The pre-Columbian Chimu civilization’s tombs of 76 infants who were sacrificed about 1,000 years ago during religious rites have been discovered in Peru.
These graves were found during excavations at a sacred location where infant remains had previously been discovered.
Archaeologist Luis Flores told AFP, “We discovered 76 tombs containing the remains of infants who were offered as sacrifices.”
In two small squares in the Pampa la Cruz section of the seaside resort of Huanchaco close to the city of Trujillo, about 500 kilometres north of the capital Lima, were these kids, who ranged in age from 6 to 15, between the months of July and August.
The same group of researchers, led by archaeologist Gabriel Prieto, discovered the bones of 240 sacrificed infants from the Chimo group between 2016 and 2019. The Chimo tribe lived on the coast of what is now northern Peru between 900 and 1450.
The children’s chests opened straight to withdraw their hearts, the archaeologist added, “We were startled to uncover more bones when we excavated to a depth of ten or twenty centimetres.”
Children were sacrificed in response to current situations like a shortage of rain, a drought, political unrest, or conflicts, the speaker continued.
The bones of five sitting girls who were interred in a circle with their heads facing one another are among these remains.
Gabriel Prieto told the Andina news agency, “Thanks to the Pampa la Cruz site, we realised that human sacrifice, especially of infants, was an essential element of the Chimo civilisation.
Along with the Peruvian archaeologists, scholars and students from the Universities of Florida, Tulane, and Louisiana took part in the September-ending excavation.
According to Flores, it is anticipated that it will resume in 2023, and as a result, more human remains are likely to be found.
The explanation of religious ceremonies through the finding of children’s tombs. What is the narrative?
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