Mortuary Practices and Human Sacrifice in the Middle Chao Valley of Peru: Their Interpretation in the Context of Andean Mortuary Patterning

Abstract

Investigations at several northern Peruvian coastal archaeological sites by archaeologists and physical anthropologists are beginning to provide details on long-term patterning of mortuary behavior. Some of these patterns include retainer sacrifice, child sacrifice, and the metaphorical principle we refer to as “like with like.” In this paper, we discuss the data relating to these mortuary patterns discovered at the site of Santa Rita B in the middle Chao Valley. Examples of each of the patterns presented are evident at the site. These include at least three child sacrifices and one adult sacrifice. The sacrifices appear to be retainer sacrifices, defined as sacrifices intended to accompany a deceased principal personage in the afterlife. The inclusion of the child sacrifices with a subadult principal burial is part of the “like with like” pattern seen here and at other Andean sites. Dating to the start of the Late Intermediate period (ca. A.D. 1100–1300), these finds are compared to other north coastal sites, both earlier and later, and the extent of temporal continuity in these patterns is discussed.

Identifying locals, migrants, and captives in the Wari Heartland: A bioarchaeological and biogeochemical study of human remains from Conchopata, Peru

“…Given the plethora of evidence of human sacrifice in the Andes (Bourget, 2001;Ceruti, 2004;Cordy-Collins, 2001;Gaither et al, 2008;Reinhard, 1996;Verano, 2001), the skeletal evidence for dismemberment and decapitation (Tung, 2008a), and the prisoner/trophy head iconography on state-produced ceramics (Isbell and Cook, 2002;Ochatoma and Cabrera, 2002;Ochatoma et al, 2008), the evidence that Wari engaged in captive-taking and sacrifice is compelling. Moreover, not only was human sacrifice part of the Wari ritual repertoire, it appears that Wari state structures were used to facilitate and promote this ritual production and destruction of human bodies and trophy heads.…”

Interpretations of Pre-Hispanic Ritual Violence at Tucume, Peru, from Cut Mark Analysis

“…In the Andes, there is an ancient tradition of iconographic representations of decapitator deities holding blades and disembodied heads (Carmichael 1995;Cordy-Collins 1992). Frequently, human burials or isolated remains not found in cemeteries are interpreted as sacrificial offerings, either to ded-icate architecture or to accompany deceased individuals (Eeckhout and Owens 2008;Gaither et al 2008;Verano 1995). Often these remains lack clear evidence that they were killed or treated differently than other dead members of the community, except for their distinctive burial location.…”