Archaeologists have unveiled a representation depicting the possible appearance of Peru’s renowned mummy. This mummy, often referred to as “Juanita,” or the “Inca Ice Maiden,” was an Inca girl believed to have been part of a ceremonial sacrifice over five centuries ago.
Face reconstruction of Peru’s most famous mummy
A team of scientists collaborated with an expert in facial reconstruction to craft a silicon sculpture resembling the mummy. Johan Reinhard, a U.S. archaeologist who initially discovered the mummy in 1995, revealed that this sculpture brings her historical presence to life in an even more vivid manner.
Scientists have revealed the reconstructed face of #Peru's famous #mummy, a teenage #Inca girl sacrificed over 500 years ago in the Andes, known as 'Juanita' and the 'Inca Ice Maiden.'
The silicone-made bust features a young woman with distinct cheekbones, black eyes, and tanned… pic.twitter.com/a6kiNkTFQy
— Michael Ashura (@MichaelAshura) October 25, 2023
A group of scientists from Peru and Poland joined forces with Oscar Nilsson, a Swedish expert in facial reconstruction, to create a silicon sculpture of the young girl. The scientists relied on body scans, measurements of the skull, studies of DNA, and ethnological traits to guide their reconstruction efforts.
According to Dr. Nilsson, crafting the face took approximately four hundred hours of meticulous work, resulting in a visage featuring prominent cheekbones, dark eyes, and a brown complexion.
Discovery of Juanita’s preserved body
Dr. Reinhard expressed his amazement, saying, “I thought I’d never know what her face looked like when she was alive. Now 28 years later, this has become a reality thanks to Oscar Nilsson’s reconstruction.”
Dr. Reinhard and Peruvian mountaineer Miguel Zárate stumbled upon Juanita’s preserved body at an elevation of 6,400 meters (around 21,000 feet) during their expedition to the Ampato volcano. She was dressed in ceremonial clothing, adorned with a headpiece, and encircled by ceramic items such as bowls and figurines.
Research on her remains indicates that Juanita was around fourteen to fifteen years old at the time of her sacrifice.
Possible sacrificial act in the Inca belief system
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University conducted a CT scan, which revealed that a severe blow to the back of her head was the likely cause of her death.
Experts surmise that she might have been drugged and forced to kneel before being struck on the head with an object resembling a ceremonial weapon, possibly as part of a human sacrifice ritual dedicated to the gods.
In an article featured in Penn Museum’s Expedition Magazine, Dr. Reinhard explained that, based on the Inca belief system, such a sacrificial act was seen as a means to bestow honor upon the parents and grant the sacrificed individuals an afterlife filled with happiness.
He added, “The child would become deified and worshipped for generations as the villagers’ intermediary with the gods.”
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