Mummies: Acongagua Boy

 

In 1985 while mountaineers climbed on Aconcagua in Mendoza, Argentina the body of a boy was found at 5,300 m or 17,400 ft. They would notify archeologists and it was found that the mummified body was that of a boy sacrificed around 1500. He was likely around 7-years-old and was sacrificed for the Incan Empire as a capacocha sacrifice.

The boy was found in a semicircular stone structure and covered in vomit, red pigment, and fecal remains. the body was wrapped in textiles in a style derived and dated from the central coast of Peru. Though those were from Peru he was not and was likely raised in the Highlands. Six statuettes were found buried with him. He was buried with a multitude of grave goods and this was rare for male capacocha mummies.

Like many of the capacocha sacrifices a year and a half he was fed well with maize, quinoa, capsicum, potatoes, and terrestrial meat. Before that his diet was marine-based. He had achiote in his stomach and colon.

As a capacocha sacrifice, it's unknown if his parents were willing or not to give him up. Some parents were willing to sacrifice their children and others were not, but were forced to not show grief for their lost child. He would be chosen for his serenity and perfection, and one quality a sacrifice had to have was virginity. After being chosen he would eat well for about around a year or so. Like other sacrifices, he then had to take a trek to his resting place on the Andes. He would be hit in the head and die. Other sacrifices often died this way, or be buried alive and dying by exposure. 

SOURCES: 

Wikipedia

Mummipedia Wikia

Science