Inca mummies have been the matter of interest for scientists ever since the archaeologists unearthed them. Eager to know more facts about these Inca children, scientists are continuously examining these mummies. Now, scientists have yielded the startling insight into the lives of these Inca children.
A team led by bioarchaeologist Andrew Wilson of the University of Bradford, U.K. analyzed the isotopic composition of the four children’s hair to trace the last months of their lives. Examining the hair samples from these naturally preserved child mummies, the scientists concluded that the ancient Inca people fed their children large quantities of food to fatten them up before sacrificing them.
The study shows changes in the hairs’ chemical signature indicating that the children were prepared for sacrifice for at least a year. Their diet was changed from vegetables to maize and meat, food typically reserved for the elite. It has been found that the children were fed with starches and proteins to get them ready for sacrifice. The scientists are not sure about how the children died but it’s believed that they were given maize beer and coca leaves.
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Source: Discovery
