A Brief Summary of a Cranial Series from North Central New Mexico

Abstract

The cranial material summarized in this discussion was obtained from four sites in the area known as the Gallina region lying in north central New Mexico. These four sites, with the corresponding catalogue numbers assigned them by the Museum of the University of New Mexico, are as follows: Cuchillo (Bg2 60/1-16), Nogales (Bg3 60/1-18), Gavilan (Bg4 60/1-2), and Tapecitoes (Bg5 60/1-2). A fifth site at Cerrito (Bg1 60/x) yielded no skeletal material. The skeletal remains form a part of the material obtained from a series of excavations in the Gallina area under the direction of Dr. Frank C. Hibben of the University of New Mexico during the summers of 1937, 1938, and 19391 While the number of burials, thirty-eight in all, resulted in a cranial series which is admittedly of doubtful statistical importance, the homogeneity of the group causes it to be of greater interest and value than would ordinarily have been the case in such a small series. This summary may then be regarded as purely an introduction to the physical anthropology of the Gallina region, rather than any conclusive, or statistically important, contribution. In the light of the present data, it seems very probable that with further additions this series will represent an important adjunct to the physical anthropology of the Southwest. The condition of the crania, and other skeletal material, varies quite widely. Several crania were in very good condition while many of them were fragmentary and yielded only a few valid observations and still fewer valid measurements. The sixteen burials from Cuchillo were badly charred and fragmentary, and these accounted for many of the lacunae in the tabulations. In compiling summaries and drawing conclusions, the observations and measurements of all immature individuals (under sixteen years) and those of questionable accuracy were omitted. This, in the majority of instances, gave a frequency of from three to twenty items, usually about twelve. Differentiation was also made in regard to sex. Here, cranial criteria were checked by those of the pelvic bones, with the latter receiving preference in case of any doubt.2 Five adult burials were entered as Uncertain in regard to sex, and the measurements and