A Harsh Childhood: Bioarchaeologists Examine Health and Survival in the Pre-Columbian Andes

A child buried in the Andean highlands over 2,500 years ago might have lived a short and difficult life. Their bones, preserved beneath the arid Peruvian soil, tell a story of malnutrition, disease, and systemic hardship. At the Quebrada Chupacigarro Cemetery (QCC) in the Supe Valley, the skeletal remains of dozens of young children show clear signs of stress, raising new questions about how sociopolitical upheaval shaped the most vulnerable members of society.

Bone changes observed on some of the skeletal remains at QCC including (a) Cribra orbitalia (ZAC 623); (b) porotic hyperostosis (ZAC 534). Credit: Pezo-Lanfranco et al. 2025

A recent study, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology¹, takes a close look at childhood morbidity during this period of transition. Researchers led by Luiz Pezo-Lanfranco examined the skeletal remains of 67 individuals buried at QCC, 47 of whom were children under the age of eight. Their findings offer a glimpse into the realities of life for pre-Columbian Andean communities facing political, environmental, and social challenges.