500-Year-Old Inca Maiden Mummy Found Perfectly Preserved in Andes
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News18•27-01-2026, 08:46
500-Year-Old Inca Maiden Mummy Found Perfectly Preserved in Andes
- •In 1999, archaeologists discovered the Llullaillaco Maiden, a 13-15-year-old Inca girl, sacrificed 500 years ago in a capacocha ritual.
- •Found at 6,739 meters on Llullaillaco volcano, the world's highest archaeological site, extreme cold naturally preserved her body.
- •Her mummy is remarkably lifelike: hair tied, smooth skin, colorful clothes, unrotted internal organs, and even chewed coca leaves in her mouth.
- •CT scans revealed inflated lungs, clotted blood in her heart, and visible brain matter, indicating exceptional preservation.
- •The Maiden, along with two other children, is now preserved at -20°C in Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montana (MAAM), Salta, Argentina.
Why It Matters: A 500-year-old Inca maiden's mummy, perfectly preserved by Andean cold, offers unique insights into ancient rituals.
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