Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 104, Issue 42, Pages 16456-16461Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0704276104
Keywords
ancient DNA; bioarchaeology; South America; stable light isotopes; ice mummies
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Funding
- Wellcome Trust [067241] Funding Source: Medline
- Natural Environment Research Council [NE/C518265/1] Funding Source: researchfish
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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.
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