In a remote region of what is now Patagonia, a significant archaeological discovery was made. Up to 800 years ago, mourners buried a young woman in a ceremonial canoe, symbolizing her final journey to the land of the dead. This finding challenges the previous belief that canoe burials were introduced only after Spanish colonization, providing substantial evidence that this ritual was practiced throughout pre-Hispanic South America.
The remains, the first evidence of such a burial in Argentine Patagonia, were found at a dig site named Newen Antug, near Lake Lacár in western Argentina. Detailed analysis revealed a fascinating scene: the body of a young woman, aged between 17 and 25 at the time of her death, was surrounded by nearly 600 pieces of charred wood from a single Chilean cedar tree. These wooden pieces, known as wampo, were hollowed out using fire and were integral to the Mapuche society’s burial practices, where they symbolized the journey to the afterlife.
According to the study published in PLOS ONE, the woman’s remains were found in a position suggesting she was laid in a canoe-like structure. A jug was placed near her head, indicating a deliberate burial ritual. Further examination showed that she was laid on a bed of freshwater clams, reinforcing the idea of a ceremonial burial.
Testing of the woman’s bone fragments dated her to approximately 1142 AD, indicating that she belonged to the Mapuche culture and lived long before the arrival of the Spanish. The discovery is particularly rare as most canoe burials were reserved for men, making this the first time a canoe-type burial for a woman has been found in Argentine Patagonia.
This finding opens up new possibilities, suggesting that the practice of canoe burials might have been more common than previously believed. Previous research indicated that such burials were part of a ritual to guide the deceased across mystical waters to Nomelafken, a land where souls would reside.
The researchers’ study, complemented by photographs and detailed descriptions, provides a vivid glimpse into the past, revealing the rich cultural practices of the Mapuche people and offering new insights into their beliefs about death and the afterlife. The discovery of this young woman’s burial in a ceremonial canoe not only enriches our understanding of pre-Hispanic South America but also highlights the enduring human desire to honor the dead through meaningful rituals.
