Modern forensic science has revealed new details about Inca human sacrifices

At the same time, the researchers found no conclusive evidence that the nine-year-old girl and the 18-year-old woman had been strangled, as had previously been suggested. Hair analysis also made it possible to piece together certain details of their final journey and their ritual preparations for death.

The findings of the study have been published in the journal *Science Advances*.

What is known about the victims

The researchers re-examined the naturally mummified remains of three participants in the Inca ritual known as kapakocha, discovered in what is now Chile.

They were:

• a nine-year-old girl, designated CES-A;
• an 18-year-old girl, CES-B;
• an eight-year-old boy known as the Niño de El Plomo.

Capacocha was one of the most important state and religious ceremonies of the Inca Empire. Children and young people were sent on long processions to remote sanctuaries, often situated high in the Andes, where they were sacrificed to the gods and sacred mountain spirits.

Within the official Inca religious system, participation in such a ritual was presented as a special honour for the family. However, scholars are unable to determine how the children and young people themselves perceived what was happening.

Previous theories have been called into question

It was difficult to establish the exact circumstances of their deaths. The remains were discovered decades ago, when archaeological and forensic methods were considerably less advanced.

The excavations were not fully documented, and the subsequent handling and storage of the mummies may have altered or destroyed some of the evidence.

It was previously thought that the boy from Mount El Plomo had fallen asleep and died of hypothermia. Marks on the necks of the girl and young woman were interpreted as possible signs of strangulation.

However, high-resolution CT scans have led to a re-evaluation of both theories.

The boy may have died from a blow to the head

In the CT scans of the Niño de El Plomo’s skull, researchers discovered a fracture in the left frontal bone measuring approximately 30 millimetres in length.

To understand the origin of the injury, the scientists used computer modelling similar to the methods employed in reconstructing road traffic accidents. The resulting scenario was consistent with a blow from a star-shaped stone mace – a weapon used by the Incas.

This does not mean that the researchers have identified a specific weapon or fully reconstructed the moment of death. Nevertheless, the injury suggests that the boy may not have died solely from exposure to the cold, as was previously thought.

The authors of the study believe that different methods of killing may have been used during various kapakoch’a ceremonies.

The theory of strangulation has not been confirmed

CT scans of the other two mummies revealed no fractures or damage to the delicate bones in the throat area that might indicate strangulation.

The marks on the necks were probably caused by pressure from clothing, ropes or the fabrics in which the bodies were wrapped.

Scientists have been unable to definitively establish the causes of death of the girl and the young woman. However, the previous theory of violent suffocation now appears considerably less convincing.

Hair revealed details of their final journey

The researchers obtained further information through isotopic and chemical analysis of the hair.

Significant changes in the ratio of oxygen to hydrogen isotopes were detected in the boy’s hair. These ratios depend on the water and food consumed by a person in different natural environments.

According to the scientists, these changes may indicate a prolonged and organised journey through several climatic and altitudinal zones prior to the ascent to the site of the sacrifice.

This finding is consistent with historical accounts of the kapakoche as a lengthy procession, in which participants may have travelled hundreds of kilometres.

Their diet may have changed before their deaths

In the hair of the girl and the young woman, scientists detected changes in carbon content towards the end of their lives.

This may indicate an increase in the proportion of maize in their diet. In the Inca Empire, maize was considered an important and prestigious foodstuff, and was also used to prepare the ritual drink chicha.

The researchers suggest that the change in diet may have been linked to ceremonial preparations, festive meals or a stay in special conditions prior to the sacrifice.

However, hair analysis does not allow for an accurate reconstruction of the ritual participants’ diet or itinerary. It merely reveals changes in diet and environment during the final months of their lives.

Why this is important

The study demonstrates how modern medical and forensic technologies enable us to revisit conclusions drawn decades ago.

The findings suggest that kapakoch sacrifices did not follow a single, uniform pattern. The causes and mechanisms of death may have varied depending on the location, the participants and the specific ceremony.

The study also helps to better understand just how complex and protracted the ritual itself was. Its participants may have travelled through different regions of the empire, adjusted their diet and gradually prepared for the ascent to the high-altitude sanctuary.

At the same time, the researchers highlight the limitations of the study. The remains were discovered some time ago, the excavation conditions were not fully documented, and the subsequent handling of the mummies may have affected the preservation of certain features.

Source

The study was published in the scientific journal *Science Advances*.

Title: Pilgrimage to sacrifice: Mechanisms, causes, and time of death of the Western Andean Capacocha of the Southern Tawantinsuyu.