At the end of the 20th century, spectacular discoveries high in the Andes—on the mountain peaks in Argentina and Peru—shed new light on Inca sacrificial practices and the daily life of their communities. Thanks to the finding of almost perfectly preserved, naturally mummified bodies of children sacrificed—among others on the summit of Llullaillaco—it became possible to conduct advanced laboratory analyses, which provided many new insights into the religiosity and living conditions within the Inca Empire. Research carried out by an international team of scientists utilized a range of modern methods, from isotope analyses, through genetics, to toxicology and dating.

Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen provided information about the diet of the victims in the last months of their lives. Strontium and oxygen isotopes from teeth and hair allowed researchers to determine the origins of the children and their migrations—many of them traveled hundreds of kilometers from various regions of the Inca Empire before reaching the sacrificial site. DNA analyses revealed the genetic diversity of the victims, shedding light on population structure and possible kinship ties, while microbiome studies provided unique data on their health and the environment in which they lived. Toxicological traces of coca leaves and harmine consumption indicate that the children were under the influence of psychoactive substances—likely to alleviate stress. Precise dating of short-lived plants, such as corn seeds and coca leaves found in the graves, enabled accurate dating of the ritual. All these data together create a coherent, multilayered picture of the complex religious rituals of the Incas and allow reconstruction of both the course of the ceremonies and the lives of the children who participated in them.

The latest research results can be followed in Publications.