The BBC has a news blurb on a mass burial found in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas. When the remains were discovered last week, there were questions as to whether or not these remains, approximately 167 individuals, were a product of the long-running conflict between state authorities and indigenous populations in Guatemala and southern Mexico. Forensic anthropologists were able to examine the remains and suggest this is not likely:
But forensic experts have since said the skulls showed signs of a deformation typical of native communities dating back 1,000 years and more
Cranial deformation, in a variety of intentional and unintentional forms, is fairly widespread in human history, but with varying practices across cultures and times (it is even something I have published on). Further work on the material by forensic anthropologists might reveal additional details about this sample of remains the population from which it is derived.
Meanwhile the NY Times has a review of an exhibition of archaeological work on Asian nomadic populations running through early June at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World in Manhattan. While doing fieldwork in the highland plateau of South-Central Georgia a number of years ago, we ran into, much to my surprise, a modern nomadic camp.
