Under the ruins of an ancient temple in the Peruvian province of Chiclayo, archaeologists have found a secret room for human sacrifice. The purpose of the premises was determined by the corpses of six women who were lying in unusual positions, according to the Daily Mail.
The temple is located in the Pukala area, 30 kilometers from the provincial capital. The attention of archaeologists was attracted by the unusual position of female bodies: their skulls were laid so that the faces of the victims looked at the Andes. Such a phenomenon was not found in the known burials of local cultures (Moche and Sikan).
According to scientists, the room was used for private sacrifices. The women were killed during ceremonies during which ritual clothes were worn and the blood of the victims was drunk. In addition to skeletons, a number of offerings to local gods were found in the room.
The sanctuary itself belongs to the Sican culture that existed on the northern coast of present-day Peru between about 750-1375 AD. She was conquered by the kingdom of Chimu, which, in turn, was included in the Inca empire. It is likely that the Incas adopted some of the rituals of the Sicans, including the rites of sacrifice.
Human sacrifice, including the ritual murder of children, was common in virtually every pre-Columbian civilization in America. The Incas made sacrifices during important events in honor of the gods, of whom there were several dozen in their pantheon. Among the main ones are the sun god Inti and the supreme god Viracocha.
