Tracing Tiwanaku Childhoods

A groundbreaking study on the Tiwanaku culture (AD 500–1150) reveals how childhood was socially constructed within one of the ancient Andes' most influential polities. By integrating bioarchaeology, biogeochemistry, and ethnographic insights, researchers uncover that Tiwanaku childrearing practices—such as cranial modification—were not merely cultural markers but integral to shaping gender, age, residence, and community identities. The study also sheds light on paleopathology and migration patterns, illustrating how childhood experiences were deeply embedded in the broader social fabric of the Tiwanaku polity. This approach challenges traditional assumptions about Andean childhoods, offering a nuanced understanding of their formative years.

Blom, D. E., & Knudson, K. J. (2014). Tracing Tiwanaku Childhoods. Tracing Childhood, 228–245. https://doi.org/10.5744/florida/9780813049830.003.0013