Dialogues in Cuban Archaeology

134 / Valcárcel Rojas and Rodríguez Arce
THE CEMETERY
The presence of a cemetery is another element that distinguishes El Chorro
de Maíta because, in other contexts in Banes, caves constitute the typical funerary
space (Guarch Delmonte 1996:15; Rodríguez 1989:2; Rouse 1942:149).
In addition, burials in open-air sites such as those at El Chorro de Maíta are
known at only two other places. However, in these cases, the burials are located
in mounds formed and used for the disposal of domestic waste and not
with the exclusive purpose of containing burials (Miguel 1949:176; Rouse
1942:137).
The Departamento Centro Oriental de Arqueología excavated the main
part of the cemetery. While other areas remain to be studied, test excavations
suggest that they contain low concentrations of burials. In one of the most
important excavation units (denominated Unit 3), 93 indigenous skeletons
were unearthed as well as one European skull from the Indo-Hispanic contact
period and an intrusive contemporary skeleton (see Figure 7.3). In areas adjoining
this unit, 17 additional aboriginal skeletons were found, for a total of
110 skeletons associated with indigenous groups. In addition, two years before
this excavation, 17 aboriginal skeletons of the burial area were excavated by
local people (Guarch Delmonte et al. 1987:25); Rouse (1942:104) reported the
discovery of another burial. Altogether, no fewer than 128 indigenous skeletons
have been extracted from the site.
The collections excavated by the Departamento Centro Oriental de Arqueología
have been partially analyzed. Using the age groups recommended
by Ubelaker (1991), the investigation conducted by César Rodríguez Arce of
106 of the indigenous skeletons established the presence of 20 infants, 6 adolescents,
35 adult males, 43 adult females, and 2 adults of undetermined sex.
Part of Rodríguez Arce’s results, published in various articles (Guarch Delmonte
1996:17–20; Guarch Delmonte et al. 1987:31–36), indicates the presence
of cranial deformation of the occipital-frontal tabular oblique type, a characteristic
common among the groups of Arawak origin. Analysis also indicated
a great variability in the orientation of the skeletons and burial positions.
A preliminary analysis of health indicators distinguishes several dental af-
®ictions but few other osteological pathologies. The only pathologies detected
were bony calluses and two fractured ribs in burial no. 47 and a chronic dental
abscess that left a round opening in the exterior of the left side of the
maxilla of burial no. 25. Despite the large quantity of burials localized in the
Area Arquelógica de Banes, few of them have been studied in this way. Ac-