The Tiwanaku Camelid Sacrificer: origins and transformations of animal iconography in the context of Middle Horizon (A.D. 400–1100) state expansion

A new interpretation of the Tiwanaku Camelid Sacrificer (TCS) reveals its significance in Andean iconography, challenging previous assumptions about violence and fertility imagery in Tiwanaku culture. The TCS, depicted as a human-camelid hybrid carrying a trophy head or axe, symbolizes shared essence and form between humans and camelids, reflecting unique positions of power in Tiwanaku’s agropastoralist society. This study re-examines the TCS theme, originating from the Formative period, through analysis of portable prestige objects found in Tiwanaku hinterlands, suggesting its role in ritual and ontology during the Middle Horizon (A.D. 400–1100). The research highlights the TCS as a representation of states of being (camay) and becoming (tucoy), offering insights into Tiwanaku’s state expansion and social structures.

Baitzel, S. I., & Trigo Rodríguez, D. E. (2019). The Tiwanaku Camelid Sacrificer: origins and transformations of animal iconography in the context of Middle Horizon (A.D. 400–1100) state expansion. Ñawpa Pacha, 39(1), 31–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/00776297.2019.1574958