COMMENTARY: Bioarchaeology of Oaxaca: It’s About the People

Abstract

Bioarchaeology is clearly all about the people. A human bone, although technically an artifact, is conceptually different than ceramic sherds, lithics, or even animal bones. It is us. The notions of embodiment and culturally-embedded interpretation intersects all the articles in this special issue, where authors take a detailed contextual approach to tackle diverse and complex themes such as mortuary practices, pre- and postmortem treatment, corporeal and skeletal modifications, individual and corporate identities, ethnic affiliation, social memory, violence and interpersonal conflict, trauma, gender and childhood, ancestral veneration, daily activities, nutritional and occupational stress, social organization, social relationships, and local, regional, continental, and global connections.