Children of the Empire: A bioarchaeological investigation of childhood and socialization in the Wari Empire (600 to 1000 CE)

Abstract

Examining childhood in the archaeological past is essential to understanding socialization and the reproduction of societal norms. Imperial systems shape many aspects of daily life, instilling sociopolitical expectations from childhood, which are mediated through family and community. To explore these processes, this study considers bioarchaeological evidence of developmental diseases, diet, childhood migration, and child-rearing practices—such as weaning and breastfeeding—in the pre-Hispanic highland community of Auquimarca during the Wari Empire (600–1000 CE). The dataset includes osteological analyses of human skeletal remains (N=104) and stable isotope analyses of dental carbonates (N=201) and bone collagen (N=75). Stable isotope data indicate dietary variability among adults, with most consuming a combination of C4 and C3 plants—likely maize and tubers—and terrestrial animals such as camelids, deer, and cuy. Juvenile plant consumption varied by age, with children incorporating more C4 plants, such as maize or possibly amaranth, as they grew. Overall, children appear to have consumed more C4 plants than adults. The weaning process likely began around 3 to 5 years of age, with maize as the primary weaning food. Stable isotope data reveal that while some individuals buried at Auquimarca migrated there as children or adults, most were local to the region. These findings highlight the role of child-rearing practices—such as breastfeeding, weaning, and the introduction of culturally appropriate foods—as key mechanisms of socialization, embedding children within networks of meaning, reinforcing community ties, and shaping their integration into broader imperial structures.