Archaeologists have made a significant discovery just outside the northern Peruvian town of Trujillo, unearthing the remains of over 40 children believed to be victims of a sacrifice ritual from more than 600 years ago.
In a report by Reuters, archaeologist Julio Asencio shared insights from the excavation site. “Many of the skeletons show cut marks on the sternum and some on the ribs,” he noted.
Asencio explained that each child was buried separately. The team also found the remains of two adults and nine llamas, which may have symbolized offerings of food, clothing, and transportation.
These remains are thought to belong to the Chimu civilization, which thrived in the northern region of Peru from the 8th to the 15th centuries before falling to the Inca Empire.
Historians suggest that this community may have conducted child sacrifice rituals in response to heavy rains and floods, potentially aiming to appease the deities they worshipped.
Previously, scientists had discovered another site nearby believed to be a site of large-scale sacrifices by the Chimu civilization, where the remains of 140 children and hundreds of llamas were found. Marks on the sternums and ribs of these children’s remains are believed to indicate that their hearts were removed.
Peru is home to hundreds of archaeological sites that span cultures before the Spanish colonial era, including the expansive Inca Empire, which, around 500 years ago, stretched from modern-day southern Ecuador to central Chile.
