Mysterious Human Sacrifices Found Perfectly Preserved 500 Years On

9. From Rags To Riches

After being selected, Maiden was taken from her impoverished parents to live among the Incan elite. Scientists were able to deduce this from her change of diet. Based on her hair samples, scientists found that her diet shifted from that of a peasant (i.e. mainly potatoes) to that of an elite (i.e. maize and dried llama meat).

“Given the surprising change in their diets, and the symbolic cutting of their hair, it appears that various events were staged in which the status of the children was raised,” said Andrew Wilson, a lead archaeologist from Bradford University.