Paleopatologías, cultura y ambiente: Condiciones de vida en los sitios arqueológicos Nacascolo (G-89 Na) y La Ceiba (G-60 LC) durante el Período Sapoá (800-1350 d.C.), Guanacaste
Fecha
2025-01
Autores
Espinoza Castro, María José
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Las condiciones de vida de las poblaciones precolombinas pueden ser reconocidas en los restos óseos a través de un análisis paleopatológico (Contantinescu, 1998). En la provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica; durante el período Sapoá (800-1350 d.C.) los grupos humanos, transformando contextos biológicos, sociales y ambientales, desarrollaron las condiciones aptas para sustentar una población en Nacascolo (G-89 Na) y en La Ceiba (G-60 LC); ocupando ambientes diferenciados a 10 km de distancia; el primero, en la costa de la Bahía Culebra; el segundo, en la llanura del río Tempisque, tierra adentro. Esta tesis estudió las condiciones de vida de estos dos grupos humanos que ocuparon ambientes diferenciados durante el período Sapoá (800-1350 d.C.), tomando como base de análisis las patologías presentes en los restos óseos de sus poblaciones. De los 64 individuos analizados, 21 corresponden con los enterramientos primarios del sitio Nacascolo, mientras que los restantes 43 individuos corresponden con enterramientos, también primarios del sitio La Ceiba. Partiendo del planteamiento hipotético que: “dadas las condiciones geológicas que tiene la bahía no era posible el desarrollo de actividades agrícolas intensivas, las cuales posiblemente se dieron en lugares fuera de esta” (Lange, Accola y Ryder, 1980); se llevó a cabo una revisión bibliográfica para evaluar las posiciones de investigaciones previas en ambas áreas de estudio. Posteriormente, se reconstruyeron y caracterizaron tafonómicamente los contextos funerarios para detallar la cronología de los mismos y, finalmente, se identificaron las patologías y los marcadores de actividad presentes en los restos óseos de dichos individuos. A partir de ello, se reconstruyó las condiciones de vida desde un enfoque biocultural; demostrando que, existen prácticas diferenciadas entre la zona costera (bahía) y la tierra adentro (llanura); las cuales se convirtieron en estresores para sus habitantes. De forma que, para ambos sitios, la presencia de condiciones patológicas se convierte en una respuesta de adaptación y resiliencia de los organismos frente a la agudización de estresores, especialmente cuando se toma en cuenta que tanto la costa como la llanura se estaban enfrentando un proceso de transformación de las prácticas culturales durante el período Sapoá (Aguilar, 2012; Solís, 2018; Wankmiller, 2016). De forma que, esto se convirtió en un ejemplo claro de una respuesta cultural ante las presiones ambientales diferenciadas y no siendo un reflejo directo del desmejoramiento de las condiciones de vida.
The living conditions of pre-Columbian populations can be recognized in bone remains through a paleopathological analysis (Contantinescu, 1998). In the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica; during the Sapoá period (800-1350 AD) human groups, transforming biological, social and environmental contexts, developed the conditions suitable to sustain a population in Nacascolo (G-89 Na) and in La Ceiba (G-60 LC); occupying different environments 10 km apart; the first, on the coast of Culebra Bay; the second, in the Tempisque River plain, inland. This thesis studied the living conditions of these two human groups that occupied different environments during the Sapoá period (800-1350 AD), taking as a basis of analysis the pathologies present in the bone remains of their populations. Of the 64 individuals analyzed, 21 correspond to primary burials at the Nacascolo site, while the remaining 43 individuals correspond to burials, also primary, at the La Ceiba site. Based on the hypothetical approach that: “given the geological conditions of the bay, the development of intensive agricultural activities was not possible, which possibly occurred in places outside of it” (Lange, Accola and Ryder, 1980); a bibliographic review was carried out to evaluate the positions of previous research in both study areas. Subsequently, the funerary contexts were reconstructed and taphonomically characterized to detail their chronology and, finally, the pathologies and activity markers present in the bone remains of these individuals were identified. From this, the living conditions were reconstructed from a biocultural approach; demonstrating that there are differentiated practices between the coastal zone (bay) and the inland (plain); which became stressors for their inhabitants. Thus, for both sites, the presence of pathological conditions becomes a response of adaptation and resilience of the organisms in the face of the worsening of stressors, especially when taking into account that both the coast and the plain were facing a process of transformation of cultural practices during the Sapoá period (Aguilar, 2012; Solís, 2018; Wankmiller, 2016). Thus, this became a clear example of a cultural response to differentiated environmental pressures and not a direct reflection of the deterioration of living conditions.
The living conditions of pre-Columbian populations can be recognized in bone remains through a paleopathological analysis (Contantinescu, 1998). In the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica; during the Sapoá period (800-1350 AD) human groups, transforming biological, social and environmental contexts, developed the conditions suitable to sustain a population in Nacascolo (G-89 Na) and in La Ceiba (G-60 LC); occupying different environments 10 km apart; the first, on the coast of Culebra Bay; the second, in the Tempisque River plain, inland. This thesis studied the living conditions of these two human groups that occupied different environments during the Sapoá period (800-1350 AD), taking as a basis of analysis the pathologies present in the bone remains of their populations. Of the 64 individuals analyzed, 21 correspond to primary burials at the Nacascolo site, while the remaining 43 individuals correspond to burials, also primary, at the La Ceiba site. Based on the hypothetical approach that: “given the geological conditions of the bay, the development of intensive agricultural activities was not possible, which possibly occurred in places outside of it” (Lange, Accola and Ryder, 1980); a bibliographic review was carried out to evaluate the positions of previous research in both study areas. Subsequently, the funerary contexts were reconstructed and taphonomically characterized to detail their chronology and, finally, the pathologies and activity markers present in the bone remains of these individuals were identified. From this, the living conditions were reconstructed from a biocultural approach; demonstrating that there are differentiated practices between the coastal zone (bay) and the inland (plain); which became stressors for their inhabitants. Thus, for both sites, the presence of pathological conditions becomes a response of adaptation and resilience of the organisms in the face of the worsening of stressors, especially when taking into account that both the coast and the plain were facing a process of transformation of cultural practices during the Sapoá period (Aguilar, 2012; Solís, 2018; Wankmiller, 2016). Thus, this became a clear example of a cultural response to differentiated environmental pressures and not a direct reflection of the deterioration of living conditions.