A child buried in the Andean highlands over 2,500 years ago might have lived a short and difficult life. Their bones, preserved beneath the arid Peruvian soil, tell a story of malnutrition, disease, and systemic hardship. At the Quebrada Chupacigarro Cemetery (QCC) in the Supe Valley, the skeletal remains of dozens of young children show clear signs of stress, raising new questions about how sociopolitical upheaval shaped the most vulnerable members of society.
A recent study, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, takes a close look at childhood morbidity during this period of transition. Researchers led by Luiz Pezo-Lanfranco examined the skeletal remains of 67 individuals buried at QCC, 47 of whom were children under the age of eight. Their findings offer a glimpse into the realities of life for pre-Columbian Andean communities facing political, environmental, and social challenges.
