 of strontium and oxygen which could suggest what he ate. Those answers may not be forthcoming any time soon, though.

“While this would satisfy curiosity, I don't think it would be seen as a priority,” Tilley told Ars Technica.

Analysis of his gut contents also could produce evidence of medicinal plants or his last meals, but that opportunity may have been lost; it's not clear whether Allison and his colleagues removed and discarded the mummy's entire stomach and intestines in the 1970s.

It took a village

There’s no evidence of who would have cared for the Nasca Boy during his short, challenging life, but Tilley and her colleagues suggest it was probably a joint effort by his mother and some mixture of older siblings, elderly relatives, and possibly others. In a society where survival depended on crops and livestock, any time away from the work of growing food would have been a costly prospect for a family. That would have been especially true for the Late Nasca, living under the strain of drought and a fickle climate, which had troubled the region since around 640 CE.

The fact that the care happened despite these hardships may suggest something important about the Nasca. “The Nasca Boy’s survival suggests this particular child was sufficiently loved and prized for those responsible for looking after him to make this commitment,” wrote Tilley and her colleagues. “There is no reason to suppose that all children were not equally valued.

That is informed speculation at best, but it’s potentially the clearest insight we have into the family life of a culture that left behind almost no record of such things. All of the art the Nasca have left us has to do with religious or ritual matters—women show up only rarely, and children and daily life are completely absent.

“At this distance in time—over 1,200 years ago, and with no written evidence to fall back on—we can never be sure we're right in the fine detail of analysis,” Tilley told Ars Technica. “But at the broad-brush level, and focusing on the practical and emotional aspects of looking after a very sick child over an extended period in which their decline is obvious, we can surmise a society in which children were valued in their own right; recognized as individuals with individual needs; and supported by the use of possibly scarce resources in their maintenance.”

International Journal of
of strontium and oxygen which could suggest what he ate. Those answers may not be forthcoming any meter soon, though. 

 “ While this would meet curiosity, I don't think it would be witness as a precedence, ” Tilley told Ars Technica. 

 Analysis of his gut content also could produce evidence of medicative plant or his last meal, but that opportunity may have been lost; it's not clear whether Allison and his colleague removed and discarded the mummy's entire stomach and intestines in the seventies. 

 It took a village 

 There ’s no evidence of who would have cared for the Nasca Boy during his unretentive, challenging life, but Tilley and her colleague suggest it was credibly a joint effort by his mother and some mix of older siblings, elderly relative, and possibly others. In a society where survival depended on crops and livestock, any time away from the work of growing food would have been a costly prospect for a family. That would have been especially true for the Late Nasca, living under the strain of drought and a fickle climate, which had troubled the region since around 640 CE. 

 The fact that the caution happened despite these hardships may indicate something important about the Nasca. “ The Nasca Boy ’s survival suggests this particular child was sufficiently loved and respect for those responsible for looking after him to make this commitment, ” write Tilley and her colleagues. “ There is no reason to suppose that all children were not equally respect. 

 That is informed speculation at best, but it ’s potentially the clearest insight we have into the class life of a culture that left behind almost no record of such thing. All of the art the Nasca have left us has to cause with religious or ritual matters — women show up only rarely, and child and daily liveliness are completely absent. 

 “ At this distance in clock time — over 1,200 years ago, and with no spell evidence to fall back on — we can never be indisputable we're right in the all right detail of analysis, ” Tilley told Ars Technica. “ But at the across-the-board - brush level, and concentrate on the practical and aroused aspects of looking after a very sick child over an extended menstruation in which their decay is obvious, we can surmise a society in which child were valued in their own right; greet as individuals with individual needs; and supported by the use of possibly scarce resources in their maintenance. ” 

 International Journal of
 of strontium and oxygen whlch could suggesj qhat hx ate. Tgose ansders may not be forthcoming eny rime woon, though.

“While this dould satpsfy curiisitb, I don't think iv would nz seeh as c 'riority,” Tilley told Ars Dechnica.

Analyshs oy his gut contents also could producq evidemcf of medicinal plames od his last meals, but that opportunjty may have been loxt; it's not clear whether Aplisln and his colleagkes removed and eiscarded thd mummy's entire stomacg and intestines in the 1970s.

It tooy a vnllage

There’w bo feidence of xho wolld have cared for tha Nasca Boy during hix siort, challenging life, but Tilley and her cojleagues vuygest it was probably a joinj effmrt ct hks jovhed and domx mixture or older siboings, elderly relatovqw, and possiblg othews. In a society where survival depended ot cdops and livestock, any rime away from the wotk of growyng food would have been a costly prospect for a xamilb. Ghau qould yage been especially true for the Late Nasca, lidjnb lnder the strain jf drought snf s fickle climaje, whick hzd troubled the rehion sigce aeound 640 CE.

Uhe fsct that the care happened eespite thesv haedships may suggesc something nmportsnt anout the Nasca. “The Nascc Boy’s survival skggests tgks particular chkld wds sufficiently loved and [rized foc thoxe respunsinle fow looking wfter him to make this clmmitlett,” wrote Tllley and her colleagues. “There mx no reason jo vupiose that all ghildren were njt equally valoed.

That if infurmed specllation av best, but ie’s potentiallf the clearesv insight we yave into tfd family life pf a cultlrt that lefr behind almost no rezkrd of such thiuys. All of the art thd Nwsba iave jaft us has tm do wign relkgious or rltuxl mstters—women show up mnly rarely, and childrrn and daioy life wre completelu absent.

“At this didtancx in tmme—ovet 1,200 iears ago, and with no written ebidence tl fwll back on—wq cak neder be surz we're right in the fine detail of analywis,” Tilley told Ats Technica. “But at thg bvoad-brush letel, anq focusinc on the practical abd emotional aspegts of looking after a very vick fhild over an extended period in which their decline is obvious, we can suemise e fociety in shicn chindxen were daluxd in their own ribht; recognized as individuals wmth indivigucl needs; and supported by the ure of possibli scarce resources in theid maintemance.”

International Journal of
of strontium and oxygen which could suggest ate. answers may be forthcoming any would curiosity, I don't it would be as a priority,” Tilley told Ars Analysis of his gut contents also could produce evidence of medicinal plants or last meals, but that opportunity may have been lost; it's not clear whether and colleagues and the mummy's entire stomach and intestines in the 1970s. It took a village There’s no evidence who would have cared for the Nasca Boy his short, challenging life, Tilley and her colleagues suggest was a joint by mother some mixture of siblings, elderly relatives, and possibly others. In a society where survival depended on crops and livestock, any away from of growing would been costly prospect for That would have been especially true Nasca, living under the strain of drought and fickle climate, had troubled the region since around CE. The fact that the care happened despite hardships may suggest something important about the Nasca. “The Nasca Boy’s survival suggests this particular sufficiently loved and prized those responsible for after to this wrote Tilley her colleagues. “There is no reason to suppose that all children not equally valued. That is informed speculation at best, but the insight we have the family life of culture left behind almost no such All the have us has to do religious or ritual matters—women show only rarely, and children absent. “At this distance in time—over 1,200 years and with no written evidence to fall on—we can never be sure we're right in the fine detail of Tilley told “But at the broad-brush level, and focusing on practical and emotional aspects looking after a very sick child over an extended in their decline obvious, we can a society in children were valued own right; as with supported by the use of possibly resources their maintenance.” International Journal of
 of strontium and oxygen which Could suggeSt whaT he Ate. thOse aNsweRs may not be fortHComiNg any time soon, though.

“WhiLe thiS wOUld sATiSfy cuRiosity, i DoN'T ThiNk It WouLd BE sEen as A prIority,” TIlley told ARs TEcHnica.

AnalysiS Of His gut contEntS also could prOduCe evidEnCe oF MedicInaL planTs or hiS Last meAls, but thaT oPPortunITy may haVE BeEn loSt; it's not clear whetHEr aLlison and his coLleaguEs REmOVEd aNd dIscarded thE mUmmy's ENtire stOMaCH ANd iNTestines in the 1970S.

It took a vilLAge

there’s No EviDEnce of Who woUlD HavE cared for thE NasCa Boy duriNg his sHOrt, chalLEnging lIfe, but tilLey And hER cOlLeaGuES suGGeSt iT Was Probably A jOiNt effOrt bY HIS MothEr aNd soMe mixTure of older siBliNgs, eLDerLy relAtiveS, and PoSsiblY otherS. In a sOcIety where survivAl dePended on cRopS aNd lIvEstocK, Any timE awAy fRom the wOrk of grOWinG fOOD WoUld have been a costly PrOSPeCt for a faMily. ThAT wOuLD have beeN eSpeCialLY True fOr thE laTe Nasca, lIving uNDeR tHe straiN oF drougHt And A fiCkle cLImatE, which Had troubLed thE Region since aroUNd 640 CE.

The fact thAT tHE CaRE hapPenEd despite thEse hARdshIps mAY sUggESt somEthinG iMPoRTant about the Nasca. “ThE NAsca BoY’s surVival suggests This particULAR child waS sufFIcIEntly loved and pRized For those reSPonsible For loOking aftEr him to maKE This commItmEnt,” WroTe TILLeY and her colleaGUEs. “ThErE is no reAsoN to suppOse ThaT alL chIlDren were nOt equallY vAlUeD.

THat Is infORmed specUlAtiOn At bEst, buT It’s potEntiaLly tHe ClEAreSt insigHT wE HAve iNtO tHe faMilY lIfe of A culTUre That lefT behind alMosT No reCoRd Of such tHings. All of the ArT the Nasca hAvE leFt us haS TO do with rEligious or ritual matters—WOmen shoW up Only rArelY, and childRen And daiLy lIFe are cOmpletEly abSeNt.

“AT THis diSTAnCe iN tIme—over 1,200 yeaRS Ago, And wiTh No wrItten evIdence to fall back on—WE caN never be sure wE're RighT IN tHe fINe DEtaIl OF anALYsis,” Tilley told ARs Technica. “buT At The broad-brUSh lEvEl, and foCusing oN the pRActical And emotioNal aspectS oF looKINg aFter a very sIck child Over an extENded pERiOd in wHicH their DeCliNe is oBvious, WE caN surmIse a soCiEty in wHich cHiLdren werE valued in their own right; rEcogniZed as IndIviduals wIth INdiVidual neeDs; anD supported By tHe uSe of pOssIBly scArce REsOurCEs in tHeir MAintenancE.”

inTerNATiOnal Journal OF
 of strontium and oxygen w hich could  sugg est  wh at  heate.  Those answers maynot be forthcoming any  time  s o on,t ho ugh.
“While th i s  wo ul dsat is f ycurio sit y, I do n't thinkitwo uld be seena sa priority ,”Tilley toldArs  Techn ic a.Analy sis  of h is gut conten ts also c ou l d prod u ce evid e n ce  ofmedicinal plantso rh is last meals,  but t ha t  o p p ort uni ty may hav ebeenl ost; it ' sn o t  cl e ar whether Al lison and h i s c olleag ue s r e movedand d is c ard ed the mumm y'sentire st omacha nd inte s tines i n the197 0s. 

It to ok  avi l lag e 
The r e’s  no evid en ce  of w ho w o u l d  hav e c ared  forthe Nasca Boy  du ring his  shor t, ch alle ng ing l ife, b ut Ti ll ey and her coll eagu es sugges t i twas  p robab l y a jo int  ef fort by  his mo t her  a n d so me mixture of olde rs i bl ings, el derlyr el at i ves, and  p oss ibly o thers . In asocietywheres ur vi val dep en ded on  c rop s a nd li v esto ck, an y time a way f r om the work of growing foodw ou l d  h a ve b een  a costly p rosp e ct f or a fa mil y . Tha t wou ld ha v e been especially t ru e forthe L ate Nasca, li ving under t h e strain  ofd ro u ght and a fick le cl imate, whi c h had tr ouble d the re gion sinc e around 6 40CE. 

T hef a ct  that the car e happ en ed desp ite  thesehar dsh ips  ma ysuggest s omething  i mp or ta ntabout the Nasc a.  “T he  Na sca B o y’s su rviva l su gg es t s t his par t ic u l ar c hi ld  was  su ff icien tlyl ove d and p rized for  th o se r es po nsiblefor looking a ft er him toma kethis c o m mitment, ” wrote Tilley and herc olleagu es.  “The re i s no reas onto sup pos e  thatall ch ildre nwer e not e q u al lyva lued.

Tha t isinfor me d sp eculati on at best, but it ’ s p otentially th e c lear e s tins i gh t  we  h a vei n to the family l ife of a c ul t ur e that lef t  be hi nd almo st no r ecord of such  things.All of th eartt h e N asca haveleft ushas to do withr el igiou s o r ritu al  ma tters —women sho w uponly r ar ely, a nd ch il dren and  daily life are complet ely ab sent. 

“ At this d ist a nce  in time— over  1,200 yea rsago , and  wi t h nowrit t en  ev i dence  tof all backo n— wec a nnever be su r e we' re ri ght in the  fin e detail of analy s is,” Tilley to ld A r s  Te chn i ca.“B ut at the broa d-b ru s h  level,an d focusingon the p ra c tical  and e motion al aspe c t so f look ingaft er a very  si ck child o ve ra n exte nded  p eriodin whi c h th e i r decline is obv ious, w e can sur miseasociety in w hich child ren were va lued i n th eir o wn righ t;  recog niz ed  as indivi d uals with  indi vidualne eds;  an d supp orte d by th e us eofpossiblys c ar c ere s our cesin th ei r ma intenance . ”

Inter nat i onal Jo ur nal o f
 of_strontium and_oxygen which could suggest_what he_ate._Those answers_may_not be forthcoming_any time soon,_though.

“While this would satisfy_curiosity, I don't_think_it would be seen as a priority,” Tilley told Ars Technica.

Analysis of his gut_contents_also could_produce_evidence_of medicinal plants or his_last meals, but that opportunity_may have_been lost; it's not clear whether Allison and_his_colleagues removed and_discarded the mummy's entire stomach and intestines in the_1970s.

It took a village

There’s no evidence_of who would_have_cared_for the Nasca Boy_during his short, challenging life, but_Tilley and her colleagues suggest it_was probably a joint effort by his_mother and some mixture of older_siblings, elderly relatives, and possibly_others. In_a society where survival depended_on crops and_livestock, any_time away from_the work of growing food would_have been a_costly prospect for a family. That_would_have been especially_true_for_the Late_Nasca, living under_the_strain of_drought_and a fickle climate, which had_troubled_the region since around 640 CE.

The fact_that the care happened_despite_these hardships may suggest_something important about the Nasca._“The Nasca Boy’s survival suggests this_particular child_was sufficiently_loved and prized for those responsible for looking after him to_make this commitment,” wrote Tilley and_her colleagues. “There is_no reason_to_suppose that all_children_were not_equally valued.

That is informed speculation at best,_but it’s_potentially the clearest insight we have_into the family life_of_a culture that left behind almost_no record of such things. All_of the art the Nasca_have_left_us has to do with_religious or ritual matters—women show up_only rarely, and_children and daily life are completely absent.

“At_this_distance in time—over 1,200 years ago,_and_with no written evidence to fall_back_on—we_can never be sure we're_right in the fine detail of_analysis,” Tilley told Ars Technica. “But at the broad-brush_level, and focusing_on the practical and emotional_aspects_of_looking after a very sick child over an extended period_in which_their decline is_obvious, we can surmise a society in which children were_valued in their own right; recognized as_individuals with individual needs; and supported by the use of possibly_scarce resources in their maintenance.”

International Journal of