RESPONSE TO CRITIQUE OF THE CLAIM OF CANNIBALISM AT COWBOY WASH

Authors

Patricia M. Lambert, Utah State UniversityFollow
Banks L. Leonard, Soil Systems Inc.
Brian R. Billman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Richard A. Marlar, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Margaret E. Newman, University of Calgary
Karl J. Reinhard, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2000

Citation

Amellcan Antiquity, 65(2), 2000

Abstract

The original authors of Billman et af. (2000) are joined by three other analysts from the Cowboy Wash research team to respond to the critique of this article by Dongoske et af. (2000). Dongoske and his coauthors state that Billman et af. (2000) failed to test alternative hypotheses or to consider alternative explanations for the findings at 5MTJOOJO and similar sites. The original authors point out that alternative hypotheses were examined and rejected, leaving a violent episode of cannibalism as the most plausible explanation for the remains found at 5MTJOOJO. Dongoske et af. also question many aspects of the osteological, archaeological, coprolite, and biochemical analyses that were presented in the 5MTJOOJO study. Our response addresses issues of data collection, procedure, and interpretation, and attempts to clarify some points that were not fully developed in the original text due to length restrictions.

Los autores de Billman et af. (2000) se onen a tres de los analistas que participaron en las investigaciones de Cowboy Wash para responder a la crftica del articulo por Dongoske et al. (2000). Dongoske et al. declaran que Billman et af. no evaluaron hipotesis alternativas, 0 consideraron otras explicaciones respecto a los descubrimientos de 5MTl 001 0 y de sitios semejantes. Los auto res originales responden que hipotesis alternativas para explicar los hallazgos de 5MTJOOJO fueron examinadas y rechazadas, dejando asi un episodio violento de canibalismo como la llnica explicacion posible. Ademas, Dongoske et af. cuestionan varios aspectos de los analisis osteologicos, arqueologicos, coprologicos, y bioquimicos quefueron presentados en el estudio de 5MT100l O. Nuestra respuesta se dirige a preguntas sobre de los datos, procedimientos e interpretaciones, mientras trata de clarificar ciertos puntos que no fueron completamente elaborados en el texto original debido a limitaciones de espacio.