Knowra Llullaillaco Llullaillaco Llullaillaco is a stratovolcano on the Chile–Argentina border in the Andes. Its high summit and Inca archaeological remains make it notable for both volcanology and archaeology.
Children of Llullaillaco : Three Inca children whose mummified remains were discovered near Llullaillaco’s summit in 1999. Their burial is the mountain’s best-known archaeological discovery.
Stratovolcano : A steep-sided volcano built from alternating layers of lava, ash, and other erupted material. Llullaillaco’s cone is classified as a stratovolcano.
Johan Reinhard : An American anthropologist known for research on Andean sacred mountains and high-altitude archaeology. He co-led the 1999 expedition that recovered the summit children.
Archaeological conservation : The care of archaeological sites and objects to limit damage and preserve them for study. The summit children require protection from handling and environmental change.
Inca mummies : Mummified human remains from the Inca world, preserved through ritual, deliberate treatment, or environmental conditions. The summit discoveries belong to the wider record of Inca human preservation.
Andean Volcanic Belt : A chain of volcanoes formed along the Andes by subduction of the Nazca and Antarctic plates. Llullaillaco lies within the Central Volcanic Zone of this belt.
National Geographic Society : A nonprofit organization founded in 1888 to advance geography, exploration, and scientific research. It supported the expedition that brought the Llullaillaco finds to international attention.
Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña : A museum in Salta, Argentina, dedicated to high-altitude Andean archaeology and the Llullaillaco children. It houses and exhibits the recovered children under controlled conditions.
Capacocha : An Inca state ritual involving offerings, including human sacrifices, at sacred places across the empire. The children were deposited during a capacocha ceremony.
Subduction : The descent of one tectonic plate beneath another into Earth’s mantle. Subduction beneath South America drives volcanism in the Andes.
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