A recent study published in the journal Latin American Antiquity unveiled the discovery of the remains of a young, pregnant woman in Buen Suceso, Ecuador, dating back to the Manteño period (771 to 953 C.E.). According to Live Science, archaeologists found the remains during excavations that revealed six burials from this era, characterized by complex chiefdoms of coastal people who engaged in agriculture and seafaring.
The young woman, estimated to be between 17 to 20 years old at the time of her death, was seven to nine months pregnant. Researchers utilized radiocarbon dating to determine her age and the period in which she lived. The grave stood out due to its differences from the others discovered at the site. Among the artifacts found with her were crescent-shaped ornaments made of Spondylus mollusk shells, which were considered valuable trade items at the time. Some of these shells were 2,000 years older than the burial, indicating their value, as reported by GreekReporter.com.
The woman's remains showed signs of a violent death. Fractures on her skull suggested she may have died from a blow to the front of her head caused by a heavy object. Additionally, her bones revealed she had been bludgeoned, pointing to this as the cause of death. Around the time of her death, someone had violently removed her hands and left leg. These findings led researchers to suspect that she was sacrificed, given the rich trade goods buried with her, according to Live Science.
The placement of artifacts around her body and on her abdomen suggests protection and special treatment for her and her fetus. Among the items were three obsidian blades placed around her body, a crab claw on her abdomen, and cockle shells placed on her eyes, indicating a connection to the sea. "The placement of the artifacts suggests protection and special treatment for her and her fetus," said Sara Juengst, a bioarchaeologist at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, according to All That's Interesting.
Researchers proposed two hypotheses to explain the woman's death and unusual burial. One suggests she may have been a victim of jealousy or political rivalry. "If a rival of this woman wanted to take over, they would need to eliminate her and her unborn offspring, but also still give her honor based on her status," noted Juengst, as reported by Live Science. This indicates that women may have held positions of power in Manteño society that needed to be "managed."
The second hypothesis links her death to ritual sacrifice during a period of intense El Niño weather events in Ecuador. These events likely caused issues with crop yields, and the sacrifice may have been an effort to appease the gods and pray for a successful harvest. The researchers noted that many of the artifacts she was buried with "evoked watery environments," suggesting a deeper link to important natural resources, according to GreekReporter.com.
Despite the violent nature of her death, the offerings and valuable goods found in her grave suggest an organized and purposeful execution rather than a vicious, impulsive attack. This contradiction raises questions about her status and the circumstances of her death. "Evidence for human sacrifice in coastal Ecuador is rare but not entirely absent. European chroniclers mentioned that human sacrifice occurred when a local leader died or to ask favors from local deities. Burial 10 may have been sacrificed as part of similar rites," the researchers wrote, as cited by All That's Interesting.
Other experts urge caution in interpreting the findings. "The distinctive mortuary treatment is noteworthy, but I remain cautious about definitively interpreting it as evidence of sacrifice," Benjamin Schaefer, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Illinois Chicago who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email. He suggested that future data may strengthen the study's conclusions.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq