Peru Man Says Ancient Mummy Found in His Food Delivery Bag Is His 'Spiritual Girlfriend'

A man in Peru shocked many after Peruvian police found an ancient mummy inside a food delivery cooler bag that he was carrying.

Julio Cesar Bermejo, 25, caught the attention of patrolling police officers after he was seen drunk and hanging out with two men at a deserted park in the city of Puno on Saturday afternoon.

The Peru man said he was carrying it around in the food delivery bag he had once used to deliver food to people's homes as he wanted to show the mummy to his friends. According to CNN, Bermejo will remain in police custody as investigators look into the case.

He previously worked as a delivery man for Pedidos Ya, a Latin American food delivery app. Images of the mummy in a fetal position wrapped in bandages inside a red isothermal bag are now circulating on social media.

Peru Man Claims Mummy Is His Spiritual Girlfriend

Julio Cesar Bermejo claimed that the mummy was always in his home. He said it is usually inside his room, and he sleeps with it. Bermejo even named it "Juanita" and said it was like his spiritual girlfriend, NDTV reported.

He noted that his father brought the mummy home nearly 30 years ago. According to experts, the mummy was between 600 and 800 years old. They also said the 4 feet 11 inches tall mummy was not a woman but a man who was at least 45 years old when he died and was subsequently mummified.

According to Peru's Ministry of Culture, the ancient mummy that Bermejo had been spending his time with was a "mummified adult male individual, presumably from the eastern area of Puno."

A specialist at the ministry said: "It's not a Juanita. It's a Juan." According to the BBC, police have confiscated the mummy and handed it to the ministry of culture, which looks after Peru's heritage.

Two of Bermejo's friends, who are between 23 and 26 years old, have also been detained for possible crimes against the country's cultural heritage. The former food delivery man maintained that he was only showing off the mummy to his friends and had no plan to sell it.

Mummies in Peru Are Considered National Cultural Asset

Much like in Egypt, mummies are also widely revered in Peru as a national cultural asset. Peru has hundreds of archaeological sites from several civilizations, including the Inca Empire. However, the practice of mummifying the dead had been around even before the Incas came to power.

Most of the mummies in Peru were dated even before the Spanish arrived and conquered the Inca Empire. These mummies are often celebrated throughout the country and are often brought out to be paraded during several important Peruvian festivals.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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