| Lightning Girl Human Mummy | |
| |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Lightning Girl |
| Age | 500 years old ( 4-6 yrs old at death) |
| Sex | female |
| Status | sacrifice |
| Height | N/A |
| Source | |
| Culture | Inca Society |
| Date(s) | Found in 1999 |
| Site | Mount Llullaillaco |
| Current Location | |
| Location | Border of Chile and Argentina |
| Catalog # | Unknown |
Lightning Girl or La Nina del rayo, is a 4-6 year old female mummy. She was found near the summit of Volcán Llullaillaco in Argentina, with two other child mummies.
Mummification[]
Lightning Girl was mummified by the extremely cold, dry environment on Llullaillaco. She was almost completely intact except for damage found on her face and shoulder likely due to being struck by lightning after death. She was found in association with a small boy and a teenage girl.
Studies[]
Recently, a hair analysis revealed that Lightning Girl was fed coca leaves (cocaine is derived from this plant) and alcohol before the time of her death. The mummy shows no evidence of struggle or violence.
The body had apparently been hit by lightning after being placed in the tomb. She was wearing a sleeveless dress and a shawl, both kept in place with metal pins, moccasins on her feet, and a metal plaque on her forehead. Textile and ceramic items, as well as metal figurines, were placed around her body at the bottom of the tomb.
Pathology[]
There was no evidence of disease in this mummy.
References[]
Castro, J. (2013, July 29). Final Moments of Incan Child Mummies' Lives Revealed. Retrieved from: http://www.livescience.com/38504-incan-child-mummies-lives-revealed.html