10/09/2025
The world's best-preserved mummy, La Doncella (also known as "The Maiden"), was discovered near the summit of Llullaillaco volcano in Argentina, at an altitude of approximately 6,000 meters (19,685 feet).
In 1999, archaeologists climbing the Llullaillaco volcano discovered the mummified rema!ns of three Inca ch!ldren, including La Doncella, who had been sacr!f!ced around 500 years ago. The cold, dry environment at such a high altitude contributed significantly to the mummy's exceptional preservation.
La Doncella was a teenage g!rl, estimated to be between 11 and 15 years old at the time of her sacr!f!ce. She was found dressed in a ceremonial tunic and adorned with a headpiece, signifying her role as a messenger to the heavens. It is believed she may have been an aclla, or "sun virgin," chosen early in life for sacrfice. Before her de4th, La Doncella had consumed corn liquor and coca leaves, likely to induce sleep and alleviate altitude s!ckness.
La Doncella is considered the best-preserved mummy ever found, with intact !nternal organs and even blood still present in her heart and lungs. The mummy is currently on display at the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology in Salta, Argentina, in a refrigerated, low-oxygen environment that mimics the conditions of the high-altitude volcano where she was found. The exhibition of La Doncella and the other ch!ldren of Llullaillaco has generated controversy, with indigenous communities demanding their return for traditional honoring and concerns raised about the ethics and preservation of the bod!es.