Episode 26: The Mummies of Llullaillaco

Il-wey! Located along the western coastal mountain range of South America, a majestic conical shaped peak overlooks a rugged terrain of rolling peaks and valleys. One might feel insignificant and have an overwhelming sense of loneliness in this desolate, otherworldly place. Once an active volcano now classified as dormant, its jagged features are powdered with snow. The 22,110 ft. summit is cold and dry, and it is highest elevation archaeological site. 

Llullaillaco is located on the border between modern day Chile and Argentina, however over 500 years ago, it was part of the Inca Empire, specifically associated with the Huayna Capac expansion period, pinpointed to 1493 – 1525 CE (or AD if you are old-school). Most individuals are likely familiar with the Inca civilization because of the incredible mountain-top locale of Machu Picchu, located in the Cusco Region (elevation is only 7,970 ft). As the largest empire in pre-Columbian America before being conquered by the Spanish in 1572, the Incas encouraged the worship of Inti, their sun god. While the Inca was known for their stonework, textiles, and successful agriculture techniques in difficult locations, sadly they did not engage in a system of writing, although they did use knotted strings as a form of recordkeeping. 

The significance of Llullaillaco’s role in Inca history was confirmed on March 16, 1999 when Johan Reinhard discovered three mummies on the volcano’s summit. Buried almost five feet down beneath a platform of rocks that was recognizably identified as manmade, Reinhard found a small chamber containing two girls and a boy. All three had been ritually prepared for sacrifice to the sun god. 

“Maiden of Llullaillaco” was a fifteen-year-old girl who was dressed in a brown tunic dress and had elaborately braided hair. Her arms are crossed as well as her legs, into a seated position. The preparation she went through indicate that she had was likely a “sun virgin” sacrifice. 

“La nina del rayo” was an approximately six-year-old girl also wearing a similarly brown dress as well as being wrapped in blankets. Her skull was elongated intentionally, so she likely had been subject to head wrapping indicating she came from royal lineage. She is also known as “lightning girl” because her face, ear and shoulder area had been struck by lightning after death. 

“El nino” or “Llullaillaco boy” was around seven years old when he was sacrificed. He was tightly wrapped, his pelvis and some ribs dislocated, as well as the presence of vomit and blood led experts to surmise he struggled and may have died by suffocation. This finding is in contrast to the girls who both fell asleep before death. 

Hair analysis revealed all three had ingested amounts of corn-based beer known as chicha and coca leaves (cocaine is a byproduct). The elder girl had ingested the most, which may be in keeping with her elevated sacrificial status. All three children are considered the best-preserved mummies of any civilization found to date, largely because of the preservation of their hair, skin, blood, internal organs, and intact (recognizable) facial features. The reason that they are so well preserved is because the dry, cold air froze their bodies before dehydration could happen, so they are naturally occurring mummies that have had no intervention to artificially preserve them. 

The children are examples of the Late Horizon period of South American mummies, and to be selected for sacrifice was meant as an honor. It is believed that province nobles were required to offer an adolescent for sacrifice and retained if they were needed. There has been much speculation regarding the role of sacrifice within the beliefs of the Inca peoples. Arthur C. Aufderheide, in The Scientific Study of Mummies (2003, Cambridge University Press), states that human sacrifice was not a common event and were limited to mortal threats to the Incas. Such threats would have been famine, earthquakes, and not surprising, volcanic eruptions. Sacrificial locations were determined by their closeness to their gods and Llullaillaco is the second highest active volcano peak on Earth and in the region. Hence, the children’s ritual ended on the summit where the Incas could plead for safety and offer the children to the sun god. 

The Museum of High Altitude Archaeology in Salta, Argentina is now the home to the children where they are kept in computer-controlled climate exhibits that emulate the temperatures of Llullailaco’s summit. Opposition expressed by some of the indigenous people feel that mummies should not be removed from their resting place nor should they be put on display. Additionally, there has been a heighten sense of responsibility to humanity including respectfulness to the mummies who were once alive and conscious persons. This has changed public expectations regarding question to display or not to display bodies. Also, the weight of knowledge that can be ascertained by non-invasive technology has advanced from early unwrapping mummy parties of the 19^thcentury, but does knowledge trump a person’s right about their body in death? While the museum officials have stated that all their decisions surrounding the mummies have been done with the utmost respect, this is an unresolved issue and the dialogue continues. 

For further information, check out Aufderheide’s book as well as Johan Reinhard’s book, The Ice Maiden: Inca Mummies, Mountain Gods, and Sacred Sites in the Andes (2005, National Geographic). 

Senebti! 

Banner image from the Wikipedia entry for Llullaillaco.