HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS OF THE ANCIENT MAYA IN THE ...

102CNP2-07-1/18A complete left femoral midshaft from an adult has approximately 20 singlemarks situated throughout the bone (Figure 19). The distal end of the shaft shows dense,sclerotic bone remodeling, however, the entire bone has evidence of periostitis. A largeproportion of the marks are concentrated on the posterior-lateral aspect of the shaft. Theeffects of the cave environment have clearly worn the cortical surface of the entire bone.Despite this extensive wear, I was able to identify several possible cut marks. Forexample, there are two deep, U-shaped cut marks (13 mm each) on the inferior portionof the femoral neck and one below the lesser trochanter (10 mm). The medial-posterioraspect of the shaft also shows several marks with broad and shallow morphologies.Finally, there is a single deep cut 11.34 mm long on the posterior-distal aspect of thebone. These possible cut marks as well as the other marks identified throughout thefemur may point to possible defleshing activity.Thus, two elements show clear cut marks that indicate some peri- or post-mortemdisarticulation or dismemberment of a body. The cut marks are parallel in orientation,sometimes deep enough to macroscopically distinguish a U-shaped in cross section, apattern Raemsch (1993) attributes to defleshing activity. The anatomical location ofthese marks in areas of ligament and muscle attachments is also good evidence for adismemberment activity. This may point to secondary burial activity after incompletedecomposition, however, the processing of a primarily buried individual deposited in acave represents another possibility. In addition, four other long bones (CQ1-16-8/1,CRM3-06-2/2, CNP2-21-1/8, and CNP2-24-1/6) show marks that I considered as