In March 1999, archaeologists climbing one of the highest volcanoes in the Andes discovered something that had never been seen before. Near the 6,739-meter-high summit of Mount Llullaillaco, on the border of Argentina and Chile, they found the remarkably preserved body of a teenage Inca girl, frozen for more than 500 years. Nicknamed “La Doncella” (The Maiden), she appeared so well preserved that her hair, skin, facial features, and even the contents of her stomach were largely intact. Scientists believe she was one of three children chosen for an important Inca ritual called capacocha, which offers an unprecedented glimpse into the religious beliefs, daily life and final days of one of South America’s greatest civilizations.
Who was the Inca girl who was found frozen on Mount Llullaillaco
La Doncella is believed to have been around 13 to 15 years old when she died at the height of the Inca Empire in the late 15th or early 16th century. Her body was buried in separate ceremonial chambers near the summit of the volcano, along with those of two small children, a young girl, later named Lightning Girl, and a boy.The extreme conditions on Mount Llullaillaco resulted in exceptional preservation. At more than 6,700 meters above sea level, temperatures remain well below zero for most of the year, while the dry mountain air naturally freezes the bodies and prevents them from decomposing.Archaeologists also found an extraordinary collection of ceremonial offerings buried with children, including finely woven clothing, feathered headdresses, silver and gold figurines, pottery, and bags containing coca leaves, indicating the importance of ritual within Inca society.
Why was the Inca girl taken to the summit of the volcano?
Researchers believe that La Doncella participated in the Capacocha ceremony, one of the most important state rituals performed by the Inca Empire.Historical Spanish accounts and archaeological evidence suggest that children selected for capacocha were often chosen because they were considered physically perfect or came from noble families. Rather than being seen as sacrifices in the modern sense, they were believed to become respected messengers of the gods, helping to ensure fertility, good harvests, political stability, or divine favor after important events such as the death of the emperor or natural disasters.Scientific study of La Doncella’s hair has revealed remarkable details about her final years. Researchers found that his diet changed dramatically in the months before his death, shifting from simple foods to a richer diet that included more corn and animal proteins, foods typically reserved for higher-ranking members of society.The analysis also revealed increasing consumption of alcohol made from coca leaves and maize (chicha) during the last weeks of his life. Scientists believe these substances may have helped calm the children before they were released inside the mountain temple, where they would have died from a combination of extreme cold, low oxygen and exposure.
What did scientists discover? frozen inca girl
La Doncella’s exceptional preservation has allowed scientists to examine her final days in extraordinary detail using modern imaging, DNA analysis and protein studies. CT scans revealed that many of his internal organs, including his brain, lungs and other soft tissues, remained remarkably intact after more than 500 years in the freezing conditions atop Mount Llullaillaco.
Image: National Geographic
One of the most significant discoveries came in a 2012 study, ‘Detecting the immune system response to a 500-year-old Inca mummy’, led by Angelique Corthals of the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and colleagues, published in PLoS One. Using shotgun proteomics, a technique that analyzes proteins rather than relying solely on ancient DNA, researchers found evidence that Ladoncella’s immune system was actively reacting to a severe bacterial lung infection shortly before her death. They also identified DNA belonging to the Mycobacterium species, suggesting that she was suffering from tuberculosis or an illness related to another pathogenic mycobacterial infection when she was taken to the mountain. The authors call this the first direct evidence of an active immune response found in ancient human mummies, indicating that proteins preserved in archaeological remains can reveal diseases that were affecting people at the time of their deaths.The study also detected Bifidobacterium bacteria in samples collected from the young woman’s lips. Because her body never decomposed, researchers concluded that bacterial contamination after burial was unlikely. Instead, they suggested it may indicate that she vomited shortly before her death, providing another rare glimpse into her final hours.Combined with earlier studies analyzing her hair, diet, and CT scans, these findings have turned La Doncella into one of the most intensively studied archaeological discoveries in the world. More than 500 years after his death, scientists continue to uncover new details about his health, daily life and final journey that took him to the summit of one of the highest volcanoes in the Andes.
Why does the discovery of La Doncella still fascinate scientists?
More than two decades after its discovery, La Doncella remains one of the most important archaeological discoveries in South America.Unlike Egyptian mummies, whose preservation often depended on artificial embalming, the Llullaillaco children were naturally preserved by the extremely cold and dry conditions of the high Andes. This has allowed researchers to study ancient DNA, diet, health, and even microscopic marks preserved in their hair and tissues.Today, La Doncella is kept under carefully controlled conditions at the Museum of High Altitude Archeology (MAAM) in Salta, Argentina, according to National Geographic, where only one of the Llullaillaco children is displayed at a time to minimize environmental stress.His story continues to offer a rare and deeply human connection with the Inca civilization. More than 500 years after climbing the sacred mountain, the frozen teenager has become one of archeology’s most extraordinary windows into the beliefs, customs and everyday life of an empire that once spanned much of western South America.