Archaeologists have discovered the remains of another six sacrificed children in the ancient city of Huanchaco on the northern coast of Peru. They had cut marks on the thorax from when their hearts were moved, and were placed in graves facing the ocean. Some of the skeletons still have remnants of skin and hair.
The graves were unearthed in the town’s Pampa la Cruz neighborhood where 56 skeletons were found in June of last year, but unlike previous finds, these children were interred with precious artifacts, gold and silver jewelry and feather and textile headdresses. These are markers of rank, an indication that the children came from wealthy noble and/or priestly families.
“This is the biggest site where the remains of sacrificed children have been found,” chief archeologist Feren Castillo told AFP on Tuesday.
Castillo said the children, who were aged between four and 14, were sacrificed in a ritual to honor the Chimu culture’s gods.
“They were sacrificed to appease the El Nino phenomenon,” and show signs of being killed during wet weather, he said.
He added that there may still be more to be found.
“It’s uncontrollable, this thing with the children. Wherever you dig, there’s another one,” Castillo said.
Today Huanchaco is a popular beach destination outside the colonial city of Trujillo. It has been inhabited by a chronology of Peruvian cultures since the Salinar first fished there between 400 and 200 B.C. The Chimú culture ruled the area from the mid-9th century until they were conquered by the Inca in 1470. At the time of the mass sacrifices — 1200 to 1400 A.D. — Huanchaco was the main port of the Chimú capital Chan Chan.
The latest finds bring the total tally of sacrificed children discovered at the site up to 227. The skeletal remains of more than 50 adult men, likely warriors, have also been found, but they range in date from the 8th century through the 15th, so were not part of the single large sacrifice event that claimed the lives of the children and more than 200 camelids, believed to be llamas.
Another sad episode in the life of humanity.
I can see why he said it is uncontrollable, I can see the outlines of several more burials from the aerial picture.
Here in America, and elsewhere in the civilized world, we sacrifice our young in spite of religious belief. Imagine future archaeologists finding burial evidence of a million sacrificed babies a year. What a grim picture that would paint of today’s enlightened society.
Usually, in a standard household, one son is given to religion, one is given to the battle field, and the third one then takes over the family business. This implies that people are still having three sons, and not –statistically– one third of a son.
Technology might either give a helping hand here, or –depending on the forecaster– will bring the figure further down to only ‘one fifth’ of a son. Yes, fighting off ‘El Nino’ with ritually killing a considerable amount of all the available ‘Ninos’ may be futile :confused:
This is a grim mirror being held up to us as we practice our child-sacrifice to the gods of convenience and appearance.
And 20% is a historical threshold of slavery.
Thank you, TheHistoryBlogger, for the thought-provoking information.
Horrible. I can not help but imagine the terror and grief of those children and parents. There are many terrible incidents that have happened in history, and currently, but the purposeful
sacrifice of children-(your own or others) is
ghastly.
A very good reminder to be living in times where this is not normal. Let’s not forget in many cultures being sacrificed was an honor. Who are we to judge based on our experiences what is right for people who live long before us. In our eyes brutal, inhumane, sad. In theirs, necessary and a way of life.