The Inka mummy from Mount Aconcagua: Decoding the geographic origin of the ?Messenger to the Deities? by means of stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope analysis

Fernández, José Díaz; Panarello, Héctor O.; Schobinger, Juan

doi:10.1002/(sici)1520-6548(199901)14:1<27::aid-gea3>3.0.co;2-d

Cited by 44 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Our isotopic data contrast with the previous interpretation of published results examining the presumed seasonally fluctuating importance of maize in the diets of the Aconcagua boy (22,31) and the Chuscha girl (32) as a means of establishing season of death (22,31). Reexamining the isotopic data, we consider that only the diet of the Aconcagua boy is potentially explicable as due to season, with death occurring at a time when ␦-13 C was more negative, i.e., at the beginning of a period of low maize consumption, possibly in early autumn within the Southern Hemisphere (April/May) (31).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…With little fractionation between diet and body protein, mean ocean values would be expected to be Ϸ20‰ (38). Previously published sulfur data for the Aconcagua Boy also show a nonmarine signature (31). The sulfur data from the three Llullaillaco individuals coincide at Ϸ6 months before death, and may indicate colocation of these individuals at this point, perhaps in Cuzco where all three individuals most probably began their final journeys.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

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

Wilson

Taylor

Ceruti

et al. 2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

148

121

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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.ancient DNA ͉ bioarchaeology ͉ South America ͉ stable light isotopes ͉ ice mummies

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

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

Wilson

Taylor

Ceruti

et al. 2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

148

121

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Two aspects are remarked on from the results presented in Table 1 and Figure 2. First is the significant variation in the d 13 C isotopic values for camelids ( Figure 2) as was demonstrated by Fernández & Panarello (1999 for northwest camelid samples. While the variability in the photosynthetic pathways in the region (Cavagnaro, 1988;Llano, 2009) is one of the probable explanations for isotopic variation in the camelid diet, the existence of different taxa (Finucane et al, 2006) within central western camelids could be another explanation.…”

Section: Stable Isotope Ecologymentioning

confidence: 85%

“…A date of ca. 580 14 C years BP was obtained from one human bone sample from this site (Fernández et al, 1999).…”

Section: Human Archaeological Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotopes and maize consumption in central western Argentina

Gil

Neme

Tykot

et al. 2009

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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In this paper we present stable isotope information (d 13 C in bone collagen and apatite, and d 15 N) in order to discuss the significance of maize consumption in the human diets of central western Argentina. We also contribute bioanthropological information based on the study of caries, hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia and dental abscess frequencies. This study shows a large variability in the significance of C 4 resources (e.g. maize) during the last 2500 years, and on this basis we propose that maize was significant in the human diet mainly after 1000 yrs BP.

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“…The hair from the younger two Llullaillaco children exhibits similar patterns of ẟ 15 N and ẟ 13 C change, while Sarita's hair suggests a decrease in C4 plant consumption leading up to her death (Wilson et al, 2007). In another study, the ẟ 13 C values from the Aconcagua boy's hair indicate a cyclical, likely seasonal importance of C4 plants, while the ẟ 34 S values reveal that he consumed a terrestrial diet beginning at least 1.5 years before his death (Fernández, Panarello, & Schobinger, 1999). Preceding this period, the ẟ 15 N concentration suggests the boy consumed a mixed terrestrial and marine diet (Fernández, Panarello, & Schobinger, 1999).…”

Section: Diet and Nutritionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Children of Heaven

Kawchuk

2019

USURJ

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Ruling over western South America for nearly 100 years, the Inca Empire was one of many global cultures that practiced human sacrifice, though few other rituals of human sacrifice are as captivating as the Inca child sacrifice of capacocha. Capacocha children were chosen to be representatives of the Inca people in the afterlife. As such, they were afforded an elevated position in society before their death. Following their selection, children would undergo a year-long pilgrimage terminating at a mountain top shrine where they would be killed. As a result of the low temperature and oxygen levels present at such a high elevation, the bodies of capacocha children were protected against decomposition, creating some of the best-preserved natural mummies in the world. These mummies have been the subject of numerous bioarchaeological analyses to determine their age, sex, geographic origin, pathological conditions, diet, and cause of death. Beyond these, however, the mummies present a unique opportunity to study how the capacocha ritual process — including the sudden ascension in status — manifested itself on the children's bodies. This paper aims to review the bioarchaeological data garnered from the mummies in order to reconstruct the experience of a child chosen for capacocha. Results suggest higher variability between children selected for capacocha than was originally outlined by Spanish chroniclers.

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The Inka mummy from Mount Aconcagua: Decoding the geographic origin of the ?Messenger to the Deities? by means of stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope analysis

Cited by 44 publications

References 51 publications

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

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

Stable isotopes and maize consumption in central western Argentina

Children of Heaven

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