A recent genetic study of the remains of a child buried in the ancient city of Paquimé in northern Mexico has revealed a surprising finding: the parents of this child were closely related, likely being half-siblings or uncle/aunt and niece/nephew. This level of consanguinity is extremely rare in most human societies, but it appears to have been tolerated, and even promoted, among the elites of Paquimé during its peak in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The analysis of the ancient DNA from the child, known as Burial 23-8, shows that the parents shared between 25% and 50% of their genome, suggesting a first- or second-degree relationship. This is one of the highest levels of consanguinity recorded in individuals from the Americas.

Paquimé, also known as Casas Grandes, was an important urban and ceremonial center in northwestern Mexico during the pre-Hispanic period. The site is notable for its size, architectural complexity, and wealth of prestige goods, leading archaeologists to debate its social organization. Was it a hierarchical and elitist society or rather a cosmopolitan community?

Location of room 21 and burial 23-8 at Paquimé: a) Paquimé site map (produced by S. Ure & M. Searcy); b) diagram of room 21
Location of room 21 and burial 23-8 at Paquimé: a) Paquimé site map (produced by S. Ure & M. Searcy); b) diagram of room 21. Credit: Di Peso et al.1974 / The Amerind Foundation, Inc.

The discovery of Burial 23-8 provides new evidence about the social structure of Paquimé. The child’s privileged position, buried alongside important ritual items in one of the site’s most prominent structures, suggests that he belonged to the local elite. Moreover, the high degree of consanguinity of his parents indicates that this elite may have used marriages between close relatives as a strategy to consolidate and legitimize their power.

Paquimé was one of the most important sites in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States during the 13th and 14th centuries. With more than 1,100 rooms and some buildings reaching three stories high, the site was distinguished by its size, architectural complexity, and abundance of trade goods from Mesoamerica and other regions.

Burial 23-8 was located in the structure known as the House of the Well, one of the most prominent at the site. This burial, of a child aged between 2 and 5 years, was placed around one of the wooden pillars that supported the roof and the upper floor of the room. According to the researchers, this position suggests that the child was buried as a “supplicatory offering” when the pillar was set.

Another view of Paquimé
Another view of Paquimé. Credit: HJPD / Wikimedia Commons

The researchers used a technique called “runs of homozygosity” (ROH) to quantify the level of consanguinity of the individual. This technique allows estimating the degree of kinship between the parents based on the genome. In the case of Burial 23-8, the ROH values suggest that his parents were half-siblings, uncle/aunt and niece/nephew, or grandparent-grandchild, that is, first- or second-degree relatives.

In addition to the genetic analysis, the researchers conducted strontium isotope studies indicating that the child was a local of Paquimé, and radiocarbon dating that places the burial at the peak of this site, between 1301 and 1397 AD.

According to the researchers, this was the only individual in Paquimé buried around a post. We find it highly unlikely that this was a coincidence. Our review of the ethnographic/anthropological literature and global aDNA data suggests that taboos against unions between close relatives were common and not limited to sibling relationships. Recorded cases in which such relationships are condoned occur most frequently among elite families within socially stratified societies.

They conclude that these results suggest that Burial 23-8 was part of an equally hierarchical society in Paquimé. Archaeologists have long debated the nature of Paquimé’s social organization. The data from Burial 23-8 suggest that there was an elite class in Paquimé, which may have attempted to consolidate its power by establishing unions between close relatives.

SOURCES

Sedig J, Snow M, Searcy M, et al. High levels of consanguinity in a child from Paquimé, Chihuahua, Mexico. Antiquity. Published online 2024:1-17. doi:10.15184/aqy.2024.94

  • Share this article:

Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcan, is among the largest structures at Chichén Itzá and its architecture reflects its far-flung political connections.
Mayan Genome Analysis Reveals Practice of Ritual Sacrifice of Twin Boys A new study explores the ritual practice of child sacrifice at Chichén Itzá, an ancient Maya city. Following the collapse of the classical Maya civilization, Chichén Itzá emerged as a…
The inusual burial at Nayarit
Archaeologists Discover Intriguing Pre-Hispanic Burial in Mexico, Intended as Founding Ritual of a Settlement Staff from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico made a significant archaeological discovery while supervising construction works in the locality of Pozo de Ibarra, Nayarit. While…
Reconstruction of the face of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou
The Likeness of 6th Century Chinese Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou Reconstructed from DNA of his Remains An ancient Chinese emperor from 1,500 years ago has been reconstructed by a team of researchers using DNA extracted from his remains. Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou dynasty's face…
La Morita II Cave, the site of the find
Remains of a Baby and Two Teenagers, Buried Alive or Sacrificed, Found in a Prehistoric Cave in Mexico Recently, during the 2023-2024 field seasons at the La Morita II prehistoric cave in the state of Nuevo León (Mexico), archaeologists made several significant discoveries. Among the most notable findings…
2560px-Gdańsk_HotGS_02-2
Tooth Analysis Reveals Sarmatian Child Traveled Thousands of Miles to Britain in Roman Times In 2017, archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) were excavating land near the village of Offord Cluny in Cambridgeshire, England. Among the 42 burials they uncovered was one…
Philistine prisoners on the Medinet Habu reliefs
Study Reveals Philistines Came from Europe A study published in Science Advances by an international team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute, Harvard University, and Seoul University, among others, suggests that the Philistines, the people…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.