Peruvian mummies raise questions about Wari conquest of Nasca civilization
For centuries, historians have drawn the boundaries of where ancient people lived based on the evidence they left behind. By studying their remains, burial practices and other archaeological clues, they can determine the types of relationships they had with other people in the area. However, this can all change when new archaeological evidence is found.
At a site on Peru's south coast where the Nasca civilization flourished from A.D. 1 to 750, a team of archaeologists uncovered mummies interred in close proximity to a Wari temple. The discovery, made in both 2018 and 2022, has researchers questioning the narrative of the Wari conquest of the Nasca. These undisturbed for over a millennium, the mummies were found seated and flexed, with their knees to their chest and hands around their faces, a burial style typical in Peru.
The Wari Empire is believed to have conquered the Nasca civilization; however, these findings suggest a more nuanced relationship. The team, led by Corina Kellner and including Melissa Lund and Alexandra Oshiro, conducted X-rays, CT scans, and DNA sampling, with the aim of analyzing isotopes to understand diet, migration patterns, and social interactions.
The Wari Empire, which settled in Ayacucho, a high-elevation area, relied on crops like cotton, while the Nasca civilization, living at a lower elevation, thrived on cotton and coca leaves. Kellner hypothesizes that the Nasca may have supported the Wari Empire, possibly through the exchange of technological advancements such as ceramic techniques and textiles.
This research aims to provide insights into the complex relationship between the Wari and Nasca, challenging the simplistic view of conquest, and instead highlighting potential collaboration and mutual support.
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