#gravegood

A grave good is an object that was placed in a grave site with an individual when they were buried. Some types of items that have surrounded the Inca grave sites are pottery, clothing, metal discs, wood, bone, textiles, and figures of people and llamas made of shell, gold and silver (Gibaja et al., 2005; Cobo 1990 as cited by Andrushko et al. 2011). In the case of capacochas, according to McEwan and van de Gutche (1992:364) as cited by Andrushko et al. 2011, “miniature objects were buried with the children as symbolic gifts from the Inca ruler, which established a connection between the community supplying the sacrifice and the divine monarchy of the Inca.” The three children found on Cerro Llullaillaco in northwestern Argentina had “a diverse assemblage of artifacts, including more than 20 clothes statues that mimicked the apparel of the sacrificed children” (Andrushko et al. 2011). According to Andrushko et al. (2011) some miniature objects were buried with children as “symbolic gifts” for the Inca ruler which would then establish a connection between the community and the monarchy of the Inca. The grave goods therefore are very important for archaeologists as they can help in a reconstruction of the buried individuals life. They can help to reconstruct where they were from, what they looked like, how old they may have been (this would depend on the types of artifacts) and they could also help in association with other sacrificial burials.

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