Inka Child Sacrifices: Researchers Date Victims on Llullaillaco Volcano

Researchers recently redated plant remains found with three Inka child sacrifices on Llullaillaco volcano. The children, two girls and a boy, were likely sacrificed around 500 years ago. Scientists believe the ritual occurred during the reign of Huayna Cápac, possibly to consolidate his rule in the south.

The precise timing remains uncertain because radiocarbon dating is particularly imprecise for the late 15th century and comparative data is scarce. The reason for the sacrifices is still unknown.

Further research aims to determine the specific circumstances surrounding the ritual and understand its purpose within Inka society. Establishing a more accurate timeline could reveal connections between the sacrifices and broader political events of the period.