congenitaldisease:More than 500 years ago, three children climbed up the Llullaillaco volcano in Arg
congenitaldisease:More than 500 years ago, three children climbed up the Llullaillaco volcano in Argentina and never came back down. They were the probable victims of human sacrifice. In 1999, they were discovered in a chamber at the summit of the volcano. They were perfectly mummified in the cold, dry mountain air. The three children were a girl of around 6-years-old, a bit of around 7-years-old and a teenager of around 13-years-old who scientists dubbed the “ Llullaillaco Maiden.” They were part of an Incan ritual known as capacocha, in which children were killed or left to die of exposure. Since their discovery, they have been examined by scientists in a bid to learn more about their short life and tragic death. Most of what they have discovered has come from the Llullallico mummies’ hair, which absorbs materials circulating in the bloodstream. In 2007, scientists discovered that in the year before the Lullaillaco Maiden died, she had gone from eating mostly potatoes to consuming more animal protein, maize, cocoa and alcohol. This indicates that her diet changed after she was selected for sacrifice. When the Lullaillaco Maiden was found, she was sitting cross-legged with her head slumped forwards and her arms resting loosely on her lap. There was no evidence of violence to her - or the other two children - leading scientists to theorise they Had been placed in the chamber where they had died of exposure. Lead researcher, Dr. Andrew Wilson, said: “From later colonial period accounts, we have indications that children, often as young as four, and “acllas,” or chosen women selected around puberty, were donated for sacrifice by their parents and from communities which were under control of the Inca empire.” -- source link