You may have seen pictures of “La Doncella, ” or “The Maiden, ” in free translation, the famous mummified and incredibly well-preserved body of a young girl who was sacrificed by the Incas several centuries ago, right? His frozen corpse was found along with those of two other children over 6, 700 meters high on the summit of Llullaillaco volcano in Argentina in 1999, and since then a number of things have been discovered about how the three died - and also how they lived in the years before their deaths.

Unraveling the past

More specifically, in addition to the Maiden's mummified body, the other two children found on the summit of the volcano were a little boy and a girl who was nicknamed “Lightning Girl, ” as her corpse shows signs of being hit by one. The trio was sacrificed over 500 years ago and their ages were estimated at about 13 years for the Maiden, and between 4 and 5 years old only for the other two little ones.

The Maiden (Latin American Studies)

Analyzes of samples obtained from their bodies showed that the three had access to a more nutritious diet and consumed alcohol and coca leaves regularly for several months before being sacrificed in preparation for the ritual, especially the Maiden. - who appears to have been treated differently from the other two children.

"The Lightning Girl" (Latin American Studies)

Scientists have established that the oldest of the children appears to have received far greater amounts of coke and alcohol than the other two, and considering that coca leaves were highly controlled by the Incas at the time the sacrifices took place, this indicates that the Maiden would be the most privileged of the trio. Researchers suspect that after the girl was selected for the ritual, she probably underwent a social class shift and became an important figure for the empire.

Little Mummified Boy (NCBI / Maria Constanza Ceruti)

For example, the analyzes pointed out that the three children originally belonged to peasant families, but after being “promoted” they were given a more nutritious diet rich in assorted vegetables and potatoes. The Maiden, on the other hand, also ingested corn and tanned llama meat, items that were typically consumed by the Inca elite. The impression was that the intention was to fatten the three for the sacrifice.

Tragic end

Regarding the differential treatment that Maiden received, scientists suspect that the other two children might have been selected to serve her - and hair-screening of the three showed that the teenager went through this diet and preparation period for more or less. at least 21 months before she died, while the other two lived for about 9 months.

In fact, coca leaf consumption seems to have been intensified six months before the sacrifices, and alcohol consumption in the weeks leading up to the ritual, which may have helped the children better accept their fate. The Maiden herself was found with a considerable amount of chewed coca leaves in her mouth, suggesting that she may have been sedated before she died.

Scientists Examining the Maiden (NCBI / Maria Constanza Ceruti)

Children were found where they died more than 5 centuries ago, and, as you have seen in the pictures, the Maiden was found sitting cross-legged and leaning slightly forward. Her hair was carefully braided and, along with her body, were found several artifacts, and apparently the girl succumbed to the cold. Scientists discovered that the girl died with food still in her system, suggesting that she was not very anxious before she died.

Detail of the face of the sacrificed boy (Latin American Studies)

The lightning girl did not receive the same treatment as the Maiden, but no signs of injury were found in her little body. On the other hand, the poor boy was found with his body wrapped in a cloth, indicating that he may have been choked. He was also wearing some kind of cloak and bloodstains were found on it. And why were the three children sacrificed at all?

Artifacts found with children (NCBI / Maria Constanza Ceruti)

Scientists suspect that this type of ritual was used by the Incas as a form of social control. This is because, while being one of the "chosen" was seen as a great honor by the population, it is clear that the possibility of being elected to the sacrifice generated a lot of fear.

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