Recent research has uncovered fascinating evidence of close relative mating among the elite classes in pre-contact Mexico. The study, conducted by Dr. Jakob Sedig from Chronicle Heritage and Harvard University, provides new insights into the social hierarchy and biological relationships within the society of Paquimé, a significant political hub in northern Mexico during the 13th and 14th centuries CE.

Located in the state of Chihuahua, Paquimé, also known as Casas Grandes, was a major center of the Mogollon culture. The archaeological site is known for its adobe architecture and complex social structures. The new findings focus on DNA analysis from a young child’s burial discovered in the “House of the Well,” a structure believed to be the ceremonial heart of Paquimé due to its association with a sacred underground well and the presence of valuable ritual objects.

The study, published in the journal Antiquity, reveals that the child, estimated to be between two and five years old at the time of death, was likely a victim of ritual sacrifice—a practice deeply rooted in many ancient Mesoamerican cultures. However, the DNA analysis brought to light an even more intriguing aspect: the child had unusually long “runs of homozygosity” (RoH), a genetic marker indicating that his parents were closely related, potentially siblings or close kin. According to Dr. Sedig, “This individual has one of the highest runs of homozygosity values of all published ancient individuals in the Western Hemisphere.”

The discovery of the child’s remains in the House of the Well suggests that he belonged to an elite lineage. This supports the idea that close-kin relationships were likely permitted among the elite of Paquimé to maintain power within specific lineages. The researchers propose that the sacrificial act was not just a religious offering but also a powerful statement of social consolidation, intended to elevate the family’s standing within the community.

The burial was first excavated during a project in the late 1950s and 1960s, but this recent genetic analysis is the first of its kind on these remains. While earlier interpretations had already suggested the possibility of ritual sacrifice, the new genetic evidence provides a more detailed understanding of the social and familial dynamics at play in ancient Paquimé.

This discovery paves the way for further investigations into the social structures of ancient Mexican societies. Dr. Sedig and his team plan to continue analysing DNA from Paquimé and neighboring regions to build a more comprehensive picture of how these groups interacted, migrated, and intermarried over time.

While the exact role of child sacrifice in Paquimé’s broader societal framework remains somewhat unclear, it is evident that such rituals were integral to the community’s spiritual and social life. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of the complex and often stark realities of power dynamics in ancient cultures, where the pursuit of social and political dominance could lead to practices that were otherwise considered taboo.

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