Many cultures throughout human history have performed animal sacrifices to appease their deities. Unfortunately, there have also been instances of human sacrifices.
One of the most horrifying cases in recent times was uncovered during an excavation in Peru, revealing a disturbing truth.
“Faces painted red, mouths frozen in apparent agony, traces of worn textiles binding their small bodies, fractured ribs, intact sternums, and numerous juvenile skeletons.” This haunting scene was unearthed by archaeologist Gabriel Preto during an excavation at Huanchaquito-Las Llamas in northern Peru in 2011, as reported by National Geographic.
A Startling Discovery
Initially guided by local testimonies pointing to undiscovered remains, Preto’s initial dig unearthed the remains of 42 children and 76 llamas.
Subsequent excavations revealed that by 2016, the site had yielded over 140 children (aged between 4 and 14) and around 200 llama skeletons.
Textile analysis conducted at the site suggests that these sacrifices likely took place between 1400 and 1450, during ceremonial rituals.
Insight into the Chimu Civilization
This sacrificial site is believed to have been constructed by the Chimu Empire.
According to Kristin Romey, “While historical records and modern excavations have hinted at human sacrifices among the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas, the significant discovery of mass sacrificial rituals within the relatively obscure pre-Columbian Chimu civilization represents a unique find, unparalleled in the Americas and possibly globally.”
The article further describes that “The unearthed skeletons, displaying expanded rib cages and severed sternums, bear witness to heinous acts of violence, likely involving heart extraction as their chests were cut open.”
Many consider this site to be the largest-scale child sacrifice ever recorded. It’s a chilling thought to contemplate such horrors in our present time, isn’t it?
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