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Empires of the Dead: Inca Mummies and the Peruvian Ancestors of American Anthropology

Name: Empires of the Dead: Inca Mummies and the Peruvian Ancestors of American Anthropology
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Book Synopsis: When the Smithsonian's Hall of Physical Anthropology opened in 1965 it featured 160 Andean skulls affixed to a wall to visualize how the world's human population had exploded since the birth of Christ. Through a history of Inca mummies, a pre-Hispanic surgery called trepanation, and Andean crania like these, Empires of the Dead explains how “ancient Peruvians” became the single largest population in the Smithsonian and many other museums in Peru, the Americas, and beyond. In 1532, when Spain invaded the Inca empire, Europeans learned that Inca and Andean peoples made their ancestors sacred by preserving them with the world's oldest practices of artificial mummification. To extinguish their power, the Spaniards collected these ancestors as specimens of conquest, science, nature, and race. Yet colonial Andean communities also found ways to keep the dead alive, making “Inca mummies” a symbol of resistance that Spanish American patriots used to introduce Peruvian Independence and science to the world. Inspired, nineteenth-century US anthropologists disinterred and collected Andean mummies and skulls to question the antiquity and civilization of the American “race” in publications, world's fairs, and US museums. Peruvian scholars then used those mummies and skulls to transform anthropology itself, curating these “scientific ancestors” as evidence of pre-Hispanic superiority in healing.

Bringing together the history of science, race, and museums' possession of Indigenous remains, from the sixteenth century to the twentieth, Empires of the Dead illuminates how South American ancestors became coveted mummies, skulls, and specimens of knowledge and nationhood. In doing so, it reveals how Peruvian and Andean peoples have learned from their dead, seeking the recovery of looted heritage in the centuries before North American museums began their own work of decolonization.

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Experience the captivating history of ancient Peruvians and their sacred rituals with Empires of the Dead: Inca Mummies and the Peruvian Ancestors of American Anthropology. Delve into the fascinating world of trepanation, a pre-Hispanic surgical technique, and the ancestral crania that have made the Smithsonian and numerous other museums a sanctuary of knowledge. From the conquest of the Inca empire to the resistance of colonial Andean communities, this book unveils the extraordinary journey of these "Inca mummies" as symbols of power, resistance, and scientific discovery.

Transport yourself back to the 16th century when Spain invaded the Inca empire, unveiling the ancient practices of artificial mummification. The Spaniards sought to extinguish the power of these preserved ancestors, collecting them as specimens of conquest, nature, and race. However, the echoes of defiance echoed throughout history as Spanish American patriots employed the concept of "Inca mummies" to champion Peruvian Independence and scientific advancement to the world.

Thrill to the impact of 19th-century US anthropologists who uncovered and collected Andean mummies and skulls, questioning the civilization and antiquity of the American "race." Their findings were showcased in publications, world's fairs, and US museums, igniting a debate that would transform the field of anthropology. Witness how Peruvian scholars seized this opportunity by curating these "scientific ancestors," showcasing their pre-Hispanic superiority in healing and forever altering the study of anthropology.

Empires of the Dead masterfully weaves together the intricate tapestry of science, race, and possession of Indigenous remains, spanning centuries from the 16th to the 20th. Marvel at the transformation of South American ancestors into treasured mummies, skulls, and specimens of knowledge and nationhood. Discover the relentless efforts of Peruvian and Andean peoples to reclaim their looted heritage, long before North American museums began the journey of decolonization.

Uncover the hidden secrets of the past and deep-rooted culture with Empires of the Dead. Rediscover the resilience and wisdom of ancient Peruvians as they guide us towards a greater understanding of our shared history. Join us on this remarkable journey by ordering your copy now!

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