A Timeless Scene in the Andes At more than 6,000 meters above sea level , on the breathtaking peak of Llullaillaco on the border between Argentina and Chile, archaeologists uncovered one of the most astonishing discoveries in history. There, preserved in ice for over 500 years , sat a young girl, her face so lifelike that it seemed she might wake at any moment. She would later be named the “Maiden of Llullaillaco” —a silent witness to the spiritual practices of the Inca civilization . Who Was the Maiden of Llullaillaco? The Maiden was just 15 years old , chosen by the Incas not because she had failed, but because she was considered “the purest of all.” Her youth, innocence, and perfection made her an ideal candidate for one of the most sacred Inca rituals: Capacocha , a sacrificial ceremony to honor the gods. To prepare her, she was dressed in ceremonial clothing, adorned with ornaments, and given chicha (a maize-based alcoholic drink) and coca leaves to ease her passage...