Objective

Here we present the first known examples of brachydactyly from an Andean archaeological context by describing the affected bones, presenting a differential diagnosis, and discussing the cultural implications of there being shortened metapodials in multiple tombs.

Materials

3232 well-preserved tubular bones representing an MNI of 250 human adults.

Methods

Each bone was visually inspected. Measurements were taken with an osteometric board, sliding calipers, and a flexible tape measure.

Results

Of 1210 metapodials excavated from eight burial contexts, ten were atypically short.

Conclusions

The ten shortened elements represent an MNI of three individuals with brachydactyly from two tombs. The presence of at least two individuals with brachydactyly in one tomb adds support to a previous suggestion that tombs were used for familial interment. It is plausible that the third individual from a different tomb was related to the other two, and the different burial contexts may reflect postmarital practices.

Significance

These cases offer insight into tomb use and underscore the importance of identifying rare developmental anomalies in the archaeological record as their presence may indicate genetic relationships within or among archaeological cemeteries.

Limitations

With commingled contexts and incomplete recovery of skeletal remains, individualizing the brachydactylous elements was not possible. There is also a lack of comparative data from other Andean sites.

Suggestions for Further Research

Identify more Andean cases of brachydactyly to learn if the relatively frequent involvement of the first digit is more common among Andean skeletal samples than North American, or if it is unique to Marcajirca.

中文翻译：

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中晚期两座混合墓葬中的三例短指 E 型 - 秘鲁安卡什 Marcajirca 晚地平线遗址

客观的

在这里，我们通过描述受影响的骨骼，提出鉴别诊断，并讨论多个坟墓中缩短的足趾的文化含义，展示了安第斯考古背景中第一个已知的短指例子。

材料

3232 根保存完好的管状骨骼，代表了 250 名成人的 MNI。

方法

目视检查每块骨头。测量采用骨测量板、滑动卡尺和柔性卷尺。

结果

在从 8 个墓葬环境中挖掘出的 1210 个后足中，有 10 个异常短。

结论

十个缩短的元素代表来自两个坟墓的三个短指个体的 MNI。一个坟墓中至少有两个患有短指的人的存在增加了对先前关于坟墓用于家族安葬的建议的支持。来自不同坟墓的第三个人似乎与另外两个有关，不同的葬礼背景可能反映了婚后的做法。

意义

这些案例提供了对墓葬使用的深入了解，并强调了在考古记录中识别罕见的发育异常的重要性，因为它们的存在可能表明考古墓地内部或之间的遗传关系。

限制

由于复杂的背景和骨骼残骸的不完全恢复，不可能对短指元素进行个性化处理。其他安第斯遗址也缺乏比较数据。

进一步研究的建议

确定更多的安第斯短指病例，以了解第一个手指的相对频繁的参与在安第斯骨骼样本中是否比北美更常见，或者它是否是 Marcajirca 独有的。