Dagmara Socha

Project Manager, specialist in bioarchaeological research

About Me

Dr Dagmara Socha is a bioarchaeologist specializing in Andean paleoanthropology, with a particular focus on the Nazca culture and Inca human sacrifices. She leads a team conducting bioarchaeological and paleogenetic research at the Andean Studies Center of the University of Warsaw. In 2023, she earned her PhD with a dissertation titled “Capacocha: The Social and Political Significance of Human Sacrifices in the Inca Empire.” „Capacocha: Znaczenie społeczne i polityczne ofiar z ludzi w Imperium Inków”.

Dr. Socha has participated in research projects in Europe and South America, particularly in Peru and Bolivia. Since 2010, she has been involved in the archaeological projects "Condesuyos." She also led the "Mummies of Nazca" project, which studied the social structure and health status of the Nazca culture population. Since 2018, Dr. Socha has been conducting a research project focused on the analysis of the remains of children sacrificed during the Inca Capacocha ritual in the high mountain regions, in cooperation with the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries at the Catholic University of Santa María in Arequipa.

Her scientific achievements include publications in the fields of paleoanthropology, toxicological studies, and isotopic analyses, published in renowned international journals such as Antiquity i Journal of Archaeological ScienceAdditionally, she has presented her research findings at many important conferences, including the World Mummy Congress, the European Association of Archaeologists Conference, and the Annual Meeting of the Institute of Andean Studies in Berkeley.

Publications

Socha D., Panzer S., Reinhard J., Zink A., Martínez Sulca W.C. , Grupp F., Paladin A. (2026) Paleoradiology opens new insights into frozen mummified children from Ampato and Sara Sara volcanoes, Peru, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105610

Socha D., Sykuter M. Chavez R., (2025) Resultados y Perspectivas del Análisis Toxicológico de las Víctimas de Capacocha. Estudio de Caso de las Víctimas de Ampato Plateo” Actas del I Ciclo de Conferencias Internacionales acerca de Capacocha, 41-74

Socha D., Sieczkowska-Jacyna D. (2025) Inca human sacrifice and sacred pilgrimages. Spatial analysis of the high mountain sites on the Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanos (Peru), Antiquity https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.229

Socha D. (2024) The Social Position of Children in Southern Peru During the Late Intermediate Period. Study of Mummies from San Francisco Site, Yauca Valley, Estudios Latinoamericanos Vol. 43, https://doi.org/10.36447/Estudios2023.v43.art3

Socha D., Sykuter M., Orefici G. (2022) Use of psychoactive and stimulant plants on the south coast of Peru from the Early Intermediate to Late Intermediate Period, Journal of Archaeological Science 148, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2022.105688
Socha D., Sykuter M., Reinhard J., Chavez Perea R. (2022) Ritual drug use during Inca human sacrifices on Ampato mountain (Peru): Results of a toxicological analysis, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 43, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103415
Socha D., Reinhard J., Chavez Perea R. (2021) Inca human sacrifices from the Ampato and Pichu Pichu volcanoes, Peru: new results from a bio-anthropological analysis, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 13.
Socha D., Reinhard J., Chavez Perea R. (2020) Inca Human Sacrifices on Misti Volcano (Peru), Latin American Antiquity 32(1): 138-153.
Socha D., Perea R. (2018) Análisis antropológico de restos humanos de Capacocha del Misti (Perú), Actas I Congreso Internacional de Arqueología del Área Centro Sur Andina w Arequipie: 238-239.
Socha D. (2018) Proces i biologiczne skutki celowej modyfikacji czaszki, AD REM. Kwartalnik Akademicki (en impresión).
Socha D. (2015) Mumie Nazca. Stan badań i perspektywy, AD REM. Kwartalnik Akademicki, no. 1-4/2015: 12-17.
Socha D. (2013) Znaczenie społeczne głów trofeów w kulturach Nazca i Wari, Antropologia Religii V: 6-15.