An archaeothanatological approach for interpreting a complex funerary deposit: the case study of “Burial 2” at Toca do Enoque (Middle Holocene, Northeastern Brazil)

Abstract

The discovery of funerary deposits with atypical and complex characteristics requires the use of an archaeothanatological approach to better interpret the mortuary practices. This approach comprises the processes of deposit formation and the reconstruction of the funerary cycle. Simultaneously, to best describe and classify some types of mortuary deposits—when traditional categories of classification are insufficient—it is necessary to incorporate complementary analytical categories, such as ongoing tomb use, body reduction process, funerary, extra or post-funerary formation processes, or corporeal relics. We present the case study of Burial 2 at Toca do Enoque, located within a Middle Holocene archaeological funerary site from Northeastern Brazil, whose remarkable features required such an approach and analytical categories towards a step-by-step reconstruction for a proper understanding of the funerary practices. Here, we highlight the funerary and post-funerary cycle of the mortuary deposit including the simultaneous and successive disposal of several bodies within a context of ongoing tomb use, with various phases of use and reuse, tomb re-opening, intentional anthropic disturbance, body-manipulation, commingled human remains formed by a body reduction process, and redundant human bones displayed as corporeal relics.