In 1999, archaeologists discovered a 15-year-old Incan girl, “La Doncella,” near the summit of Argentina’s Llullaillaco volcano.
She was sacrificed 500 years ago in a ritual called Capacocha, with freezing temperatures naturally preserving her body.
Studies show she consumed elite foods, coca leaves, and alcohol before her death.
Her remains provide rare insights into Inca culture and religious practices. This discovery remains one of the best-preserved mummies ever found.
The Capacocha (Sacrifice of children)
In the Inca Civilization the Capacocha was practiced, it was a ritual in which children were sacrificed; can be translated as “real obligation”.
For the Incas, death was the beginning of another life, the chosen ones for the sacrifices were boys and girls, who were considered pure, these had to belong to good families, generally they were children of caciques. The historian Carmen Martín, indicates that they were carefully chosen children of great beauty from all over the empire; with respect to age, they were between 6 and 8 years old, although they could also be older. He reports that “death came to them without pain”, they felt nothing probably because they were drugged with coca leaves or chicha, and when they were deeply asleep, they were exposed to very low temperatures in the summits of the glacial mountains and they died frozen.
In Llullaillaco volcano in Argentina, the bodies of 3 children, two 8 years old, one 12 and a 15 year old girl were found. The children dressed in a sumptuous manner, unlike the girl, who was probably buried with them to take care of them.” This destiny was imposed from birth and accepted by them as a duty. These children, considered pure beings, were bearers of the messages of their people. For this ritual they prepared months in advance and wore jewels and fine clothes.
Once in place, the children were intoxicated, then died frozen, killed by strangulation, or with a heavy blow to the head. Then they were accommodated in an underground well, luxuriously dressed, with personal adornments, fabrics, food and a series of articles of daily use.
