The Moche and the Bonds of Blood: Genetic Evidence Reveals Elite Family Ties

A New Look at Kinship in Ancient Peru

In the deserts of northern Peru, the remains of an ancient dynasty have been uncovered, their DNA revealing a story of power, sacrifice, and family. A recent study led by Harvard University researchers explored an elite burial group at Huaca Cao Viejo, a ceremonial site of the Moche culture, dating to around 500 CE. Their findings, published in PNAS¹, confirm that family relationships played a central role in consolidating status and power within this ancient civilization.