Cremated Animal Bone Piles in the Western Papaguería

AbstractIn 1985 Julian Hayden reported 95 heaps of cremated animal bones in the Sierra Pinacate. For a variety of reasons, he concluded that the practice was long-lived and unique to that area. He attributed it to the Pinacateño Areneños, an isolated band of Areneños (also known as Hia-Ced O’odham or “Sand Papagos”). Fieldwork in Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and the Barry M. Goldwater Range East and West over the last 30 years has located an additional 34 piles of cremated animal bones exactly like those described by Hayden (Figure 1). It is suggested that this practice is indeed long-lived and unique throughout Areneño (Hia-Ced O’odham) territory.En 1985 Julian Hayden reportó 95 montones de huesos de animales cremados en Sierra Pinacate. Por una variedad de razones, concluyó que la práctica era de larga duración y exclusiva de esa área. Lo atribuyó a los Pinacateños Areneños, una banda aislada de Areneños (también conocida como Hia-Ced O'odham o Sand Papagos). El trabajo de campo en el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Cabeza Prieta, el Monumento Nacional Organ Pipe Cactus y Barry M. Goldwater Range East durante los últimos 30 años ha localizado 34 pilas adicionales de huesos de animales cremados exactamente como los descritos por Hayden. Se sugiere que esta práctica es de hecho longeva y única en todo el territorio areneño (Hia-Ced O'odham o Sand Papago).KEYWORDS: Cremated animal bonesHia-Ced O'odhamSierra PinacateCabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge AcknowledgmentsMany people are responsible for the successful outcome of this project, an unexpected spin off from the general field recording on Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in Ajo, Arizona. Whereas Assistant Managers Alfredo Soto and Mary Kralovec greatly aided facilitation of the field work and analysis, major credit should go to now retired Manager Sid Slone who “made things happen” when needed. This paper would never have been possible without them. And, extra thanks to Gayle Hartmann and three reviewers whose thoughtful editing made this far more readable.Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).