Archaeologists working on Peru’s northern coast have unearthed what they believe to be one of the clearest instances of ritual sacrifice in Andean prehistory. Archaeologists at the Puémape archaeological complex, which is located in the San Pedro Lloc district, uncovered at least 12 individuals who were buried in unusual conditions dating back more than 2,300 years.
(Illustrative image) – Pre-Columbian burial of a sacrificed child at Tlatelolco. Credit: Wolfgang Sauber / CC BY-SA 3.0
The victims were discovered near the Temple of Puémape, a structure originally built approximately 3,000 years ago by the Salinar culture. Although the temple itself also appears to have fallen out of use at this time, radiocarbon dating indicates that the sacrifices were carried out between 400 and 200 BCE. The evidence suggests that the site was still spiritually important years after its construction, still considered a huaca—a local term for a sacred space ᴀssociated with ancestor veneration and ceremonial rituals.
The burials themselves show features never before seen in the region. The victims were face down, many of them with their hands bound behind their backs and ropes around their necks. Their bones show evidence of violent killings, such as cranial fractures and broken bones, indicating that they were executed as part of a ritualistic process. Unlike all other burials during this time, these graves contained no offerings, ceramics, or personal items—lending further support to the theory of sacrificial intent as opposed to traditional burial practices.
Scientists leading the project believe that the location of the bodies and the absence of grave goods mark this discovery as a special example of ritual violence. While the cultural or social membership of the victims remains unknown, other investigations being conducted now—DNA sequencing and osteological analysis—should help determine whether they belonged to the local populations or were brought from neighboring valleys.
Licapa II archaeological site, where a human sacrifice ritual was uncovered. Credit: Chicama Archaeological Program / CC BY 4.0
Excavations have further provided evidence that helps place these sacrifices within an extended ceremonial and social context. Architectural elements such as a broad staircase, stone block walls, and a wide cemented gathering area suggest the temple was once a significant hub for ritual activity, possibly attracting pilgrims from the surrounding vicinity. The extensive history of human activity at the site, confirmed by modern satellite analysis, shows evidence of occupation dating as far back as 2200 BCE, with the main temple in use by around 1000 BCE.
Archaeologists are also examining plant and animal remains at Puémape that may provide evidence of the diet, environment, and symbolic traditions of the people who maintained the site’s ritual importance. Together, these finds give a very refined view of life and death in ancient Peru.
This excavation adds to earlier understandings of Puémape, which had previously been linked to the Cupisnique culture through excavations in the 1990s. Now, with new evidence of systematic human sacrifice, the site contributes a significant chapter to the history of Andean ritual life. Experts call the discovery one of the strongest archaeological examples of mᴀss sacrificial activity in pre-Columbian Peru.
