Physionomie et paléopathologie des populations précolombiennes de l'Occident du Mexique

Abstract

Physionomy and paleopathology of Western Mexico precolumbian populations The anthropomorphic terra cotta sculptures of Western Mexico provide numerous illustrations of intentional or pathological alterations of the human body. But erroneous iconographie readings are quite common, here and elsewhere in Mesoamerica or in the Andean area, misleading us on the physical appearance and pathological state of the precolumbian populations. The author relies on a rigorous iconographie reading, whose principles could be applied to other corpus of figurines. Thus, she tries to eliminate erroneous diagnosis and to draw up an inventory of the diseases and intentional corporal deformations actually illustrated.