The question haunts a seaside burial in northern Peru, where hundreds of remains from the largest-known mass child sacrifice in the Americas were found. The site, known as Huanchaquito-Las Llamas, dates back some 550 years to when the region was part of the Chimú Empire, which flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries.
Coastal Peru’s arid climate and salty soil helped preserve the bodies, retaining details that show some children had their faces painted with red cinnabar; others wore cotton headdresses. (Credit: John Verano)
