Inca Funerary Practices (ca. 1400–1532): A First Assessment on the Basis of Archaeological Data

This article examines Inca (AD 1400–1532) funerary contexts using a meta-study of published archaeological data. To date, ethnohistory has been the main means of dealing with this theme, and syntheses based on the archaeological record have been mostly absent. One hundred forty funerary contexts are compared from the Cusco area and three Inca-conquered regions pertaining to the Late Horizon, leading to the identification of patterns and contrasts in these different areas. The burial types, the biological profile of the individuals, and the funerary goods have been thoroughly re-examined, seeking evidence for recurring material or practices. The results show heterogeneous practices with variations in the burial types and artifact assemblages, apparently unrelated to region, site, sex, or age of the individuals. Within this, we discuss the possible association of some types of artifacts with gender roles, symbolism, and materialization.SCOPUS: ar.j