Inca Children Were Drunk And Stoned For Weeks Before Being Sacrificed
A recent research revealed that 3 mummies of Inca children discovered on top of a 20,000-foot volcano in South America consumed increasing amounts of coca leaf and corn beer for nearly 12 months before being offered to the gods.
How the children were murdered can be explained with sedation by the plant and alcohol, combined with the frigid, high altitude setting. Experts also indicated that there’s no proof of direct violence.
The use of coca leaf and corn bear gradually increases for half a year before death and then catapults in the final weeks, particularly in the oldest, a 13-year-old female child known as the “Ice Maiden.”
Andrew Wilson, archaeologist from University of Bradford and lead author of the research, revealed, “She was probably heavily sedated by the point at which she succumbs to death,” in his presentation of the new examination in a recent paper issued in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The discovery resulted from close inspection of hair extracted from the more than 500-year-old remains, in which there was a 4-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, who were probably the attendants of the maiden.
The data confirmed by previous studies depict that in their final year, children were forced to eat more meat and corn. Taken together, the peasant children are indicated to have been chosen for the ritual sacrifice and enjoyed a high-status life before being offered to the gods near the top of the Llullaillacao Volcano in Argentina.
John Verano, anthropologist from Tulane University, said that the discovery of the signature of the corn beer chicha and coca leaf, the plant containing cocaine, “is not a surprise in itself”, because they are remarkable characteristics of Andean culture.
Verano added, “But it is particularly interesting the level of detail at which (the researchers) are able to look at it. It allows them to hypothesize why the older child of the three was drinking so much chicha in her last month of life and what that might have indicated about her lifestyle and activities.”
Wilson believes that the story might have begun “far from the mountain” in the Inca capital of Cusco, Peru, where the Ice Maiden was taken to live “under the guardianship of priestess” and spent her time weaving textiles and brewing chichi.
According to Wilson, the story likely begins "far from the mountain" in the Inca capital of Cusco, Peru, where the Ice Maiden was taken to live "under the guardianship of priestesses" and passed her time weaving textiles and brewing chicha.
Nearly 6 months before their death, there was a ritual that consisted of ceremonial hair cutting, as scientists discovered some clippings next to the mummies, corresponding to a peak in coca use.
The coca alcohol consumption then started to increase steadily again in the weeks before death, perhaps because the Ice Maiden and 2 younger children were marched from Cusco to the volcano, pausing along the way for rituals that possibly consisted of huge amount of coca and chichi.
The Inca rulers were doubted by scientists to have wanted the tribute to be comprehended all across the empire, which was enlarging southward during the period of the mummies’ death. The Llullaillacao Volcano is at the empire's southern extent.
Verano indicated that these festivals en route to the mountain might be able to clarify the reason the Ice Maiden consumed so much corn beer and elevated coca in her ultimate weeks. He also added that she might “had a drinking problem. Maybe she started drinking beer the last year of her life and just found it to be pleasant or particularly soothing.”
Verano said that the levels of alcohol and coca are higher for the older girl, a discovery that might back up the idea of her being “calmed intentionally.” He continued, “It could be that she had a better idea of what was going to happen to her. She was older.”
Verano further believed that thanks to the data, researchers were able to better imagine the lives of these children, while also indicating that their story is one of interpretation, without any eyewitness accounts.
"For me," Wilson said, "it really does send somewhat of a shiver down my spine … It is almost the children being able to speak to us directly through some of this data, some of the things they experienced."
How the children were murdered can be explained with sedation by the plant and alcohol, combined with the frigid, high altitude setting. Experts also indicated that there’s no proof of direct violence.
The use of coca leaf and corn bear gradually increases for half a year before death and then catapults in the final weeks, particularly in the oldest, a 13-year-old female child known as the “Ice Maiden.”
Andrew Wilson, archaeologist from University of Bradford and lead author of the research, revealed, “She was probably heavily sedated by the point at which she succumbs to death,” in his presentation of the new examination in a recent paper issued in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The discovery resulted from close inspection of hair extracted from the more than 500-year-old remains, in which there was a 4-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, who were probably the attendants of the maiden.
The data confirmed by previous studies depict that in their final year, children were forced to eat more meat and corn. Taken together, the peasant children are indicated to have been chosen for the ritual sacrifice and enjoyed a high-status life before being offered to the gods near the top of the Llullaillacao Volcano in Argentina.
Far from the mountain
Source: Johan Reinhard
John Verano, anthropologist from Tulane University, said that the discovery of the signature of the corn beer chicha and coca leaf, the plant containing cocaine, “is not a surprise in itself”, because they are remarkable characteristics of Andean culture.
Verano added, “But it is particularly interesting the level of detail at which (the researchers) are able to look at it. It allows them to hypothesize why the older child of the three was drinking so much chicha in her last month of life and what that might have indicated about her lifestyle and activities.”
Wilson believes that the story might have begun “far from the mountain” in the Inca capital of Cusco, Peru, where the Ice Maiden was taken to live “under the guardianship of priestess” and spent her time weaving textiles and brewing chichi.
According to Wilson, the story likely begins "far from the mountain" in the Inca capital of Cusco, Peru, where the Ice Maiden was taken to live "under the guardianship of priestesses" and passed her time weaving textiles and brewing chicha.
Nearly 6 months before their death, there was a ritual that consisted of ceremonial hair cutting, as scientists discovered some clippings next to the mummies, corresponding to a peak in coca use.
The coca alcohol consumption then started to increase steadily again in the weeks before death, perhaps because the Ice Maiden and 2 younger children were marched from Cusco to the volcano, pausing along the way for rituals that possibly consisted of huge amount of coca and chichi.
The Inca rulers were doubted by scientists to have wanted the tribute to be comprehended all across the empire, which was enlarging southward during the period of the mummies’ death. The Llullaillacao Volcano is at the empire's southern extent.
Source: Johan Reinhard
Verano indicated that these festivals en route to the mountain might be able to clarify the reason the Ice Maiden consumed so much corn beer and elevated coca in her ultimate weeks. He also added that she might “had a drinking problem. Maybe she started drinking beer the last year of her life and just found it to be pleasant or particularly soothing.”
Final sacrifice
Found in 1999, the mummies are regarded as some of the most perfectly preserved mummies on Earth. The Ice Maiden was found inside a tomb structure, encircled by offerings from the 4 corners of the Inca empire, including seashells, bird feathers, coca and corn. Her head is bowed as if she fell asleep, sedated, and succumbed to the biting cold and thin air as is inevitable at such altitude.Verano said that the levels of alcohol and coca are higher for the older girl, a discovery that might back up the idea of her being “calmed intentionally.” He continued, “It could be that she had a better idea of what was going to happen to her. She was older.”
Verano further believed that thanks to the data, researchers were able to better imagine the lives of these children, while also indicating that their story is one of interpretation, without any eyewitness accounts.
"For me," Wilson said, "it really does send somewhat of a shiver down my spine … It is almost the children being able to speak to us directly through some of this data, some of the things they experienced."
Share this article
Advertisement