Inca human sacrifices from the Ampato and Pichu Pichu volcanoes, Peru: new results from a bio-anthropological analysis

Dagmara M Socha,Johan Reinhard,Ruddy Chávez Perea

doi:10.1007/s12520-021-01332-1

Abstract

One of the most important rituals in the Inca Empire was the capacocha. It required the most prestigious sacrificial offering of male and female children and young women who were characterized by their beauty and purity. The aim of this paper is to present the results of a bio-anthropological analysis of the remains of five individuals sacrificed on the summits of Ampato and Pichu Pichu during this ritual. Various methods (bone analysis and radiography) were applied in the investigation due to the diverse states of preservation of the remains. Four individuals were in the same age category: 6–7 years old. The individual Pichu Pichu #2 was sacrificed at age 3.5 years, which makes him the youngest capacocha sacrifice currently known. Results show proper development of the victims’ bodies, the presence of stress markers related to the early childhood period, and, in the case of the Ampato boy, malformation of the cervical vertebrae. The studies of the Pichu Pichu and Ampato sacrifices confirm their widespread origins, privileged position, and high social status. They show that the victims were well-nourished and had proper body growth compared to juveniles from the lower social strata in different cemeteries in the region.

Highlights

The capacocha was the most important sacrificial ritual to be practised in the Inca Empire
The capacocha sacrifices from Pichu Pichu and the site on Ampato at 5800 m share a similar burial pattern to those found on Llullaillaco (Reinhard and Ceruti 2010), which were three individuals, two females and one male
The silver bellshaped items found with Pichu Pichu #1 individual were similar to those found with the Llullaillaco Maiden (Reinhard and Ceruti 2010: 82)

Summary

Introduction

The capacocha was the most important sacrificial ritual to be practised in the Inca Empire. The Incas implemented ideological control over the lands and people they conquered, and this was supported through religious beliefs and customs (Malpass and Alconini 2010:44–74). The aim of this article is to present the results of a bioanthropological analysis of children sacrificed on the Ampato and Pichu Pichu volcanoes in southern Peru. The Ampato capacocha burials, found at 5800 m, consisted of three human bodies with accompanying objects made from silver, gold, Spondylus shell, and ceramic. The Incas constructed an artificial platform that contained two bodies with rich grave goods and one additional burial outside the platform. A bio-anthropological analysis of the human bodies has revealed new data about the significance of the capacocha and the treatment of the children chosen for sacrifice

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Conclusion