The remains of a pregnant woman found in coastal Ecuador suggest she may have been the victim of ritual sacrifice or punishment over a thousand years ago, according to a study published by Cambridge University Press. The woman, known as Burial 10, died between 771 and 953 CE and was approximately 17 to 20 years old. Her hands and left leg were removed at or near the time of her death. The presence of a cranial fracture and cut marks on her hand bones led researchers to believe she may have been sacrificed. The burial included various artifacts from different cultural traditions and periods, suggesting purposeful collection and curation.