An Inca girl who is over 500 years old. This teenage girl, 14-15 years old, who was sacrificed about 500 years ago, spent all the past centuries in the ice at the top of a six-thousander, which contributed to excellent preservation. Next to her are the frozen bodies of two more young victims: a seven-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl.
Instead of traditional DNA testing, the scientists examined proteins in the tissue and determined that the apparently healthy girl had a bacterial lung infection that resembled tuberculosis. For the first time, an infection has been detected in a mummy.
A team of researchers from the City University of New York, led by Angelique Corthals, studied samples of the mummy (the so-called Maiden, “Maiden”).
A unique mummy was discovered in 1999 on the slope of the Llullaillaco volcano, rising 6,739 meters above sea level on the border of Argentina and Chile. Three mummies were found, which, unlike their embalmed Egyptian “colleagues,” were deep frozen. The body of a seven-year-old boy was also studied, but scientists have not yet decided to examine the remains of a six-year-old girl. It was probably hit by lightning at some point, which may affect the accuracy of the research results.
Most likely, three children were sacrificed, as evidenced by the artifacts located next to them: gold, silver, clothes, bowls of food and an extravagant headdress made of white feathers of unknown birds.
Historians suggest that children were chosen by the Incas for their beauty (in addition, children were considered purer creatures than adults) and sacrificed. The Incas did not sacrifice children very often.
In the course of previous studies, it was established that before they were sacrificed, for a year the children were fed “elite” foods - maize and dried llama meat, although before that they ate exclusively peasant food, consisting of potatoes and vegetables.
The unique mummy of a 14-15 year old girl was discovered in 1999 on the slope of the Llullaillaco volcano, rising 6739 meters above sea level on the border of Chile and Argentina.
Instead of traditional DNA testing, the scientists examined proteins in the tissue and determined that the apparently healthy girl had a bacterial lung infection that resembled tuberculosis. In addition to the teenager, two more mummies were found in the burial - a 7-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl.
All three finds, unlike their embalmed Egyptian “colleagues,” were deep frozen. The boy’s body was also studied, but scientists have not yet decided to examine the remains of a 6-year-old girl, because she was probably once struck by lightning, which may affect the accuracy of the research results.
It is worth noting that most likely, three children were sacrificed, as evidenced by the artifacts located next to them: gold, silver, clothing, bowls of food and an extravagant headdress made of white feathers of unknown birds.
Historians theorize that the children were chosen by the Incas for sacrifice because of their beauty. In addition, children were considered purer creatures than adults. By the way, in the course of previous studies, it was also found that before their death, children were fed “elite” foods for a year - maize and dried llama meat - although before that they ate exclusively peasant food, consisting of potatoes and vegetables.
A teenage girl of 14-15 years old, who was sacrificed about 500 years ago, spent all the past centuries in the ice at the top of a six-thousander, which contributed to excellent preservation. Next to her are the frozen bodies of two more young victims: a seven-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl.
1. Instead of traditional DNA testing, scientists examined proteins in the tissue and determined that the apparently healthy girl had a bacterial lung infection resembling tuberculosis. For the first time, an infection has been detected in a mummy.
2. A group of researchers from the City University of New York, led by Angelique Corthals, studied samples of the mummy (the so-called Maiden, “Maiden”). 
3. A unique mummy was discovered in 1999 on the slope of the Llullaillaco volcano, rising 6739 meters above sea level on the border of Argentina and Chile. 
4. Three mummies were found, which, unlike their embalmed Egyptian “colleagues,” were deep frozen. The body of a seven-year-old boy was also studied, but scientists have not yet decided to examine the remains of a six-year-old girl. It was probably hit by lightning at some point, which may affect the accuracy of the research results. 
5. Most likely, three children were sacrificed, as evidenced by the artifacts located next to them: gold, silver, clothes, bowls of food and an extravagant headdress made of white feathers of unknown birds. 
6. Historians suggest that children were chosen by the Incas for their beauty (in addition, children were considered purer creatures than adults) and sacrificed. The Incas did not sacrifice children very often. 
7. In previous studies, it was established that before they were sacrificed, for a year the children were fed “elite” foods - maize and dried llama meat, although before that they ate exclusively peasant food, consisting of potatoes and vegetables.
A teenage girl of 14-15 years old, who was sacrificed about 500 years ago, spent all the past centuries in the ice at the top of a six-thousander, which contributed to excellent preservation. Next to her were found the frozen bodies of two more young victims: a seven-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl.
1. Instead of traditional DNA testing, scientists examined proteins in the tissue and determined that the apparently healthy girl had a bacterial lung infection resembling tuberculosis. For the first time, an infection has been detected in a mummy.
2. A group of researchers from the City University of New York, led by Angelique Corthals, studied samples of the mummy (the so-called Maiden, “Maiden”).
3. A unique mummy was discovered in 1999 on the slope of the Llullaillaco volcano, rising 6739 meters above sea level on the border of Argentina and Chile.
4. Three mummies were found, which, unlike their embalmed Egyptian “colleagues,” were deep frozen. They also began to study the body of a seven-year-old boy, but scientists have not yet decided to examine the remains of a six-year-old girl. It was probably hit by lightning at some point, which may affect the accuracy of the research results.
5. Most likely, three children were sacrificed, as evidenced by the artifacts located next to them: gold, silver, clothes, bowls of food and an extravagant headdress made of white feathers of unknown birds.
6. Historians suggest that children were chosen by the Incas for their beauty (in addition, children were considered purer creatures than adults). The Incas did not sacrifice children very often.
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