Discovering The Inca Ice Maiden [Hardcover]

Johan Reinhard (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

On September 8 1995, while climbing a snow c overed volcano in Peru, Reinhard and his Peruvian assistant came across a frozen mummy, incredibly preserved from the ti me of the Inca Empire. Now he reveals the story behind the I nca Ice Maiden. '

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Readers will be drawn to the story of the 1995 discovery of a female mummy of a girl who was only 14 when she died (probably in a sacrifice). Reinhard shares his experiences climbing the Peruvian volcano, Ampato, where he and his assistant Miguel Zrate discovered the so-called ``Ice Maiden'' who lived 530 years ago; with great difficulty, they removed the relics that the eroding gravel had exposed. The discovery of two other mummies, as well as the painstaking efforts of scientists to collect information about the ice maiden, are covered in clear text and accompanied by intriguing full-color photographs; these portray the treasures culled from the frozen, stony mountain, including a child's small straw sandal, finely woven textiles, and gold and silver dolls. This book takes armchair adventurers and archaeological enthusiasts not only to the excavation, but back through Peruvian history. (chronology, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 9-11) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792271424
• ISBN-13: 978-0792271420
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,406,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > Children's Books > History > Central & South America

More About the Author

Johan Reinhard (1943- ) is an Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society. Born in New Lenox, Illinois, he began his studies in anthropology at the University of Arizona, before going on to receive his Ph.D. from the University of Vienna, Austria. Since 1980 he has conducted anthropological field research in the Andes, and his discoveries of perfectly preserved frozen Inca mummies were selected by Time in 1995 and 1999 as among "the world's ten most important scientific discoveries" of those years. He has also spent more than ten years in the Himalayas, conducting anthropological research. In 1987 he was a recipient of the Rolex Award for Enterprise, in 2001 the Ford Motor Company chose him as one of twelve "Heroes for the Planet," and in 2002 he was awarded the Explorers Medal of the Explorers Club. He is the author of more than seventy academic and popular publications, including six books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Nita, Lovely Inca Maid, January 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Discovering The Inca Ice Maiden (Hardcover)

One day a 90 pound teenager put on clothes that had been specially made, had her hair braided and the plait tip tied to her waist, ate some vegetables, and climbed up Mount Ampato. Some five centuries later, veteran mountaineers Johan Reinhard and Miguel Zarate went for a walk on that same mountain and ended up DISCOVERING THE INCA ICE MAIDEN and two other mummies of children sacrificed to directly appeal on their community's behalf to the area's gods. With its compassionate and compelling storyline eloquently presented with anthropologist/author Dr. Reinhard's own stunning photographs, the book is an unforgettable read all on its own. But it also works particularly well with Janet Buell's ANCIENT HORSEMEN OF SIBERIA, James M. Deem's BODIES FROM THE BOG and HOW TO MAKE A MUMMY TALK, David Getz's FROZEN GIRL and FROZEN MAN, and Katie Roden's THE MUMMY.

4.0 out of 5 stars Short, but many great pictures, February 26, 2002

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Discovering The Inca Ice Maiden (Hardcover)

In 1990, while climbing a mountain in Peru, Anthropologist and mountain climber Dr. Johan Reinhard found something astounding: the mummy of a young Inca girl. This short work is Dr. Reinhard's story. Chocked full of color pictures, this book makes a fascinating resource for anyone who is interested in the subject.