ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Anthropology

Shocking picture of incredibly well-preserved 15 year old girl from the Inca empire

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
April 9, 2012 - Updated on October 27, 2017
in Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

This Woman Who Lived 4,500 Years Ago in One of Americas’ Oldest Civilizations Still Has Hair and Nails
Archaeologists unearth 500-year-old skeletons of Inca toddlers with smallpox
Inca-era human ‘vertebrae on posts’ may have been one last-ditch effort to save their ancestors’ remains from Conquistador looting
Who were the Inca, South America’s largest ancient empire?

She was a sacrifice, so you can look at it this way: the Inca chose her to go and live with the gods. But you can look at it this way too: the Inca brutally killed a 15 year old girl, for no other reason than religion.

Furthermore, grim evidence showed that the Inca fattened their children before killing them, changing their diets about a year before the sacrifice, probably when they were chosen. After being given a ceremonial meal, she was walked to a shrine 82ft (25 metres) from the top of the 22,110ft (6,739 metres) volcano Llullaillaco, where they were suffocated or left to die from exposure.

“By examining hair samples from these unfortunate children, a chilling story has started to emerge of how the children were ‘fattened up’ for sacrifice,” Dr Andrew Wilson said.

The girl is incredibly well preserved, although she has been dead for 500 years. After taking samples from numerous Peruvians, scientists found a DNA match between the 15-year-old girl and a man from the small village at the foot of Mount Ampato some 1,000 miles away from the burial site, making him a “living Inca” with a direct blood line to a young girl who 500 years ago was chosen to live with the gods.

Edit: Read more about this study here or access the full study here.

 

Tags: incallullaillaco girlllullaillaco volcano

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

The 4,500-year-old elite Caral woman.
Archaeology

This Woman Who Lived 4,500 Years Ago in One of Americas’ Oldest Civilizations Still Has Hair and Nails

byRupendra Brahambhatt
4 weeks ago
Skeletons of children who died due to smallpox infection 500 years ago.
Anthropology

Archaeologists unearth 500-year-old skeletons of Inca toddlers with smallpox

byRupendra Brahambhatt
11 months ago
Archaeology

Inca-era human ‘vertebrae on posts’ may have been one last-ditch effort to save their ancestors’ remains from Conquistador looting

byTibi Puiu
3 years ago
History

Who were the Inca, South America’s largest ancient empire?

byAlexandru Micu
4 years ago

Recent news

A Chemical Found in Acne Medication Might Help Humans Regrow Limbs Like Salamanders

June 11, 2025

Everyone Thought ChatGPT Used 10 Times More Energy Than Google. Turns Out That’s Not True

June 11, 2025

World’s Smallest Violin Is No Joke — It’s a Tiny Window Into the Future of Nanotechnology

June 11, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.