Juanita's Enigma: The Enchanted Incan Maiden Sacrificed

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Momia Juanita stands as one of the most perplexing mummies ever discovered by humanity

Momia Juanita, or the Juanita Mummy, is the name given to the remains of a young Incan girl from the 15th century, found in Peru in 1995. She's also known by the aliases 'Lady of Ampato' and 'Incan Ice Maiden.' The first moniker is derived from the discovery site, the summit of Mount Ampato, an extinct volcano in the Andes. The second nickname acknowledges her immaculate preservation due to the cold temperatures at the mountain peak.

Researchers state that Juanita's mummy was a victim of a significant ritual sacrifice among the Inca people known as Capacocha, sometimes translated as 'royal obligation.' Scientific analyses of the mummy also unveil various intriguing details about her life and death.

Facts about Juanita's Mummy

The discovery of Juanita's mummy was orchestrated by archaeologist Johan Reinhard and his assistant Miguel Zarate in September 1995. The mummy's exposure may have resulted from the melting snow on Mount Ampato, triggered by a nearby volcanic eruption and volcanic ash. The outcome of the thawing process led the mummy to tumble down the mountain slope, where it was subsequently discovered by archaeologists. In a second expedition to the mountain in October of the same year, the frozen bodies of two more individuals were also found in a lower area of Mount Ampato.

Researchers believe Juanita was a mere 12-15 years old when she passed away. Two other mummies discovered shortly after, also children, lead to speculation that they might have been sacrificed alongside Juanita on the mountain's summit.

Capacocha - Sacrificial Ritual

According to scientists, Juanita's mummy was sacrificed as part of the Capacocha ritual. This ritual required the Inca people to sacrifice the healthiest and most beautiful among them to appease the gods, ensuring a bountiful harvest or protection from disasters. Given the location of Juanita's sacrifice, it is believed this ceremony may be linked to the worship of the mountain deity Ampato.

Juanita's Demise

When found, Juanita was wrapped in a shroud. Alongside the young girl's remains, the bundle contained various crafted items, including miniature clay figurines, seashells, and gold artifacts. These were left as offerings to the gods. Archaeologists suggest that these items, along with food, coca leaves, and chicha, an alcoholic beverage made from maize, would have been carried by priests as they escorted the girl up the mountain.

Coca leaves and chicha served to tranquilize the girl. This was a common method used by the Inca people before sacrificing victims. Once the victim entered a state of intoxication, the priests performed the ritual. In Juanita's case, X-ray images revealed a fatal blow to the head, causing severe bleeding, as the cause of her demise.

Another scientific analysis reveals intriguing details about Juanita's life through isotopic analysis on her hair, well-preserved under cold temperatures. This analysis provided researchers insights into her diet, indicating she was chosen as an offering approximately a year before the ritual took place. This was marked by dietary changes revealed in the isotopic analysis of her hair.

Before being chosen for sacrifice, the girl had a typical Inca diet, consisting of vegetables and potatoes. However, around a year before the ritual, it was discovered that she began consuming animal protein and maize, a diet associated with the elite.

Today, Juanita's mummy is housed in the Santuarios Andinos Museum in Arequipa, a city near Mount Ampato. The mummy is kept under specific temperature conditions to ensure the preservation of the remains.

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