Archaeologists unearth human spines threaded onto reed posts in Peru

Archaeologists have found almost 192 examples of human vertebrae threaded onto reed posts 500 years ago in the Chincha Valley of Peru.

Between AD 1000 and 1400, the Chincha Valley was home to the sophisticated Chincha Kingdom. They established an alliance with the Inca Empire and were eventually consolidated into it.

The discovery, published in the journal Antiquity, highlights an Andean burial tradition that has only been found in this specific area of Western Peru, which is known as the Chincha Valley.

The Ancient spines threaded were recovered from burial sites in the Chincha Valley, where the local community was decimated by famine and disease epidemics following the arrival of Europeans.

Vertebrae-on-post inserted into a cranium, as found within a chullpa. This was the only example unearthed where the head was still attached to the spinal column. PH๏τo by Jacob L Bongers
Vertebrae-on-post inserted into a cranium, as found within a chullpa. This was the only example unearthed where the head was still attached to the spinal column. PH๏τo by Jacob L Bongers

The team was excavating elaborate indigenous graves known as chullpas, where they found human vertebrae threaded onto reed posts that date from the 16th century AD.

According to the researchers, the Chincha population declined from over 30,000 households in 1533 to just 979 half a century later, and many of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ would have been ritually buried along with precious items made of gold.

It is therefore telling that all of the vertebrae-on-posts were dated to between 1450 and 1650 CE, a period when European colonialists raided and destroyed large numbers of indigenous graves in the region.

Vertebrae-on-post. Image: Jacob L. Bongers
Vertebrae-on-post. Image: Jacob L. Bongers

“Looting was primarily intended to remove grave goods made of gold and silver and would have gone hand in hand with European efforts to eradicate Indigenous religious practices and funerary customs,” explained study author Dr. Jacob L. Bongers from the University of East Anglia.

It is thought that the spines were reconstructed and held together with reeds many years after death, possibly due to the graves being looted and damaged by European settlers. The ᴅᴇᴀᴅ being buried intact was an important part of the culture of the Chincha people, so their reconstruction and reinterment would have been highly significant.

The discovery was made by an international team of researchers.

Related Posts

Unveiling Ancient Mysteries: The Thracian Chariot and Horses of Bulgaria

Delving into the Past: Discovering Thracian Nobility A Remarkable Discovery in Svestari In the tranquil village of Svestari, nestled in north-east Bulgaria, a team led by Professor…

The Magnificent Baalbek: Ancient Rome’s Engineering Wonder

In the heart of Lebanon lies a testament to human ingenuity – the breathtaking Baalbek complex. This masterpiece of Roman architecture has stood for centuries, its magnificent…

The Mystery of Ta Prohm’s “Dinosaur”: Ancient Wonder or Modern Myth?

A Controversial Carving in Cambodia’s Jungle Temple In the depths of Cambodia’s lush jungle lies Ta Prohm, a 12th-century temple-monastery shrouded in mystery and overgrown by nature….

Grim Discovery: 76 Child Sacrifices Unearthed in Peru

Shocking Find: 76 Child Skeletons Reveal Dark Rituals Archaeologists have made a chilling discovery in Peru, unearthing the remains of 76 children believed to have been sacrificed…

Giants of Stone: The Serapeum Sarcophagi of Saqqara

Deep beneath the sands of the Saqqara necropolis, not far from the Step Pyramid of Djoser, lies one of the most extraordinary and enigmatic archaeological sites of…

The Vasa: Sweden’s Sunken Warship of 1628

In the annals of maritime history, few ships have captured the imagination of the world as vividly as the Vasa, the ill-fated Swedish warship that sank on…