Over 200 children were sacrificed by the Chimu culture in Peru to try and appease the gods and stave off, you guessed it, climate change, according to a recent find. 

Experts say the remain found from between the 13th and 15th centuries in the Pampa La Cruz sector of the Huanchaco beach area over 300 miles north of Lima, make it the world’s largest child sacrifice site.

Experts believe it was due to weather because the children, aged between four and 14, were killed during wet weather and buried facing the sea.. As some do now, they regarded weather as controlled by native forces that must be appeased, but it was likely just a recurring “El Nino” event as still happens now.


Photo: Luis Puell