Inca mummies
Main Types of Inca mummies
Inca mummies consist mainly of two types, the mummies of the ruler and mummies of the sacrificed ones. Most of the mummies of the rulers were kept in Cuzco. None of them have been found, as they were ruined during the Spanish conquest of Peru. Peru, Chile and Argentina were places where the mummies of sacrificed ones were found. A typical example was Juanita, the Ice Maiden.
Chachapoya, also known as "the Cloud People" was a related group of Inca mummies. They were found in northern Peru.
When were they made
They were made during the reign of the Inca empire, i.e. from 1438 to 1532.
How were they made
The mummified rulers were likely to be artificial mummies, but the mummification method of the Inca are not fully known. The dead king was likely to be placed on a throne with his arms across his chest and his knees brought up to the chest. Dressed in fancy clothes his chest pieces of silver and gold were found on his chest, hand and mouth. No the detailed mummification record had been found, so we are not sure whether the body was dried or treated.
Sacrificed children were mummified by the freezing temperature and the dry, windy mountain air, so they were natural mummies.
What’s special about them
Extinction always make something special. That’s what had happened to the artificial mummies of the Inca rulers. Pizarro was a devoted Catholic who was greatly disturbed by the Inca’s worship of their dead ancestors. He therefore gave the order to burn the mummies after conquering Incas. This destruction left no clue to the mummification process and the lifestyle of the Inca rulers.
The natural mummies of the sacrificed ones found in recent years were in their excellent condition (some have their internal organs intact and in good shape). The burial items found with them also provide important information about the Inca’s life and religion beliefs.
This mummy of Inca girl is one of three mummies unearthed by archeologists atop a mountain in northern Argentina.