Human Sacrifice in Incan, Moche, and Wari Cultures
This paper surveys the practice of human sacrifice across three major pre-Columbian Andean civilizations: the Moche, the Wari, and the Inca. Drawing on archaeological evidence and early colonial Spanish chronicles, the paper traces how sacrifice functioned as a central religious and political institution in each culture. It examines specific documented cases — including the "Capacocha" child sacrifices, the "Ice Maiden" Juanita, and the Virgins of the Sun — and considers scholarly interpretations ranging from appeasement of mountain gods to the ritual consolidation of imperial expansion. The paper situates these practices within the broader cultural and historical context of pre-Columbian Peru.
- Overview of Pre-Columbian Andean Civilizations: Chronological survey of Moche, Wari, and Inca cultures
- The Role of Sacrifice in Moche and Inca Religious Life: Sacrifice as religious and political institution
- Capacocha: Child Sacrifice and the Ice Mummies: Documented cases of Inca child sacrifice victims
- The Virgins of the Sun and Other Sacrificial Victims: Female and male victims across the empire
- Interpretations of Human Sacrifice in the Inca Empire: Religious appeasement versus imperial expansion theories
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What makes this paper effective
- Uses specific named cases — Tanta Carhua, Juanita, and Sarita — to ground abstract ritual practices in concrete, memorable evidence.
- Integrates multiple scholarly sources (Benson, Jackson, Goldstein, Raggio) alongside archaeological findings, giving the survey credibility across disciplines.
- Balances descriptive reporting of practices with interpretive frameworks, presenting both traditional and more radical scholarly readings of the sacrificial evidence.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of secondary source synthesis: it draws on archaeological reports, exhibition catalogs, and scholarly monographs to build a coherent cross-cultural narrative. By citing multiple authors with differing emphases — such as Reinhard's forensic analysis versus Clark's geopolitical interpretation — the paper shows how historians weigh competing explanations for the same body of evidence.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a chronological overview of Andean civilizations (Chavin through Inca), then narrows to the role of sacrifice in Moche and Inca religion. The central sections present specific archaeological cases of child sacrifice in detail before broadening again to discuss the Virgins of the Sun and male sacrificial victims. The paper closes with interpretive frameworks — traditional religious appeasement versus imperial expansion — allowing it to move from evidence to analysis.
Overview of Pre-Columbian Andean Civilizations
Peru's first known cultures date back over 20,000 years and have left strong marks on the country. One of the most important known groups is the Chavín civilization, one of the earliest in Peru and also the first known building culture. After the decline of the Chavín culture, several regional cultures emerged. The most famous are the Paracas and Nazca civilizations, whose legacy includes the mysterious Nazca Lines, among the highlights of Peru. Both civilizations are remembered for their great artistic and technological skills.
Farther north, the Moche people flourished over a relatively long period between 100 B.C. and 850 A.D. Although they controlled only a small portion of Peru, the Moche people's mastery of architectural and artistic techniques made them one of the most influential cultures in the history of Peru. It is still possible to observe their tremendous cultural contribution outside the modern city of Trujillo.
The Moche culture, located on the north coast of Peru, was named after the valley of the river that was the center of this civilization, together with the Virú and Chicama valleys. At the height of their expansion, the influence of the Moche culture extended along a coastal strip approximately 250 kilometers long — from the Leche valley in the north to the Nepeña valley in the south. During this period, the population grew enormously, and within these valleys people formed a unified political organization. Control of vital irrigation infrastructure was fundamental to political power. A tight integration also existed between religious practice and political authority (Thousand Years Inka Gold, 2011, p. 2).
The Wari Empire existed from approximately 500 to 1100 A.D. The Wari empire was established around 600 A.D. and at its height extended over 1,500 kilometers across the territory of present-day Peru. Sweeping changes in social, political, and religious life accompanied the spread of Wari culture, reflected in shifting settlement patterns, new forms of architecture, expanding infrastructure, and new burial rituals. Centuries later, the Incas adopted a great number of Wari reforms for their own empire (Thousand Years Inka Gold, 2011, p. 1).
The Inca culture flourished from approximately 1438 to 1532 A.D. — a period of fewer than 90 years as a unified state drawing together many previously independent peoples. The historical significance of the Inca rulers rested on their ability to govern many different cultures while allowing those cultures to retain their own identities, with some exceptions. The rulers also organized a stable and economically productive supply empire (Thousand Years Inka Gold, 2011, p. 2). When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America, the Inca commanded the largest, richest, and most isolated empire of native America. Centuries before the growth of the Inca state, however, the ancient peoples of the Andes had already created an extraordinarily rich and diverse heritage of cultures, establishing many of the traditions that give the Andean region its unique character today (Goldstein, 2003, p. 1).
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