Sacrifice of 1,200 -year -old pregnant woman unearthed at the Ecuador’s maintenance period

The remains of a pregnant young woman, who lived approximately 1,200 years ago during the period Mainta EcuadorThey were dug up by archaeologists. His tomb contained an impressive combination of artifacts and evidence of violent death, which led the researchers to suspect ritual sacrifice. The discovery was made at the venue of Buen Success, where the funeral was found to include the remains of another individual’s skull and burnt offerings. The context and content of the grave raised significant questions about its social role and the reasons for its tragic destiny.

Study Details

According to to study Published in Latin -American antiquity, the 17-20 -year -old woman was in the late stages of pregnancy when she died. The fractures on their skull indicated a fatal blow to the head, while the hands and left leg were cut postmortem. Radiocarbon dating placed his death between 771 and 953. Sara Juengst, a Bioarcaeologist at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, explained Living the science that the presence of valuable commercial artifacts, including Spondylus Mollusk ornaments and obsidian blades, suggested its high status in its community.

Artifacts and Interpretations

The inclusion of spondylic shells, often linked to fertility and water, along with a crab clash placed in the abdomen, suggested ritualistic intentions. These items, along with the burnt material dated 991-1025, indicated that the tomb may have been revisited centuries after their funeral. Juengst suggested that this could reflect an attempt to associate his sacrifice with environmental events such as El Niño, which could have interrupted agriculture and caused desperate measures.

Meaning of burial

The funeral provoked discussions about the political and social roles of women in the maintenance society. Juengst has speculated that his power, possibly linked to pregnancy, may have made her a target of sacrifice or elimination. Benjamin Schaefer, a Bioarcaeologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, warned against definitive interpretations, suggesting that future studies could provide deeper information about this unique discovery.