Evidence for Coca and Alcohol Ingestion in the final months of the Llullaillaco Maiden´s life

EMMA BROWN; TIMOTHY TAYLOR; MARÍA CONSTANZA CERUTI; JOHAN REINHARD; ANDREW HEALEY; ANNA NICOLAOU; ANDREW WILSON

Reino Unido

Simposio; BABAO e ISBA3; 2008

               Given the reverence that Andean people have for coca and chicha, it is unsurprising that we see them associated with capacocha - a key ceremony which it has been suggested was used to integrate different ethnic groups during a time of rapid imperial expansion and to demonstrate the absolute power of the Inca -. The data show that there were marked changes within the Maiden´s final month of life including the sustained consumption of coca and alcohol beginning roughly 12 months prior to her death. These changes also correspond with the marked change in diet reported earlier (see Wilson et. al. 2007) and reinforce the interpretation that the Maiden was chosen as a capacocha some considerable time before her death and that her status changed in the build up to the events that culminated in her sacrifice on the mountain. Coca use remained high as the time of sacrifice drew nearer, whilst cocaethylene values indicate that peak alcohol consumption occurred in the last 3 months of life. These findings correlate with numerous literary sources by Spanish chroniclers of coca and alcohol use during the capacocha ceremony and reinforce the timing of their use proximal to death.