Pre‐Hispanic Mortuary Practices in Quebrada de Humahuaca (North‐Western Argentina): Genetic Relatedness among Individuals Buried in the Same Grave

A genetic analysis of pre-Hispanic mortuary practices in Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina, reveals high levels of kinship among individuals buried together. By examining autosomal and uniparental DNA markers from two archaeological sites dating to the Late Formative (1450–1050 BP) and Regional Developments I (1050–700 BP) periods, researchers identified strong maternal and paternal relatedness in collective graves. This suggests that such burials were likely reserved for close family members, providing new insights into the social significance of death in these ancient societies. The study's findings, though limited to two cases, underscore the potential of ancient DNA in reconstructing mortuary behaviors and familial structures in UNESCO-listed sites like Quebrada de Humahuaca.

Russo, M. G., Mendisco, F., Avena, S. A., Dejean, C. B., & Seldes, V. (2016). Pre‐Hispanic Mortuary Practices in Quebrada de Humahuaca (North‐Western Argentina): Genetic Relatedness among Individuals Buried in the Same Grave. Annals of Human Genetics, 80(4), 210–220. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/ahg.12159