In 1999, archaeologists discovered a frozen Inca girl on a 6,739-meter-high volcano, where she had been untouched for more than 500 years. world news
In March 1999, archaeologists scaling one of the tallest volcanoes in the Andes discovered something they had never seen before. Near the top of Mount Llullaillaco, located at an altitude of 6,739 meters on the border between Argentina and Chile, they discovered the well-preserved body of an Inca girl who had been frozen for more than 500 years. Nicknamed “La Doncella” (the girl), her hair, skin, facial features and even the contents of her stomach are perfectly preserved. Scientists believe she was one of three children chosen to take part in an important Inca ritual called “capacocha,” which has given unprecedented insight into the religious beliefs, daily life and final days of one of South America’s greatest civilizations.
Who is the Inca girl found frozen in Yulayaco Mountain?
It is believed that La Doncella died at the age of approximately 13 to 15 years during the height of the Inca Empire in the late 15th or early 16th century. Her body was found along with two young children, one a little girl who was later nicknamed “Lightning Girl” and the other a boy who was buried in separate ritual chambers near the summit of the volcano.This extraordinary preservation is due to the extreme conditions of Mount Eurasiaco. At over 6,700 meters above sea level, temperatures remain well below freezing for most of the year, and the dry mountain air naturally freezes the bodies and prevents them from decomposing.Archaeologists also discovered a remarkable array of ritual offerings buried with the children, including finely woven textiles, feather headdresses, gold and silver statues, pottery and bags containing coca leaves, reflecting the importance of ritual in Inca society.
Why were the Inca girls taken to the top of the volcano?
Researchers believe that Laton Serra participated in the Capacocha Ceremony, one of the most important state ceremonies performed in the Inca Empire.Spanish historical records and archaeological evidence indicate that children chosen to participate in Capacocha were often considered physically perfect or came from noble families. They were not seen as sacrifices in the modern sense, but rather as honored messengers of the gods, helping to ensure fertility, good harvests, political stability or divine favor after major events such as the death of an emperor or natural disasters.Scientific research into La Tangsela’s hair reveals extraordinary details about her final year. Researchers found that her diet changed dramatically in the months before her death, moving away from regular foods and toward a richer diet that included more corn and animal protein, foods typically reserved for high-ranking members of society.The analysis also revealed increased consumption of coca leaves and corn alcohol (chicha) in the last weeks of her life. Scientists believe the substances may have helped calm the children before they were left at the mountain temple, where they likely died from extreme cold, low oxygen and exposure.
What did scientists discover? frozen inca girl
La Tangsela’s exceptional preservation has allowed scientists to investigate her final days in great detail using modern imaging, DNA analysis and protein studies. CT scans showed that many of her internal organs, including her brain, lungs and other soft tissues, were still intact after spending more than 500 years in the frozen environment atop Eurasiaco.
Image: National Geographic
One of the most important findings comes from a 2012 study, “Testing immune system response in 500-year-old Inca mummy ,” led by Angelique Corthals of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City and colleagues, published in PLOS ONE. Using shotgun proteomics, a technique that analyzes proteins rather than relying solely on ancient DNA, the researchers found evidence that La Tangsela’s immune system responded aggressively to a severe bacterial lung infection shortly before her death. They also identified DNA belonging to the genus Mycobacterium, suggesting she may have had a disease related to tuberculosis or other pathogenic mycobacterial infections when she was taken up the mountain. The authors describe it as the first direct evidence of an active immune response detected in ancient human mummies, demonstrating that proteins preserved in archaeological remains can reveal the diseases that were affecting people when they died.The study also detected Bifidobacterium in samples collected from the lips of teenage girls. Because her body never decomposed, the researchers concluded that bacterial contamination after burial was unlikely. Instead, they believe it may indicate she vomited shortly before her death, providing yet another rare glimpse into her final days.Combined with earlier studies of her hair, diet and CT scans, the findings make La Don Sera one of the best-studied archaeological finds in the world. More than 500 years after her death, scientists continue to reveal new details about her health, daily life and the final journey that led her to the summit of one of the tallest volcanoes in the Andes.
Why the discovery of La Don Serra still fascinates scientists today
More than two decades after its discovery, La Tangsela remains one of the most important archaeological discoveries in South America.Unlike the preservation of Egyptian mummies, which often relied on artificial embalming, the children of Eurasia were preserved naturally in the extremely cold and dry conditions of the Andes. This allows researchers to study ancient DNA, diet, health, and even microscopic traces preserved in hair and tissue.Today, La Doncella is housed in the High Altitude Archeology Museum (MAAM) in Salta, Argentina, in a tightly controlled environment, with only one Llullaillaco child on display at a time to minimize environmental stress, National Geographic reports.Her story continues to provide a rare and deeply human connection to the Inca civilization. More than 500 years after she ascended a sacred mountain, the frozen maiden has become one of archeology’s most extraordinary windows into the beliefs, rituals and daily lives of an empire that once spanned much of western South America.
