Physical Anthropologist Tim White's work with the human remains at the Mancos Anasazi site is examined. Mancos, and other Anasazi sites in the region, show apparent evidence of cannibalism. The entire notion of cannibalism is examined, including an interview with William Arens, author of The man-eating myth : anthropology & anthropophagy(New York : Oxford University Press, 1979). Among the people interviewed are contemporary Native Americans, who give their views that the cannibalism probably happened, but in a religious context.
1. What are the usual contexts of cannibalism?
2. How is the label cannibalism used to dehumanize people of other
cultures?
3. The evidence for cannibalism certainly looks convincing? What do you
think about it?
4. If an archaeologist has good evidence for something that happened in
the distant past that may be
used against a people, as in the case of the living descendants of the
Anasazi, what should his/her ethical responsibility be? How might the
dilemma of responsibility to the data and the responsibility to living
peoples be handled?
See Brian Fagan's Column in Archaeology 47(1):11 and Tim White's
Prehistoric Cannibalism at Mancos 5MTUMR-2346 (Princeton, N.J. :
Princeton University Press, 1992). For information about the Anasazi look at the following web sites:
Chaco Canyon
Canyon de
Chelly
Anasazi
Archaeology