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Research Re-evaluates Incan Child Sacrifice Victim's Cause of Death
Key points
- Incan child sacrifice victim re-analyzed.
- Cause of death determined as blunt force trauma.
- Previously believed to have died from freezing.
- Findings published in Science Advances.
Re-evaluating an Ancient Sacrifice
Archaeologists have conducted a re-analysis of the remains of an Incan child sacrifice victim, known as the Boy of Cerro El Plomo. This re-examination focused on determining the precise cause of death, which had previously been attributed to freezing.
Blunt Force Trauma Identified
The new analysis concluded that the boy died from blunt force trauma. Evidence included a left frontal skin lesion and an associated fracture that showed no signs of healing, indicating it occurred just before death. This injury is consistent with blunt force trauma, possibly from a star-shaped mace, rather than an accidental fall.
Challenging Previous Assumptions
Contrary to earlier beliefs, there was no evidence of freezing prior to death or any cold-related injuries on the boy's extremities. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, challenge the long-held assumption about the victim's demise.
Context of the Capachoca Ritual
The Incas practiced a human sacrifice ritual called Capachoca, where children were offered to mountains and believed to become divine intermediaries. Colonial accounts describe strangulation, asphyxiation, and blunt force trauma as common methods. The boy's feet showed signs of prolonged walking, consistent with a pilgrimage to a sacrificial site, and CT scans revealed a full stomach, suggesting a feast before the ceremony, and a dilated esophagus, possibly from vomiting triggered by the head injury.
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Reporting from
Archaeologists re-analyzed the remains of an Incan child sacrifice victim, known as the Boy of Cerro El Plomo, concluding he died from blunt force trauma, not freezing. This re-evaluation provides new insights into the specific methods used in the Incan Capachoca ritual.