Archaeologists in Ecuador have uncovered a fascinating and perplexing burial ritual: infants buried with “helmets” made from the skulls of other children. This shocking discovery comes from the ancient Salango ritual complex on Ecuador’s central coast, excavated between 2014 and 2016.
The team — led by Sara Juengst and Abigail Bythell from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Richard Lunniss and Juan José Ortiz Aguilu from Universidad Técnica de Manabí — published their findings in Latin American Antiquity.
The site dates to around 100 B.C. and was likely used by the Guangala culture as a funerary platform. Among the remains of 11 individuals, shells, artifacts, and stone figurines honoring ancestors, two infant burials stood out due to an unusual funerary practice: skull helmets.
The Burial Details
One infant was about 18 months old when they died, and their head was encased in the skull of another child, aged between four and 12 years. The second infant, between six and nine months old, had a similar skull “helmet” from a child aged between two and 12 years.
Researchers noted that the skulls were tightly fitted around the infants’ heads, likely with the flesh still intact, acting as a natural adhesive to hold the helmets in place.
While isolated skulls have previously been found in South American mortuary sites, they are usually those of adults, symbolizing idolatry of ancestors or honoring fallen warriors. The discovery of children buried with other children’s skulls, however, is unprecedented.
Why Did This Ritual Take Place?
The research team believes these helmets might have served to “protect the pre-social and wild souls” of the infants, a theory reinforced by the presence of stone figurines, possibly added for further safeguarding.
Adding to the mystery, a hand phalanx bone was found tucked between one infant’s head and the skull helmet. Its origin and purpose remain unknown, with scientists planning DNA and isotope tests to learn more.
The broader context, however, hints at environmental catastrophe. Evidence suggests a volcanic eruption covered the area in ash not long before these burials. Researchers speculate that food production plummeted, leading to widespread malnutrition, which may have contributed to the infants’ deaths. Juengst and her team propose that the burial ritual could have been part of a larger ceremonial response to this environmental crisis.
Unanswered Questions
This rare find has left experts stunned, including bio-archaeologist Sara Becker of UC Riverside, who remarked, “I’ve never heard of anything like it elsewhere in the Andes.” She speculated that the skull helmets may symbolize rebirth, like planting seeds to encourage agricultural growth.
Juengst offered another perspective, suggesting the skulls might have been “worn in life as well as death.” She noted the immense care taken in the burials — an emotional but comforting discovery that highlights the community’s efforts to honor these children in a meaningful way.
While the skull helmets remain a haunting and mysterious sight, they offer unprecedented insight into ancient rituals of the Guangala culture. Future analysis of the remains and artifacts will hopefully reveal more about the lives, deaths, and beliefs of this community — and how they navigated the challenges of their time.