Largest known mass sacrifice of children found in Peru

Scientists say they have identified a 15th century mass sacrifice site in Peru that saw the ritual killing of more than 140 children and over 200 llamas.

A thick layer of mud overlaying the burial sediments indicates that this mass killing was preceded, and perhaps inspired, by a major rainstorm or flood, said Gabriel Prieto of the National University of Trujillo, Peru and colleagues.

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, noted that this is the largest known mass sacrifice of children -- and of llamas -- in the New World.

Human and animal sacrifices are known from a variety of ancient cultures, often performed as part of funerary, architectural, or spiritual rituals.

 

However, very little evidence of this practice is known from the northern coast of Peru.

The Huanchaquito-Las Llamas site was part of the Chimu state, which was a dominant culture along the Peruvian coast in the 15th century.

The findings of excavations between 2011 and 2016 revealed hundreds of bodies buried in an area of approximately 700 square metres.

The human remains were almost entirely children, and the animal remains, all juvenile, were identified as most likely llamas, but possibly alpacas.

Anatomical and genetic evidence indicates the children included boys and girls between five and 14 years old.

Cut marks transecting the sternums and displaced ribs suggest both the children and llamas may have had their chests cut open, possibly during ritual removal of the heart.

The remains were radiocarbon dated to around 1450 AD, during the height of the Chimu state.

The researchers note that this sacrifice was clearly a large investment of resources for the Chimu culture.

They hope to better understand the ritual through its victims, by analysing the life histories and cultural origins of the sacrificed children.

"This archaeological discovery was a surprise to all of us -- we had not seen anything like this before, and there was no suggestion from ethnohistoric sources or historic accounts of child or camelid sacrifices being made on such a scale in northern coastal Peru," study author John Verano added.

"We were fortunate to be able to completely excavate the site and to have a multidisciplinary field and laboratory team to do the excavation and preliminary analysis of the material. This site opens a new chapter on the practice of child sacrifice in the ancient world," he said.