The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Who lived at Machu Picchu? DNA analysis shows surprising diversity at the ancient Inca palace

  • Written by Roberta Davidson, PhD candidate in Genetic Anthropology, University of Adelaide
Who lived at Machu Picchu? DNA analysis shows surprising diversity at the ancient Inca palace

Standing atop the mountains in the southern highlands of Peru is the 15th-century marvel of the Inca empire, Machu Picchu. Today, the citadel is a global tourist attraction and an icon of precolonial Latin American history – but it was once the royal palace of an emperor.

Our international team of researchers has uncovered the incredible genetic diversity hidden within the ancient remains of those who once called Machu Picchu home. We detail our findings in a study published today[1] in Science Advances.

The puzzling remnants of a royal site

The Inca empire once ruled a vast 2 million square km across the breathtaking Andes mountain range in South America. It was formed in 1438 by the first ruler, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui[2], and reached its height in 1533, before colonisation by the Spanish.

At the heart of the empire was the capital city of Cusco, and nearby was Pachacuti’s majestic palace, Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu was visited by the royal family and guests during the dry season of May to October as a place to feast, dance, sing and hunt. Although these elite Incas were buried in Cusco upon their death, the palace was maintained year-round by a few hundred servants who lived on site. These servants were buried in cemeteries outside the palace walls.

Following Spanish colonisation, knowledge of Machu Picchu was lost to the Western world – only to be rediscovered by adventurers in the early 20th century.

In 1912, the Yale Peruvian Scientific Expedition[3] documented a staggering count of 174 individuals buried on site. These burials were often shallow graves, or were concealed under large boulders or natural rocky overhangs.

While many lacked grave goods, ceramic artefacts were discovered buried alongside some people. These paint a vivid picture of cultural diversity, with styles from coastal and northern regions of Peru, as well as from the highlands of Bolivia near Lake Titicaca.

This was the first clue that Machu Picchu drew people from all reaches of the Inca empire. It suggested the servants who lived at Machu Picchu came from a variety of places, bringing ceramics from their homelands.

However, the artefacts could have also ended up in the area through trade. To find out where these people had come from, we would have to analyse their DNA.

New findings from ancient DNA

We sequenced ancient DNA from the remains of 68 individuals – 34 buried at Machu Picchu and 34 buried in Cusco. Using carbon dating, we dated the remains and found some of these people were buried before the rise of Pachacuti and the Inca empire.

We then compared their DNA with that of Indigenous peoples living in the Andes today (past research has found these genetic lines have continued undisturbed for[4] the[5] past[6] 2,000[7] years[8]) – as well as to ancestries from more distant regions of South America.

It’s worth noting these “ancestries” are based on DNA and don’t necessarily overlap with the peoples’ cultural identities, although they sometimes would.

We sequenced ancient DNA from the remains of 68 individuals buried at Machu Picchu and Cusco. The Australian Centre for Ancient DNA/The University of Adelaide, Author provided

Were the people buried at Machu Picchu genetically similar to those who had lived in the area since before Pachacuti’s reign? Or were they related to ancestries from more distant regions?

If the latter was true, we could safely assume they (or their parents) had come to Machu Picchu from faraway lands.

Journeying to a life of servitude

Of all the DNA samples we analysed, we found 17 individuals had ancestry from one of the distant sources tested (coloured on the map below). These included all regions of the Peruvian coast and highlands, as well as the Amazon regions of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

This map of South America shows different genetic ancestries represented in different regions. The black line shows the full extent of the Inca Empire, while the inset shows Machu Picchu and other royal sites. Salazar et al., 2023, Author provided[9]

Only seven of the buried individuals had ancestry that could be linked to Peru’s vast southern highlands where Machu Picchu and Cusco reside. However, we can’t confirm they were local to Machu Picchu itself.

The remaining 13 individuals had blended ancestry, including from as far away as Brazil and Paraguay. They might have been the offspring of individuals from different lands who met at Machu Picchu – or could be linked to yet unknown South American ancestries.

As for close family relationships, we only discovered one pair: a mother and daughter.

Remarkably, all the individuals were buried together in the major cemeteries, irrespective of their ancestry. This could imply they were considered equal in status to one another, which in turn would suggest they were born elsewhere and arrived at Machu Picchu independently, occasionally forming relationships and having children.

It’s likely these people were from a class of[10] “chosen women” called acllacona, and a similar class of men called yanacona. Individuals in these groups were selected from their homes at a young age and permanently assigned to state, aristocratic or religious service.

After arriving at Machu Picchu, they would have spent the rest of their lives serving the royal estate.

Although we don’t know how much (if any) coercion was involved in the process of these people coming to Machu Picchu, analyses of the bones suggest they lived comfortable lives. Many lived to old age and showed no signs of malnutrition, disease, or injury from warfare or heavy labour.

A diversity hotspot

Importantly, the human remains we found that predated the Inca empire did not exhibit high levels of diversity. This suggests it was indeed the establishment of the Inca empire that led people from far and wide to Machu Picchu.

Further, our examination of individuals from Cusco showed less diversity than at Machu Picchu, but more than other regional sites. This is probably because the extensive highland area had a long history of interactions between different peoples before the rise of the Inca empire.

Our findings paint a captivating picture of Machu Picchu as a true hotspot of diversity within the Inca imperial realm – setting it apart as a culturally rich hub within the ancient landscape.

Read more: How llamas conquered the world[11]

References

  1. ^ published today (www.science.org)
  2. ^ Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (www.worldhistory.org)
  3. ^ Yale Peruvian Scientific Expedition (yalebooks.yale.edu)
  4. ^ for (www.cell.com)
  5. ^ the (www.pnas.org)
  6. ^ past (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  7. ^ 2,000 (www.science.org)
  8. ^ years (europepmc.org)
  9. ^ Salazar et al., 2023 (www.science.org)
  10. ^ class of (www.mdpi.com)
  11. ^ How llamas conquered the world (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/who-lived-at-machu-picchu-dna-analysis-shows-surprising-diversity-at-the-ancient-inca-palace-210287

The Times Features

What are physician assistants? Can they fix the doctor shortage?

If you’ve tried to get an appointment to see a GP or specialist recently, you will likely have felt the impact of Australia’s doctor shortages[1]. To alleviate workforce sho...

Do men and women agree on how easy it is for each other to find a job or a date?

Typically, you don’t have to write a cover letter before attending a candlelit dinner. But there are some eerie emotional parallels between finding a job and finding a date. ...

Australia’s clinical guidelines shape our health care. Why do so many still ignore sex and gender?

You’ve heard of the gender pay gap. What about the gap in medical care? Cardiovascular diseases – which can lead to heart attack and stroke – are one of the leading causes[1...

Don't Get Burned—Smart Insurance for Your Investment Property

Real estate investment offers lucrative opportunities even though it brings operational risks. Real estate investment protection fundamentally depends on obtaining the correct insu...

Why it’s important to actively choose the music for your mood

Many of us take pleasure in listening to music[1]. Music accompanies important life events and lubricates social encounters. It represents aspects of our existing identity, a...

The Link Between Heart Health and Ageing Well

Millions of Australians are at risk of heart disease, but fewer realise that keeping their heart healthy can also help protect their brain, memory, and cognitive function, redu...

Times Magazine

Improving Website Performance with a Cloud VPS

Websites represent the new mantra of success. One slow website may make escape for visitors along with income too. Therefore it's an extra offer to businesses seeking better performance with more scalability and, thus represents an added attracti...

Why You Should Choose Digital Printing for Your Next Project

In the rapidly evolving world of print media, digital printing has emerged as a cornerstone technology that revolutionises how businesses and creative professionals produce printed materials. Offering unparalleled flexibility, speed, and quality, d...

What to Look for When Booking an Event Space in Melbourne

Define your event needs early to streamline venue selection and ensure a good fit. Choose a well-located, accessible venue with good transport links and parking. Check for key amenities such as catering, AV equipment, and flexible seating. Pla...

How BIM Software is Transforming Architecture and Engineering

Building Information Modeling (BIM) software has become a cornerstone of modern architecture and engineering practices, revolutionizing how professionals design, collaborate, and execute projects. By enabling more efficient workflows and fostering ...

How 32-Inch Computer Monitors Can Increase Your Workflow

With the near-constant usage of technology around the world today, ergonomics have become crucial in business. Moving to 32 inch computer monitors is perhaps one of the best and most valuable improvements you can possibly implement. This-sized moni...

Top Tips for Finding a Great Florist for Your Sydney Wedding

While the choice of wedding venue does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to wowing guests, decorations are certainly not far behind. They can add a bit of personality and flair to the traditional proceedings, as well as enhancing the venue’s ...

LayBy Shopping