Ampato Mummy #1, more widely known as the Lady of Ampato (or Juanita), was discovered during an expedition organized by Johan Reinhard together with the Peruvian guide Miguel Zarate in September 1995. During the climb to the summit, archaeologists found the mummy on the slope. Her tomb was located several hundred meters above, at an altitude of 6,300 meters above sea level. It had been destroyed, and its contents had slid down the slope. In addition to the mummy itself, archaeologists also found figurines made of gold, silver, and Spondylus shells, remains of llamas, small bags of maize, and broken fragments of pottery. Due to the conditions at the summit, she underwent natural mummification through freezing.

Computed tomography (CT) studies of Ampato Mummy #1, known as the Lady of Ampato (Juanita), provided detailed information about the child’s health and the causes of death. The remains were very well preserved due to natural mummification in high-altitude conditions, which allowed for a precise analysis of both bones and soft tissues.

Computed tomography revealed severe cranial injuries, including bone fractures that clearly indicate a strong trauma inflicted shortly before death. Fractures were also observed in the chest and pelvic regions, which most likely occurred during the preparation of the burial bundle. The nature of the cranial injuries, along with the presence of frozen blood in the pelvic area, confirms that these injuries were the direct cause of death.

The use of computed tomography also allowed for the assessment of the preservation of internal organs, such as the lungs, heart, and intestines. Based on the results of the examinations, it was confirmed that the child was approximately 14 years old at the time of death.

On the plateau at an altitude of 5,800 meters above sea level, archaeologists discovered another ceremonial site where the Incas sacrificed three children. Two of the burials, Ampato #2 and #3, were destroyed by lightning strikes (A).

The girl was sacrificed at approximately 8 years of age. Similar to the Lady of Ampato, the cause of death was a severe head trauma (C), which led to the formation of a hematoma visible in the computed tomography scans.

Ampato Mummy #2 provided surprising information about the health of children sacrificed in the capacocha ritual. Computed tomography studies revealed pathological changes indicating long-term health problems. Particularly significant were abnormalities in the internal organs, such as an enlarged esophagus and calcifications in the lungs (B), which most likely may be associated with Chagas disease.

This discovery is of great cognitive significance because it contradicts historical accounts, which suggest that children selected for sacrifice were to be physically perfect and free of any ailments. The case of Ampato #2 indicates that the reality was more complex, and that the criteria for selecting sacrificial victims did not necessarily rely solely on perfect health as understood by modern medicine.

Despite the identified illnesses, the child was chosen for one of the most important religious rituals of the Inca Empire. This suggests that the presence of ailments did not necessarily exclude a child from participation in the ceremony and may even have contributed to the symbolic significance of the offering.

Ampato #4 is the most unusual and, at the same time, the most surprising case among the four studied mummies. The girl was sacrificed at approximately 10 years of age and, like the other children, died from a severe head trauma. Inside the burial bundle, a tupu pin and two kero cups used for ritual libations were discovered.

Computed tomography studies revealed not only information about the child’s health but also traces of intensive post-mortem interventions. Stones and fragments of textiles were found in the abdominal cavity, and the absence of certain bones indicates deliberate manipulation of the body and a possible secondary burial.

From a health perspective, no clear signs of severe chronic diseases were observed. At the same time, the degree of preservation of the remains and the post-mortem modifications limit the ability to fully assess the child’s health. Crucially, the body underwent deliberate preservation, making Ampato #4 the first known example of intentional mummification of a capacocha ritual victim.

All evidence suggests that the girl was sacrificed in one location and then transported elsewhere. Such practices are consistent with historical accounts of forced relocations of ethnic groups (mitimaes) within the Inca Empire, used both as a form of control and as a means of colonizing new territories. Relocated populations brought ritual objects with them, including ancestral mummies, which allowed them to establish a symbolic presence in the new landscape. It is possible that capacocha victims served a similar function.

The research findings shed new light on the role of children in Inca religion and on their significance as elements of a system mediating between the human community and the world of the gods.

During an expedition in 1996 to the Sara Sara volcano, researchers discovered the remains of a young girl on a small platform located on the eastern side of the summit. Unlike other high-altitude burials, she was found at a lower elevation, approximately 5,400 meters above sea level, which had a noticeable impact on the preservation of her body. Despite these conditions, the mummy retained sufficient anatomical detail for scientific study.

Computed tomography (CT) confirmed that the girl was approximately 14 years old at the time of death. Beneath the wrappings, tupu pins and ornaments (C) were found. Analysis of the skull revealed an injury consistent with a fatal blow to the side of the head (D), causing characteristic fractures along the cranial sutures—similar to those observed in the famous Lady of Ampato mummy. These findings strongly suggest that her death was ritual in nature, in accordance with capacocha practices in the Inca Empire.

Crystals of ice (A) were observed in the chest cavity, indicating partial freezing of the soft tissues, while examination of the abdominal cavity revealed calcification of a single internal organ (B). These features provide information not only about the girl’s health at the time of death but also about the natural mummification processes occurring in a high-altitude environment.