Open AccessStable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice
Author(s) -
Andrew Wilson,
Timothy Taylor,
María Constanza Ceruti,
Jose A. Chavez,
Johan Reinhard,
Vaughan Grimes,
Wolfram MeierAugenstein,
Larry Cartmell,
Ben Stern,
Michael P. Richards,
Michael Worobey,
Ian Barnes,
M. Thomas P. Gilbert
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.0704276104
Subject(s) - pilgrimage , rite , sacrifice , ancient dna , identity (music) , biology , anthropology , history , evolutionary biology , ancient history , archaeology , art , sociology , philosophy , aesthetics , demography , theology , population
Four recently discovered frozen child mummies from two of the highest peaks in the south central Andes now yield tantalizing evidence of the preparatory stages leading to Inca ritual killing as represented by the uniquecapacocha rite. Our interdisciplinary study examined hair from the mummies to obtain detailed genetic and diachronic isotopic information. This approach has allowed us to reconstruct aspects of individual identity and diet, make inferences concerning social background, and gain insight on the hitherto unknown processes by which victims were selected, elevated in social status, prepared for a high-altitude pilgrimage, and killed. Such direct information amplifies, yet also partly contrasts with, Spanish historical accounts.