Ancient DNA analysis of Machu Picchu burial sites has yielded groundbreaking insights into the city’s fascinating history: the Lost City of the Incas reveals itself as a melting pot of cultures and races.
A newly published genetic study in Science Advances, traced the origins of 34 Machu Picchu residents, discovering a diverse population hailing from various regions of the Andes and the Amazon jungle.
These finds provide compelling insight into the cosmopolitan nature of this royal estate and the multicultural background of the inhabitants of the Lost City of the Incas.
Machu Picchu: a royal estate with a diverse community of servants
Originally built as a palace within the property of the Inca emperor Pachacuti, Machu Picchu housed attendants called yanacona (male) and aclla (female).
The new research shows that these “servants” probably came from everywhere, brought to the royal estate to serve in various roles.
Unlike manual laborers or warriors, their well-preserved bones indicate a relatively comfortable life, suggesting that they were well cared for and cared for.
They analyzed DNA samples from people buried in the four cemeteries of Machu Picchu. (BNG Illustration / Impremedia)
The authors of the study analyzed DNA samples from people buried in the four cemeteries of Machu Picchu. By comparing these genomes with those of people from nearby Cusco, the researchers discovered a diverse bred community.
“Now, of course, genetics doesn’t translate into ethnicity or anything like that,” explained study author Jason Nesbitt in a announcement. “But that shows that they have different origins within different parts of the Inca Empire.”
People with different genetic backgrounds lived, interacted, reproduced, and were buried next to each other. Some servants traced their origins back to ancient Andean communitieswhile others came from regions as far away as the Peruvian coast and the Amazon jungle.
Machu Picchu: more genetically diverse than contemporary villages
Genetic analysis reveals that Machu Picchu was substantially more genetically diverse than contemporary rural villages in the Andes.. Surprisingly few of the burials showed direct family relationships, suggesting that people arrived at Machu Picchu as distinct entities, rather than as part of communities or extended families.
The study authors paint a vivid picture of Machu Picchu as a cosmopolitan center, where people of diverse backgrounds coexisted, formed relationships, and were buried side by side. The multicultural nature of the city is a testament to the rich tapestry of cultures and races that thrived within its walls.
While the study sheds light on the various servants who lived at Machu Picchu throughout the year, it remains unclear about the genetic identity of the Inca royalty and their esteemed guests.
The elite resided in Cusco and would not have lived permanently or been buried at Machu Picchu, leaving intact the mystery surrounding the lineage of the city’s rulers.
Analysis of ancient DNA has provided an exciting revelation about the inhabitants of Machu Picchu. This once mysterious city was in fact a cosmopolitan marvel, with a vibrant population from various regions of the Andes and Amazon.
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2023-07-28 03:22:19
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