The older girl's face - which showed red ochre markings - was creased from the place it rested on her shawl A 500-year-old frozen Incan mummy known as 'The Maiden' was suffering from a bacterial infection when she died - and being able to 'diagnose' the disease could lead to new insights into diseases of the past. The discovery could help defend against new illnesses - or the re-emergence of diseases of the past. The mummy was suffering from an illness similar to tuberculosis when she was sacrificed on the Argentinian volcano Llullaillaco, 22,100 feet above sea level. The find - using a new technique of swabbing the lips and comparing the swabs with those of current patients - is the first time a disease has been 'diagnosed' in such an ancient body.
@highlight
First time infection has been diagnosed in ancient body
@highlight
New technique could be used to study diseases such as Spanish flu
@highlight
Could be used to prevent re-emergence of deadly diseases of past
@highlight
Study on 500-year-old mummy frozen on Argentinean volcano
The view from the summit of @placeholder volcano where the children were found.