The Social Position of Children in Southern Peru During the Late Intermediate Period. Study of Mummies from San Francisco Site, Yauca Valley.

The aim of the current paper is to investigate of the role of the children in prehispanic society from the perspective of human remains from the site of San Francisco (Yauca Valley) on the southern Peru coast dating to the Late Intermediate Period (900-1476 AC). The bioarchaeological analysis of the quality of bundle textiles, health condition, body position, the artificial head modification, and mummification techniques were used to establish if the subadults received a different treatment related to their social origins or age. A radiographic and anthropological examination was conducted to investigate 22 wrapped mummies. The result show three different types of artificial cranial modification, as well as trace of artificial mummification practices. The children (including infants) participated in the same funerary treatment as adults. The results suggest an identification with the group started at the moment of birth. The diversity of the youngest children showed a complex social structure in which social status was inherited from the parents.