Family relations of Moche elite burials on the North Coast of Peru (~500 CE): Analyses of the Señora de Cao and relatives

Abstract

The Moche archaeological culture flourished along Peru’s North Coast between the 4thand 10th centuries CE and was characterized by a complex social hierarchy dominatedby political and religious elites. Previous archaeological evidence suggests kinshipwas a key factor in maintaining political authority within Moche society. To testthis hypothesis, we applied archaeological, genetic, and isotopic methods to examinefamilial relationships between six individuals, including the prominent Señora de Cao(~500 CE), buried together in a pyramid-­ like, painted temple, Huaca Cao Viejo, inthe Chicama Valley, Peru. Our findings reveal that all six individuals were biologi-cally related, with varying degrees of kinship. The Señora de Cao was interred with asacrificed juvenile, identified as a possible niece, and at least one, and potentially twosiblings and a grandparent in separate tombs nearby. One of the male siblings wasaccompanied in death by his sacrificed son. Isotopic analysis indicates that while mostindividuals had diets rich in maize and animal protein and spent their childhoodsin or near the Chicama Valley, the sacrificed juvenile accompanying the Señora hada distinct diet and geographic origin. These results demonstrate that Moche eliteswere interred with family members, including some raised far from their parentalhomes. This supports the hypothesis that kinship was central to transmitting statusand authority. Moreover, sacrificing family members to accompany deceased elitesunderscores the significance of ritual sacrifice in reinforcing familial ties and linkingthe deceased to both ancestors and the divine.