The ancient parrot plumes that were found at Pachacamac, Peru– among the preeminent spiritual centers of the Andean civilization– far outside the birds’native jungle variety.

“Through integrating ancient DNA sequencing, isotope chemistry and computational landscape modeling, we have actually had the ability to trace how and where these birds were crossed the landscape,” stated Dr. George Olah, a scientist at the Australian National University and King’s College London.

“Our ancient environment modelling verified that the western side of the Andes was simply as unwelcoming to these types one thousand years earlier as it is today. These parrots are strictly rainforest residents with a natural home variety of around 150 km.”

“The truth that they wound up more than 500 km away, on the other side of South America’s greatest range of mountains, shows human intervention. They do not naturally fly over the Andes.”

“The findings reveal that a number of types of Amazonian parrots were caught in the wild, brought high over mountain passes and kept alive on the coast enough time to grow brand-new plumes in their brand-new environment.”

In a genomic analysis, the authors recognized 4 Amazonian types in the plume assemblage– the scarlet macaw, the blue-and-yellow macaw, the red-and-green macaw and mealy amazon– all belonging to rain forest environment numerous km from the Pacific coast.

Transportation most likely took weeks and even months, as tourists browsed rugged mountain passes and high plateaus.

“We can now show with hereditary and isotopic proof that these parrots weren’t simply traded as plumes– they were carried alive, throughout significant surface, into seaside routine contexts,” Dr. Olah stated.

By examining the chemical signatures included in the plumes, the scientists found that the birds’ diet plans moved to C4 plants, such as maize, and marine protein, revealing they were kept alive after crossing the Andes.

“Our analysis exposes the parrots were fed the exact same nitrogen-enriched diet plan taken in by their captors– a clear indication of extended care after their elimination from the jungle,” Dr. Olah stated.

Landscape modeling even more recognized most likely trans-Andean passages and river paths utilized to transfer the birds, exposing advanced overland and fluvial exchange networks.

The birds were valued for their dynamic plumes, which held deep cultural worth throughout pre-Hispanic societies and were frequently utilized in routine and high-status burial contexts.

“This discovery challenges long-held presumptions that pre-Inca societies were separated or fragmented,” Dr. Olah stated.

“Instead, we see proof of arranged exchange, environmental understanding and logistical preparation that linked greatly various environments long before royal roadways formalized these connections.”

The outcomes were released today in the journal Nature Communications

_____

G. Olah et al2026. Ancient DNA and spatial modeling expose a pre-Inca trans-Andean parrot trade. Nat Commun 17, 2117; doi: 10.1038/ s41467-026-69167-9