La mujer en el registro bioarqueológico y su visibilidad en los contextos funerarios

Abstract

In this paper we propose a series of refl ections on the treatment given to the world of women in northwestern Argentina from its representation in the bioarchaeological record and funerary contexts. Development is considered that this issue had in the history of biological anthropology, especially bioarchaeology, focusing on representations of the feminine in the funeral rites and the different lifestyles of the peoples of prehispanic northwestern Argentina. We performed a survey of available information on the role of women in prehispanic societies through the analysis of patterns of residence, health status and disease pathologies associated with gender and participation of women in situations of interpersonal violence. We will discuss different approaches in the bioarchaeological analysis, that reveal the patterns of behavior while deconstructing the places traditionally granted from archeology and biological anthropology to women in the social organization of prehistoric peoples. Cases of the Calchaqui Valley (province of Salta) and Quebrada de Humahuaca (province of Jujuy) will be taken as a reference to account the problem of women’s visibility.