[ad_1]
The remains left after a ritual mass sacrifice of photos of Guinea by the Inca Empire were first discovered from a dig site located in southern Peru.
They were found adorned with tiny earrings and necklaces, some even being wrapped in small rugs before being buried.
The Spanish conquistadors documented such practices – during which hundreds of animals would be killed – but the material evidence was lacking.
Scroll for the video
Surprisingly, rodents were found adorned with tiny earrings and necklaces, some having even been wrapped in small rugs before being buried (photo).
During their first encounters with the Inca Empire, Spanish conquistadors claimed to have observed that the inhabitants periodically sacrificed various animal species in large numbers.
Guinea pigs were the most commonly used sacrificial animals and it is thought that the Incas would kill up to hundreds of rodents in one ceremony.
However, the archaeological evidence of this ritual had never been found elsewhere on their territory.
Today, a researcher from the Andean Studies Institute has discovered two burial sites containing the remains of 100 guinea pigs in total.
The findings were made at the Tambo Viejo excavation site in the Acari Valley, near the southern coast of Peru.
The two burials date back about 400 years.
In preparation for the sacrificial ritual, some guinea pigs had been decorated with colorful strings – placed on animals in the form of earrings and necklaces – while others were also wrapped in a small cotton fiber rug .
Guinea pigs were the most commonly used sacrificial animals; reports recount that the Incas would kill up to hundreds of rodents in one ceremony.
Although the discovery of the guinea pigs themselves is not surprising in light of the stories of the conquistadors, the decoration was unexpected.
"I was surprised after finding that a good number of guinea pigs were adorned with colorful strings placed in the form of earrings and necklaces," Newsweek told the author and archaeologist Lidio Valdez.
The Spaniards have never said anything about it.
The exact reason for decorating sacrificial rodents is not clear.
& # 39;[It] could be something to do with the desire of individuals, who may have wanted to make the gifts very special. Dr. Valdez suggested.
"A good number of guinea pigs have been found in an excellent state of conservation – naturally mummified," said Dr. Valdez.
The animals were also found buried, head up, with no sign of external injury.
This, suggests Dr. Valdez, states that "they could be alive when they were buried".
The remains were found buried under the floors of two Incan structures (pictured above, one of the buildings seen from west to east) on the Tambo Viejo site
The remains were found buried under the soils of two Incan structures of the Tambo Viejo site – 72 fewer guinea pigs and one less than 28 years old.
Both buildings would have been adjacent to a square on which public activities – including ritual sacrifices – would have been undertaken.
The buildings would then have been taken over during the invasion of the Spaniards.
The findings were made at the Tambo Viejo excavation site in the Acari Valley, near the southern coast of Peru. The remains were found buried under the soils of two Incan structures of the Tambo Viejo site – 72 fewer guinea pigs and 28 under each other.
The analysis of the researcher also revealed that the majority of guinea pigs were juveniles.
"Humans prefer the meat of young animals because of its tenderness. Humans believed that deities also deserved tender meat, "he said.
"We must remember that" young "can also mean something else, such as pure, uncontaminated, etc.
The complete results of the study were published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
[ad_2]
Source link