Human sacrifice by the Chimú State: evidence and interpretation

Resumen

Archaeological evidence exists for multiple forms of human sacrifice practiced by the Chimú. At the Chimú capital of Chan Chan these include dedicatory burials under architecture and massive sacrifices in royal burial platforms. At provincial sites, sanctioned killing of captives are also known. Since 2011 these data have been joined by evidence of both small and large-scale sacrifices of children at multiple sites surrounding the bay of Huanchaco, near Chan Chan. How are these new discoveries of child sacrifices to be explained and compared to those of adolescents and adults at Chan Chan? While the ritual offerings of children and camelids must have been directed by the rulers of Chan Chan, there may be multiple motives for such sacrifices, as is suggested by their varied chronology, location, and contexts. These new discoveries have the potential to shed light on Chimú rulership, ritual practices, and the identities and possible geographic origins of the sacrificed children. While this paper will focus on the bioarchaeology of Chimú sacrifice, it will draw upon comparative and theoretical approaches to interpreting the function and meaning of ritual killing and human sacrifice in ancient Perú.