Unveiled: The Visage of Peru's Ice Maiden Unearthed by Archaeologists
Archaeologists uncover the captivating story of Juanita, a young Inca woman sacrificed and entombed in the Andean peaks 500 years ago Through meticulous reconstruction, her hauntingly beautiful face is brought to life, offering an extraordinary glimpse into ancient rituals and beliefs
Get the latest science news and delve into the mysteries of the universe by subscribing to CNNs Wonder Theory newsletter. Discover captivating findings, groundbreaking scientific progress, and more.
Centuries ago, deep within the Andes Mountains, a young girl from the Inca culture met a tragic fate. Sacrificed and buried near the summit of Ampato, a dormant volcano, her remarkably preserved frozen body was unearthed in 1995. Referred to by various names such as the "Ice Maiden," Juanita, and the Lady of Ampato, her true identity remained a mystery until now.
Swedish artist Oscar Nilsson and a team of researchers from the Center for Andean Studies at the University of Warsaw and the Catholic University of Santa MarÃahave collaboratively developed a 3D representation of Juanita's visage. This reconstruction was presented on October 24th as a component of the "Capacocha, following the Inca Divinities" exhibition at the Andean Sanctuaries Museum in Peru. The exhibition showcases new discoveries about Juanita and her experiences, along with findings from other Incan mummies found in the Peruvian Andes.
The curator of the exhibit, Dr. Dagmara Socha, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Warsaw's Center for Andean Studies, expressed that for a long time, mummies were viewed merely as artifacts in museums. However, through scientific research and facial reconstruction, the aim is to revive their identities. A meticulously crafted reconstruction enables us to portray the individuals who played a significant role in the narrative we wish to convey.
Discovering Juanita
The Inca Empire, which thrived from approximately 1200 to 1533, extended over 2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers) across present-day Peru and Chile. An essential aspect of Inca culture was the capacocha ritual, which entailed sacrificing humans and offering esteemed goods like ceramics, precious metals, textiles, and seashells.
These rituals were performed to appease deities and protect the community from calamities such as droughts, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. The peaks of the Andes were revered as sacred sites, and youngsters, particularly beautiful and pure young women, were selected for these sacrificial ceremonies. Believed to bring honor to their parents and grant them an idyllic afterlife, their sacrifices held great significance.
The children and young women, once sacrificed, were believed to serve as intermediaries between humans and deities. According to researchers, it was thought that these individuals would be reunited with their ancestors, who were believed to observe from the towering peaks of the Andes.
In September 1995, Dr. Johan Reinhard and his assistant Miguel Zarate made the discovery of Juanita as they climbed Ampato. Upon reaching the summit, which stood at a height of 20,708 feet (6,312 meters) above sea level, they were surprised to find that a section of the ridge had collapsed. This exposed an Inca burial site, causing the contents to tumble approximately 229 feet (70 meters) below.
After stumbling upon a bundle of fabric, Reinhard and Zarate made a startling discovery - the face of the Ice Maiden. With caution, they carefully descended the mountain with Juanita, who now resides in a chamber within the Andean Sanctuaries Museum of the Catholic University of Santa MarÃa. Maintained at an icy temperature of minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius), visitors to the museum can now behold her preserved form.
Analysis has determined that Juanita, who met her untimely demise from a fatal blow to the head, was a healthy young girl aged between 13 and 15.
Replicas of the artifacts buried with the Ice Maiden are on display and visitors can touch them to feel their weight and texture.
Dagmara Socha was laid to rest adorned in ceremonial garments, accompanied by an assortment of valuable items including ceramic objects, gold and silver female figures, a Spondylus shell, food provisions, woven bags, and pottery. These ceramic objects showcased intricate geometric designs, which continue to be subjected to ongoing research and are speculated to have served as a crucial component of the Inca communication system.
In 2018, Socha and a team of archaeologists and scientists embarked on a five-year research project to study Juanita, along with other remains and objects discovered on the snow-covered Ampato, Misti, and Pichu Pichu volcanoes.
The team found that certain children and women consumed coca leaves and ayahuasca prior to their deaths, possibly as a means to alleviate anxiety. In March 2022, CT scans were performed on Juanita, and the resulting data was utilized to generate a 3D model of her skull, aiding Nilsson in his reconstruction.
Digital images were created using tomography scans of her body and skull, along with research on her age, complexion, and other characteristics. By utilizing tissue depth markers based on her skull measurements, Nilsson was able to accurately depict the proportions of her face, including her distinct high cheekbones.
Tissue depth markers and CT scans helped Oscar Nilsson reconstruct the Ice Maiden's face.
Oscar Nilsson
It took him six months to bring Juanita's face to life, investing 400 hours into the model. Renowned for his expertise in reconstructing historical faces, Nilsson utilized a forensic reconstruction technique that incorporated several scientific analyses to ensure Juanita appeared as authentically as can be.
Nilsson expressed his enthusiasm and sense of duty in reconstructing the past, aiming for the highest level of accuracy. He finds his job to be truly fulfilling and hopes that others can also connect emotionally with the remarkable story of the individual from history. The headdress and shawl, replicas of the ones worn by this historical figure, were skillfully crafted using naturally dyed alpaca wool by Centro Textiles Tradicionales in Chinchero and Cusco, Peru.
Visitors to the exhibit can experience the research findings, observe artifacts from the burials, and handle replicas of them. They also have the opportunity to recreate the journey of Juanita from Cusco, the Inca Empire's capital, traversing the ranches, known as tambos, where the caravan rested prior to the sacrificial act, and continuing all the way up to the peaks.
"With the use of virtual reality goggles, visitors can embark on a virtual pilgrimage, retracing the footsteps of the capacocha ritual. They can follow the remnants of the Inca roads leading to the tambos, which were the final resting places on the slopes of Chachani, Misti, and Pichu Pichu," mentioned Socha.
For the researchers who dedicated years to studying Juanita, the exhaustive endeavor of resurrecting her has proven rewarding.
"The visage provides a remarkably lifelike experience, as if one were gazing upon a living individual," stated Socha.
"It was for me a very emotional moment after working so many years with these mummies, to be able to finally look at her face."
