El Túmulo II del Brazo Largo (Delta inferior del río Paraná), 100 años después

In the Tumulus II of Brazo Largo (Lower Paraná River Delta), excavated in 1923 by Pablo Gaggero and Octavio Fernández, numerous materials remains and human burials were found, currently in the collections of the La Plata Museum. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the bioarchaeological and paleopathological analysis of the bones and teeth of individual buried in that site in order to 1) provide information on the preservation and conformation of the collection, 2) characterize the mortuary practices and the handing of the bodies, and 3) analyze different oral dental indicators and bone lesions. The bioarchaeological assemblage consists of a minimum number of 38 individuals, among which both sub-adults and adults of both sexes are represented. The bone elements are well-preserved, indicated by the low fragmentation index and high bone integrity. The documentation regarding fieldwork at the site does not allow for specification of burial modalities, and no evidence of fleshing or coloring application on the remains was found. The oral-dental indicators show similar frequencies compared to other bioarchaeological assemblages from the lower Paraná. Finally, traumatic lesions were observed in two skulls, possibly linked related to interpersonal violence events. This work complements the re-analyses of this site excavated 100 years ago and contributes to the understanding of the demographic composition, health and burial practices of the populations that inhabited the lower Paraná River during the late Holocene.