Guinea Pigs, Protein, and Ritual

Bolton, Ralph

doi:10.2307/3773376

Cited by 37 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Bolton (1979) provides an excellent ethnographic summary of the species exploitation in one area of Peru, arguing specifically that the species' utilization is tied to the ritual cycle. Here the animal is clearly a buffer resource.…”

Section: Northern Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaic exploitation of small mammals and birds in Northern Chile

Hesse¹

1984

Estud Atacameños

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Section: Northern Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaic exploitation of small mammals and birds in Northern Chile

Hesse¹

1984

Estud Atacameños

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“…As discussed by Andrews (1975), Bolton (1979), andGilmore (1963), among others, guinea pigs constitute an important element of Andean society. Although due to poor preservation the fragile remains of these animals are not always archaeologically well represented, there can be little doubt that guinea pigs were an important source of protein (Lanning, 1967:17-18) and one of the preferred sacrificial animals (Gilmore, 1963).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rowe (:305) stated that the “most valuable sacrifice was of human beings,” but “were offered only to the most important divinities and huacas on the most solemn occasions.” It is asserted that the most common sacrifices consisted of domestic animals, such as llamas ( Lama glama ) and guinea pigs ( Cavia porcellus ; de Arriaga, :42; Gilmore, :438–440; Murra, :8587; Rowe, :239; Kendall, :100; Benson, :10; Burger, :92), and vegetable offerings, such as maize ( Zea mays ) and coca leaves ( Erythroxylum coca ; Rowe, :306–7). For the specific case of the guinea pig (Andrews, ; Bolton, ; Brothwell, ; Valdez, ; Wing, ), Spaniards, such as de Arriaga ():210), de Acosta ():206–7), Polo de Ondegardo ():226), and Cobo (:113), among others, pointed out that they were sacrificed in large numbers. For example, in the month of July 1,000 white guinea pigs were sacrificed (Guaman Poma de Ayala, :175), and in the month of August another equal number of the small rodents were sacrificed to Frost, Air, Water and Sun (Gilmore, :457; Rowe, :310).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inka sacrificial guinea pigs from Tambo Viejo, Peru

Valdez¹

2019

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Early Spaniards reported that the Inkas periodically slaughtered hundreds of animals, guinea pigs being the most common sacrificial animals. It is stated that in a single ceremony, hundreds of guinea pigs were killed. Although the ethnohistorical accounts provide good information about the Inka motivations for guinea pig sacrifice, archaeologically, the occurrence of large numbers of sacrificed guinea pigs had not been found. Recent research conducted at the Inka site of Tambo Viejo, in the Acari Valley of the Peruvian south coast, encountered several dozens of sacrificed guinea pigs that overall represent the single largest find known for the entire former Inka territory. In preparation for sacrifice, some of guinea pigs had been adorned with colorful strings that were placed as earrings as well with colorful necklaces also made from colorful strings. Some of the guinea pigs were also enveloped in a rug before burial. Similar evidence is unknown from anywhere within the former Inka territory, making the evidence from Tambo Viejo unparalleled.

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“…Through the early 1990s, only a handful of articles dealt \vith the prehistoric, historic, and contelnporary in1por-tance of this species in Andean culture (Gilll10re 1950: 454-460;Gade 1967;Andre\\'s 1972Andre\\'s -1974Escobar and Escobar 1976;Bolton 1979;Bolton and Calvin 1981;Broth\vell 1983;Altan1irano 1986; see Morales 1994Morales : 129, 1995. The recent publication of n\'o lnajor n10no-graphs on the role of the guinea pig in conten1porary culture (Archetti 1992;Morales 1995) represents a significant advance, but it ren1ains to trace such use through recent and colonial tin1es to the prehistoric past.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%