Centuries before the Inca, Peru’s wealthy imported parrots from afar

Long before the Inca Empire emerged, a lesser-known kingdom along Peru's central coast had already established a complex trade network. This network enabled them to import live parrots from the depths of the Amazon rainforest over the formidable Andes mountains. Research conducted by conservation geneticist George Olah from the Australian National University and his team focused on feathers from a ceremonial headdress discovered in the tomb of a Ychsma noble, dating back to between 1100 and 1400 CE. Their analysis, which included DNA and chemical isotopic studies, revealed that these vibrant blue, yellow, and green feathers originated from wild parrots that had been kept in captivity along the Peruvian coast. To successfully transport live parrots over such a vast distance, the Ychsma must have maintained an extensive trade network, stretching across half a continent. Their fondness for these colorful birds is evident in their cultural artifacts. The research team meticulously examined individual barbs from 25 feathers found on funerary headdresses at the archaeological site of Pachacamac, situated just south of modern-day Lima. By sequencing mitochondrial DNA and analyzing nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios, researchers concluded that the parrots had been captured hundreds of kilometers away, as they typically do not inhabit desert environments. The Ychsma kingdom, which emerged from the remnants of the Wari Empire known for its hallucinogenic brews and advanced irrigation systems, thrived until its annexation by the Inca around 1470. They constructed impressive pyramids and cultivated crops in their arid valleys, all while having a distinct appreciation for parrot feathers in their cultural practices.