Historic-archaeological research on the Alamanni, an early medieval population in the periphery of the Frankish Empire, primarily focuses on themes such as their military character or issues of ethnicity, while the actual functioning of Alamannic societies remains conjectural. Aiming at presenting an integrated approach to the concepts of social organisation and social identities in Alamannic populations, this study examines and defines Alamannic identity and society by creating a dialogue between the disciplines of archaeology, biological anthropology and socio-cultural sciences. A bioarchaeology of identity explores the Alamanni of Pleidelsheim and Neresheim via their funerary and skeletal evidence, allowing for the factor of different environments that influence the interactions of a community. A key theme is the investigation of indicators for biological and social 'status', by direct association of bioanthropological with funerary archaeological data, as well as by evaluation of present interpretations made from material culture in the light of bioanthropological analysis as a paramount focus. The results are interpreted in terms of social status and the perception of certain social parameters, exploring interrelations between factors such as sex and gender, age, status and activity for the entirety of a society. This research offers new perspectives on Alamannic societies and helps to comprehend Alamannic social organisation as a multi-layered phenomenon, emphasizing the importance of a biocultural approach. Beyond common perceptions, this study forms the basis for a new understanding of the Alamanni, as the results reveal a society that was complex and diverse, displaying its own characteristics in the Merovingian world.

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar comparativamente as parcelas operacionais das práticas mortuárias entre sociedades pescadoras-coletoras que viveram no litoral centronorte de São Paulo entre em 5040 a 1381BP. Foram estudados os dados mortuários dos sítios Piaçaguera, Tenório, Mar Virado e Buracão. Entre a Baixada Santista e o litoral norte, um significativo número de sepultamentos foi escavado por arqueólogos da Universidade de São Paulo entre em 1962 a 2004. Foram formuladas 57 variáveis culturais e biológicas distribuídas entre 203 inumações. O Capítulo 1 apresenta as estratégias teóricas gerais e específicas em arqueologia das práticas mortuárias. As características estruturais e ambientais dos sítios arqueológicos foram esboçadas no Capítulo 2. O Capítulo 3 inclui as terminologias e classificações para a descrição dos sepultamentos e seus conteúdos. Nos Capítulos 4 e 5 são comparados os dados mortuários e descritos os contextos arqueológicos dos sepultamentos: corpo, acompanhamentos funerários e outras associações. No Capítulo 6 é apresentada uma síntese sobre a distribuição dos sexos e grupos etários entre os sítios e sobre as modificações diversas nos esqueletos, patológicas ou não. Apresentamos uma síntese das variações e similaridades no interior de instâncias específicas das práticas mortuárias entre os sítios e seus reflexos quanto as dinâmicas socioculturais envolvidas, carreadas intencionalmente ao sistema de símbolos mortuários pelas sociedades dos vivos / The objective of this work is to analyze the operational portions of the mortuary practices comparatively among fisher-gatherer societies that lived in the coast center-north of Sao Paulo (5040 to 1381BP). Between the Santos and the northern coast, a significant number of burials was excavated by archeologists of the University of Sao Paulo enters in 1962 to 2004. They were studied the mortuary data of the archaeological sites Piaçaguera, Tenorio, Mar Virado and Buracao: 57 cultural and biological variables were formulated distributed among 203 inhumations. The Chapter 1 presents the general and specific theoretical strategies in Archaeology of the Mortuary Practices. The structural and environmental characteristics of the archeological sites were sketched in the Chapter 2. The Chapter 3 includes the terminologies and classifications for the description of the burials and their contents. In the Chapters 4 and 5 the mortuary data are compared and described the archeological contexts of the burials: body, attendances mortuaries and other associations. In the Chapter 6 a synthesis is presented on the distribution of the sexes and age groups among the sites and about the several pathological or non-patologic modifications in the skeletons. We presented the synthesis of the variations and similarities inside specific instances of the mortuary practices between the four groups and their reflexes the the involved sociocultural dynamics, carted intentionally to the system of mortuary symbols by the societies

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar comparativamente as parcelas operacionais das práticas mortuárias entre sociedades pescadoras-coletoras que viveram no litoral centronorte de São Paulo entre em 5040 a 1381BP. Foram estudados os dados mortuários dos sítios Piaçaguera, Tenório, Mar Virado e Buracão. Entre a Baixada Santista e o litoral norte, um significativo número de sepultamentos foi escavado por arqueólogos da Universidade de São Paulo entre em 1962 a 2004. Foram formuladas 57 variáveis culturais e biológicas distribuídas entre 203 inumações. O Capítulo 1 apresenta as estratégias teóricas gerais e específicas em arqueologia das práticas mortuárias. As características estruturais e ambientais dos sítios arqueológicos foram esboçadas no Capítulo 2. O Capítulo 3 inclui as terminologias e classificações para a descrição dos sepultamentos e seus conteúdos. Nos Capítulos 4 e 5 são comparados os dados mortuários e descritos os contextos arqueológicos dos sepultamentos: corpo, acompanhamentos funerários e outras associações. No Capítulo 6 é apresentada uma síntese sobre a distribuição dos sexos e grupos etários entre os sítios e sobre as modificações diversas nos esqueletos, patológicas ou não. Apresentamos uma síntese das variações e similaridades no interior de instâncias específicas das práticas mortuárias entre os sítios e seus reflexos quanto as dinâmicas socioculturais envolvidas, carreadas intencionalmente ao sistema de símbolos mortuários pelas sociedades dos vivos / The objective of this work is to analyze the operational portions of the mortuary practices comparatively among fisher-gatherer societies that lived in the coast center-north of Sao Paulo (5040 to 1381BP). Between the Santos and the northern coast, a significant number of burials was excavated by archeologists of the University of Sao Paulo enters in 1962 to 2004. They were studied the mortuary data of the archaeological sites Piaçaguera, Tenorio, Mar Virado and Buracao: 57 cultural and biological variables were formulated distributed among 203 inhumations. The Chapter 1 presents the general and specific theoretical strategies in Archaeology of the Mortuary Practices. The structural and environmental characteristics of the archeological sites were sketched in the Chapter 2. The Chapter 3 includes the terminologies and classifications for the description of the burials and their contents. In the Chapters 4 and 5 the mortuary data are compared and described the archeological contexts of the burials: body, attendances mortuaries and other associations. In the Chapter 6 a synthesis is presented on the distribution of the sexes and age groups among the sites and about the several pathological or non-patologic modifications in the skeletons. We presented the synthesis of the variations and similarities inside specific instances of the mortuary practices between the four groups and their reflexes the the involved sociocultural dynamics, carted intentionally to the system of mortuary symbols by the societies

Cette recherche doctorale a été réalisée dans le cadre d’un projet de sauvetage archéologique à Villa de Álvarez, dans l’état de Colima (Mexique). Dans la zone géographique à l’étude, plusieurs traces indiquant la présence de contextes funéraires ont été relevées par le passé, mais aucun de ces sites n’a fait l’objet d’un rapport archéologique. L’état de Colima est connu pour ses tombes à puits (tumbas de tiro), ses céramiques de manufacture typique, ainsi que pour les fameux « chiens de Colima ». Malgré la relation entre ces objets et les contextes funéraires, peu d’études se sont attardées à comprendre la composante biologique de ces contextes, c’est-à-dire les êtres humains. Ainsi, la richesse du projet de sauvetage archéologique nous a donné l’opportunité de structurer un projet de recherche de thèse doctorale beaucoup plus profond en ce qui concerne un des sujets les plus importants de cette région mésoaméricaine : les traditions funéraires. C’est de cette façon, à la lumière des résultats particuliers obtenus sur le site du Tropel, que nous avons décidé de travailler les liens culturels existants entre ce dernier, la région de Colima, l’Ouest mésoaméricain et l’aire culturelle dans son ensemble. La campagne de fouille ainsi menée a permis la récupération de vingt-six individus de différents sexes et âges. Au moins quatre périodes d’occupation ont été enregistrées sur le site. La présence humaine sur le site s’étend donc de 339AD à 682 AD (datations au radiocarbone sur trois individus du site El Tropel), ce qui correspond à la phase archéologique Comala à Colima. L’abondance d’artefacts de cette phase dans les quatre strates culturelles du site a permis de réaliser une datation relative en relation avec l’apparition et la fréquence de céramiques d’autres phases culturelles connues : Ortices, Colima, Armería y Chanal. Concernant les pratiques funéraires, la fouille a permis de constater le traitement des cadavres avant, pendant et après l’enterrement des défunts. Bien que des contextes funéraires similaires aient déjà été mentionnés dans la région, aucun d’entre eux n’a pu être identifié clairement. Ces traitements funéraires démontrent l’existence chez les anciens habitants de Colima d’une transmission des connaissances concernant l’anatomie, les processus de décomposition des cadavres, et même possiblement d’un culte des os humains. Une étude ostéologique a été menée sur les squelettes afin de documenter les aspects démographiques, pathologiques, sociaux et économiques de la population du site. Parmi les éléments les plus significatifs de l’étude, il est possible de mentionner la présence de certaines pathologies peu connues dans cette région de la Mésoamérique telles que la syphilis et la tuberculose. Des déformations crâniennes ont aussi été observées, ainsi que la présence d’un déformateur crânien en céramique. De plus, de nombreuses données ont été relevées concernant la présence d’os wormiens sur les crânes déformés artificiellement. Finalement, des analyses d’isotopes stables ont été pratiquées sur des os des individus, ainsi que sur des os de chiens et de cerfs retrouvés sur le site, afin de mieux connaître l’alimentation et la vie des communautés anciennes de la région. / This doctoral research was conducted in the frame of an archaeological project salvage in the Colima state, Mexico. The rescue took place in an archaeological site located in the municipality of Villa de Álvarez, Colima. This region had been excavated before and the presence of funerary contexts was attested, nevertheless no archaeological records were reported for these projects. The Colima region is known for the presence of shaft tombs, for its prehispanic pottery industry and for the so called “perros de Colima”. Curiously, although these elements are intimately related to funeral contexts, there are very few archaeological studies dedicated to the biological component of funerary practices, the human beings. The field research project gave us the possibility to go deeper in a wider dissertation project in which the main subject was the funerary traditions, one of the most emblematic subjects in this Mesoamerican region. The main goal of this dissertation structure was to establish the value of findings from el Tropel through its cultural links with the local region, the West Mesoamerica and the whole cultural area. Twenty-six individuals of different sexes and ages were recovered during the excavations. At least four different periods of occupation were registered in this place. The identified cultural phases let us know that the continual occupation of this site goes from 339 AD to 682 AD (C14 dates were obtained from the bones of three individuals from el Tropel), these dates correspond to the Comala phase. The large amount of archaeological materials from this phase in four cultural strata gave us the basis to understand a relative dating which keeps relation with the appearance and frequency of four other cultural phases characterized by their ceramics: Ortices, Colima, Armería and Chanal. Within the funeral practices we registered the existence of funerary treatments that were practiced before, during, and after the burial of the deceased. These practices had not been identified although similar funeral contexts had been already been reported in this archaeological region. The funeral treatments analyses demonstrated the transmission of knowledge concerning the human anatomy, the cadaveric processes and probably a tradition of special cult to the bones. We practiced also an osteological study of the twenty-six individuals to get demographic, pathological, social and economical data. Among the most out-standing aspects about health, we registered the presence of some pathologies little known for this Mesoamerican region, syphilis and tuberculosis. For the biocultural customs we identified the practice of cranial intentional deformation and also the presence of a “cranial deformation machine” made of ceramics. From this practice we also observed the relationship between cranial deformation and wormian bones formation within the sutural lines. This work includes the analyses of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes made over the bones of humans, dogs and deers from el Tropel, and the results answered some basic important questions about consumption patterns, economy, social life and food habits. / Este trabajo de investigación doctoral fue realizado en el marco de un proyecto de salvamento arqueológico llevado a cabo en el centro del municipio de Villa de Álvarez, en el estado de Colima, México. El salvamento se realizó en un sitio arqueológico conocido como “el Tropel”. En la zona de investigación se tenían noticias de la presencia de múltiples áreas funerarias de las cuales no existen informes arqueológicos. El estado de Colima es conocido por ser una de las regiones en las que se han encontrado tumbas de tiro, por su cerámica de extraordinaria manufactura y por los llamados perros de Colima. Curiosamente a pesar de que estos elementos están relacionados con contextos funerarios existen muy pocos estudios que enfoquen su atención en el componente biológico de estos, los seres humanos. El proyecto de investigación de campo dio las posibilidades para plantear un proyecto mucho más extenso que dio la oportunidad de profundizar en uno de los temas más relevantes en esta región mesoamericana: las tradiciones funerarias. Fue así que a la luz de los hallazgos particulares del sitio del Tropel se pudieron establecer los lazos que unen a un pequeño sitio arqueológico con la complejidad cultural que supone Mesoamérica. Como resultado de la temporada de excavación fueron recuperados 26 individuos de diferentes sexos y edades. Al menos dos diferentes periodos de ocupación fueron registrados en este sitio. El rango de tiempo que abarca la ocupación del sitio va desde el 339 dC hasta el 682 dC, (fechas C14 procedentes de los huesos de tres individuos del sitio el Tropel) estas fechas corresponden a la fase Colima, en la arqueología de Colima. Los contextos funerarios excavados pudieron ser fechados relativamente gracias a la presencia de ofrendas en forma de vajilla realizada en cerámica cuyo tipo fue identificado como Colima. En cuanto a las prácticas funerarias pudo registrarse la existencia de tratamientos funerarios antes, durante y después del enterramiento de los difuntos. Estas prácticas no habían sido identificadas aunque similares contextos funerarios ya habían sido reportados en la región. Los tratamientos funerarios demuestran que existió una transmisión de conocimientos en torno a la anatomía, los procesos de descomposición de los cadáveres y desde luego, es posible también, a un culto especial a los huesos. Un estudio de osteología fue realizada en los esqueletos para conocer aspectos demográficos, de salud-enfermedad, sociales y económicos. En cuanto a costumbres bioculturales se registró la práctica de la deformación craneal y además la presencia de un deformador craneal manufacturado en cerámica. Así mismo se registraron datos acerca de la preeminencia de huesos wormianos en cráneos deformados artificialmente. En los huesos de los individuos así como de perros y venados fueron practicados análisis de isótopos estables cuyos resultados responden una serie de preguntas acerca de la alimentación y la vida de las antiguas comunidades que habitaron la región.

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