Children drugged for months before sick ritual sacrifice
Children drugged for months before sick ritual sacrifice
Three Incan children were given drugs and alcohol during their final months to make them more compliant before they were killed atop an Argentinian volcano.
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Add us as preferred source Comments By Emilia Randall 07:00, Thu, Jun 18, 2026 
A chilling discovery was made when school-age children were found frozen in time, bearing harrowing evidence of months of violence and trauma inflicted upon them.
The three Incan children were uncovered 500 years after they were subjected to months of drugging. Their final days involved an excess of alcohol and food before a disturbing, ancient sacrificial ritual.
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Researchers established that the children were administered drugs and alcohol during their final months, in order to make them more compliant ahead of their killing atop a volcano. Archaeologists examined the frozen Incan mummies of three children who were discovered in 1999.
They had been interred in a shrine near the summit of an Argentinian volcano, Llullaillaco, standing 6,739 metres above sea level, reports the Daily Star. Analysis of their hair samples revealed the three youngsters had routinely consumed coca leaves — the same plant from which cocaine is derived — according to Expedition.
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The eldest child, known as the 'Maiden', consumed considerably more coca and drank substantially greater quantities of alcohol than the other two.
Evidence suggests that the Maiden was treated distinctly from the remaining two children, given the nicknames Llullaillaco Boy and Lightning Girl. The latter earned her name as archaeologists believe the girl was struck by lightning.
Having been selected for the fatal ritual, the Maiden became a revered figure within the Incan empire, with study lead author Andrew Wilson, an archaeologist at the University of Bradford, stating that "her sacrifice was seen as an honour."
It is believed the remaining two children may have served as her attendants. Scientists are gaining a far greater understanding of the children's lives by examining their hair samples, which can reveal what was present in their bloodstream at the time and even provide a detailed chronology of their short lives.
In a 2007 study, Wilson and his team found that the children's diets had changed dramatically over time, shifting away from their humble peasant origins, based on simple vegetables and potatoes, towards an "elite" diet.
This new regime included maize and dried llama meat, apparently designed to fatten them up ahead of their sacrifice.
The Maiden, just 13, consumed considerably more food than the Llullaillaco Boy and Lightning Girl, who were four and five.
The researchers were able to piece together a detailed timeline of the children's drug and alcohol consumption.
While the younger children only began receiving these substances roughly nine months before their deaths, the Maiden had started taking them almost two years before her sacrifice.
Furthermore, the youngsters consumed drugs and alcohol at a consistent rate, yet the Maiden substantially increased her intake during her final year of life.
Her coca consumption peaked around six months before her death, while her alcohol intake spiked just weeks before she passed away.
Wilson suggested this escalation likely helped the Maiden come to terms with her impending fate, with researchers believing she was sedated at the time of her death. The burial conditions of the children proved vital in piecing together their final moments.
The Maiden was seated cross-legged, leaning slightly forwards, and had died with a full stomach, adorned with a feathered headdress, elaborately braided hair and numerous artefacts arranged across her knees.
Yet despite her grim fate, specialists remain unsure as to precisely how she died.
Wilson said: "It's not clear how the Maiden died, but she may have succumbed to the freezing temperatures of the environment and was placed in her final position while she was still alive or very shortly after death."
By stark contrast, the Llullaillaco boy had bloodstains on his cloak, head lice in his hair, and cloth bindings around his body, suggesting he may have been smothered.
The Lightning Girl appeared not to have been killed as violently, though she had not received the same degree of care as the Maiden.
"The Maiden was perhaps a chosen woman selected to live apart from her former life, among the elite and under the care of the priestesses," Wilson said.
Many scholars argue that the sacrificial rituals functioned as a means of social control, since while they were considered an extraordinary honour, they likely provoked deep terror and anguish.
Tragically, it was deemed a grave transgression for parents to show any sign of grief when surrendering their children to their deaths.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
