Evidence of Task Specialization Among Males in Colonial Period Tipu

This study examines the entheses (bone attachment points) of the pectoralis major and supinator muscles in male skeletons from the Colonial Period site of Tipu, Belize. The results suggest that there may have been a greater degree of task specialization among males in this period, with some men devoting more of their time to positions like maestro cantor or a public office.

The study’s findings are supported by the observation that men buried near the altar of the church had less developed entheses of these muscles, suggesting that they did not engage in as much heavy labor as other males at Tipu.

The study’s findings have implications for our understanding of the social organization of Colonial Period Tipu. They suggest that there may have been a more complex division of labor than previously thought, with some men specializing in non-agricultural tasks.