Definition: Llullaillaco is an Incan burial site on the summit of Mt. Llullaillaco, and at 6739 meters above sea level it is the highest archaeological site known in the world. The site includes several components, primarily three stone niches holding tombs of child sacrifices, and a small cemetery, a base camp, and several small ruins between the niches and the base camp.
The three burials on Llullaillaco are of a 7 year old boy, a 15 year old girl and a 6 year old girl. AMS radiocarbon dates on the eldest girl indicate she died sometime between AD 1430–1520. Each burial includes grave goods including small figurines, pottery and spondylus shell. Because of the high altitude, the bodies were mummified perfectly, allowing a post-mortem investigation after they were discovered. The burials are believed to be examples of the capacocha ritual, which were child sacrifices conducted by the Inca for various purposes.
The three burials on Llullaillaco are of a 7 year old boy, a 15 year old girl and a 6 year old girl. AMS radiocarbon dates on the eldest girl indicate she died sometime between AD 1430–1520. Each burial includes grave goods including small figurines, pottery and spondylus shell. Because of the high altitude, the bodies were mummified perfectly, allowing a post-mortem investigation after they were discovered. The burials are believed to be examples of the capacocha ritual, which were child sacrifices conducted by the Inca for various purposes.
Sources
Bray, Tamara L., et al. 2005 A compositional analysis of pottery vessels associated with the Inca ritual of capacocha. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 24(1):82-100.
Previgliano, Carlos H., et al. 2003 Radiologic Evaluation of the Llullaillaco Mummies. American Journal of Roentgenology 181:1473-1479. Free online version.
Wilson, Andrew S., et al. 2007 Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 (42 ):16456-16461.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology.
