It has been 25 years since the discovery of the Children of Llullaillaco -also known as the “Llullaillaco mummies”-, an archaeological discovery that surprised the world due to the excellent preservation of three Inca mummies at the top of the volcano that bears the same name, at more than 6,700 meters high. This discovery allowed the study of the beliefs and rituals of the Inca empire.
In this process, the Catholic University of Salta (UCASAL) played a fundamental role, becoming a reference in the research and conservation of this archaeological treasure. From its laboratories and specialized equipment, the university led the analysis team, which was key to a better understanding of the aspects of the life of ancient civilizations.
The story behind this discovery
The discovery was made by a team led by archaeologist Constanza Ceruti and anthropologist Johan Reinhard in March 1999. The story goes that both researchers climbed the Llullaillaco volcano - located in the province of Salta - and found three Inca mummies in an exceptional state of preservation. The bodies, identified as “La Doncella”, “El Niño” and “La Niña del Rayo”, were sacrificed as part of a religious ritual more than 500 years ago.
Thanks to the extreme climatic conditions of the place, the mummies remained intact for centuries, allowing researchers to obtain unique information about the Inca culture. Once the mummies arrived at the university, they were subjected to advanced scientific studies, which included paleopathology, radiology and dental studies. These analyses revealed details about the health, diet and cultural practices of the Incas.
In this sense, the university stood out for its interdisciplinary approach, which combined various branches of science to thoroughly analyze every aspect of the bodies and the objects found alongside them. “Teamwork has been essential to decipher details of Incan life,” said a UCASAL researcher. “Each discipline contributes a key piece to the puzzle,” he added.