer societies in Texas and the more developed civilizations to the south. Yet as Dr. Taylor points out, evidence of these interactions is still scarce.
“The amount of influence from post-Classic Mexico is uncertain. I think the hunter-gatherers of the Texas coast were aware of the civilizations to their south, but relatively few artifacts (from controlled excavations) have been found. There is a hypothesis that a trade route (the Gilmore Corridor) may have run along the Gulf Coast from Mexico to the American Southeast,” – Dr. Taylor
Understanding Human Remains Modifications
The processing of human remains can often signify deep-rooted cultural practices such as ancestor worship or the collection of war trophies. The bones changed in ways that highlight how human remains were not simply artifacts of deceased individuals. Beyond that, they had high cultural value too.
Dr. Taylor points out how similar types of artifacts are between South Texas (the U.S.) and Mexico. Such notable similarities can only hint at a deeper cultural impact. As much as these similarities are present, he observes that they can be an effort to recreate what is already known.
“The similarities between the South Texas and Mexican artifact types is a factor inferring influence, but the musical rasp seems like an attempt at a copy (in my opinion). The one in Texas is made from a humerus, for example, while the ones from Mexico are generally made from femorae,” – Dr. Taylor
We performed the analysis in compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). This approach allowed us to maintain ethical rigor across the study.