Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice.

Andrew S Wilson; Timothy Taylor; Maria Constanza Ceruti; Jose Antonio Chavez; Johan Reinhard; Vaughan Grimes; Wolfram Meier-Augenstein; Larry Cartmell; Ben Stern; Michael P Richards; Michael Worobey; Ian Barnes; M Thomas P Gilbert

doi:10.1073/pnas.0704276104

Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice.

Andrew S Wilson, Timothy Taylor, Maria Constanza Ceruti, Jose Antonio Chavez, Johan Reinhard, Vaughan Grimes, Wolfram Meier-Augenstein, Larry Cartmell, Ben Stern, Michael P Richards, Michael Worobey, Ian Barnes, M Thomas P Gilbert

Microbiology

107 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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 unique capacocha 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.

Original language	English
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America
Volume	104
Issue number	42
Pages (from-to)	16456-61
Number of pages	5
ISSN	0027-8424
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0704276104
Publication status	Published - 2007

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Wilson, A. S., Taylor, T., Ceruti, M. C., Chavez, J. A., Reinhard, J., Grimes, V., Meier-Augenstein, W., Cartmell, L., Stern, B., Richards, M. P., Worobey, M., Barnes, I., & Gilbert, M. T. P. (2007). Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America, 104(42), 16456-61. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0704276104

Wilson, AS, Taylor, T, Ceruti, MC, Chavez, JA, Reinhard, J, Grimes, V, Meier-Augenstein, W, Cartmell, L, Stern, B, Richards, MP, Worobey, M, Barnes, I & Gilbert, MTP 2007, 'Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice.', Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America, vol. 104, no. 42, pp. 16456-61. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0704276104

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abstract = "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 unique capacocha 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.",

author = "Wilson, {Andrew S} and Timothy Taylor and Ceruti, {Maria Constanza} and Chavez, {Jose Antonio} and Johan Reinhard and Vaughan Grimes and Wolfram Meier-Augenstein and Larry Cartmell and Ben Stern and Richards, {Michael P} and Michael Worobey and Ian Barnes and Gilbert, {M Thomas P}",

note = "Keywords: Adolescent; Argentina; Ceremonial Behavior; Child; DNA; Female; Hair; History, Ancient; Homicide; Humans; Indians, South American; Isotopes; Male; Mummies; Peru",

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AU - Wilson, Andrew S

AU - Taylor, Timothy

AU - Ceruti, Maria Constanza

AU - Chavez, Jose Antonio

AU - Reinhard, Johan

AU - Grimes, Vaughan

AU - Meier-Augenstein, Wolfram

AU - Cartmell, Larry

AU - Stern, Ben

AU - Richards, Michael P

AU - Worobey, Michael

AU - Barnes, Ian

AU - Gilbert, M Thomas P

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Argentina; Ceremonial Behavior; Child; DNA; Female; Hair; History, Ancient; Homicide; Humans; Indians, South American; Isotopes; Male; Mummies; Peru

PY - 2007

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N2 - 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 unique capacocha 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.

AB - 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 unique capacocha 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.

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0704276104

DO - 10.1073/pnas.0704276104

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 17923675

SN - 0027-8424

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EP - 16461

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

IS - 42

ER -

Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice.

Abstract

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