Among the thousands of bodies that were found throughout the remains of the Inca Empire, it would seem that only the young were sacrificed to the gods. The children were usually visually beautiful, of perfect health and thought to have been the family members of important and influential members of society. It may have been believed that gods only accepted the best the Empire had to offer, as children were the closest to being a pure being.
The mummy known as Jaunita, believed to be aged 11-15. She was buried fully clothed, in the best clothe made from llama and alpaca wool. She was also buried with various objects including extra clothes, bowls and eating utensils, charms and precious amulets. The colors of her garments remain vivid though the ice in the picture. She is also wearing llama-skin slippers with intricately embroidered beads and threads.
Sometimes up to a year before the child was to be sacrificed their lives would change drastically in preparation. Having normally been fed a peasants diet of potatoes, grains, and fruit, they were now given maize, fish, poultry, and most noticeably, llama meat, which was reserved for the high elite. They may have been given servants to tend to them and the older females were moved to the women’s quarters of nunneries, to be surrounded by other women at all times. There may have also been trips to meet the Sapa Inca, where great banquets were thrown in their honor. It was believed that becoming a child sacrifice was most honorable, and the children were treated as such.