Mummy of girl sacrificed by Incans prompts gasps

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The girl called “la Doncella” (Spanish for “the Maiden”) named by the Argentineans is on display for the first time at a museum in Salta, Argentina. The visitors after seeing her are person are two shocked to see this well preserved mummy. The “la Doncella” was sacrificed hundreds of years ago by the Incans.

“La Doncella” died on a volcano, at an elevation of 22,080 feet in the Andes Mountains. She was garlanded with bone and metal jewelry.

Her body was found in an ice pit in Llullaillaco volcano, and is estimated to be 15 years old. She was found along with a 6 year old and a 7 year old boy.

Scientists speculate that these children bodies were sacrificed more than 500 years ago in an Incan ceremony marking the annual corn harvest. They are dressed in fine cloths and given corn alcohol to make them sleepy, then the victims were then left in that condition to die at an elevation of 22,080 feet. The icy conditions must have caused a quick death.

The “la Doncella” is kept in a chamber that pumps chilled air through a low oxygen atmosphere. This simulates the subfreezing conditions where it was found. The other children are not on display but are being studied.

She is found seated with her legs bent and her arms resting on her stomach, she can be seen wearing a gray shawl and bone and metal ornaments. Scientists think her face was painted with a red pigment and around her mouth they found flecks of coca leaf, which are commonly used to cope with high altitudes.

Many visitors are flocking the museum to see this girl mummy.

High Mountain Archaeological Museum director Gabriel Miremont said on Thursday to CNN:

Just this morning we have had more than 700 people come see the exhibit, and we had hundreds yesterday when it opened".

Many Indian groups however were displeased with this exhibition of the mummy, they argue the mummies should be given proper respect and buried or at least not shown to the public.

Miguel Suarez, a representative of the Calchaquies valley tribes in and around Salta, said this exhibit is a great mistake.

I agree with him, she already suffered a cruel death and now to make an exhibit of her in front of thousands that is more disrespectful. Photos of her could be sufficient.

What do you think about this exhibit?