Peru: Archaeologists Unearth '3,000 Year-Old' Mummy in Lima

Peru archaeologists have made an intriguing discovery, unearthing a mummy believed to be around 3,000 years old in Lima. This finding adds to the growing collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts in the Andean nation, per CNA.

During excavations, students from San Marcos University and researchers initially stumbled upon remnants of the mummy's hair and skull preserved in a cotton bundle. Further excavation efforts led to the unveiling of the entire mummy.

The mummy likely belonged to the Manchay culture, which thrived in the Lima valleys between 1500 and 1000 BC. This culture was associated with the construction of U-shaped temples that faced the sunrise, according to Peru archaeologist Miguel Aguilar.

Aguilar explained that the individual was "left or offered (as a sacrifice) during the last phase of the construction of this temple," placing the estimated age of the mummy at approximately 3,000 years.

Alongside the mummy, archaeologists discovered additional buried artifacts as part of an offering. These items include corn, coca leaves, and seeds, which provide insights into the practices and rituals of the ancient civilization.

'1,000-Year-Old' Teen Mummy Also Found in Lima in April

Peru archaeologists have made an exciting discovery, unearthing a mummy that is over 1,000 years old on the outskirts of the country's capital in April, ABC News noted.

The mummy, believed to be that of an adolescent, was found in an underground tomb wrapped in a funerary bundle along with ceramics, rope, and even fragments of skin and hair.

The mummified adolescent is in a remarkably well-preserved state, according to archaeologist Yomira Huaman, who leads the Cajamarquilla research project affiliated with the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. This finding provides valuable insights into the ancient cultures that existed in Peru before the rise of the Inca empire.

Peru is renowned for its famous Inca site of Machu Picchu, but the country was also home to numerous pre-Hispanic cultures that thrived along the central coast and in the Andean regions. The adolescent mummy is estimated to have lived between 1,100 and 1,200 years ago and could have belonged to the Lima or Ichma cultures.

Interestingly, this discovery was made just 200 meters from where another mummy was found in Cajamarquilla last year, highlighting the area's significance for archaeological research. These findings contribute to our understanding of Peru's ancient civilizations' rich and diverse history.

'1,200-Year-Old' Remains of Kids, Adults Sacrifice Found in Lima Last Year

In a significant archaeological excavation at the Cajamarquilla complex near Lima, Peru, early last year, researchers from San Marcos University discovered the remains of eight children and twelve adults, believed to have been sacrificed approximately 800-1,200 years ago, Reuters reports.

The bodies, consisting of mummified remains and skeletons, were found outside an underground tomb and wrapped in textiles as part of an ancient pre-Hispanic ritual.

These individuals were believed to be sacrificed to accompany the main mummy in the afterlife. The ancient people who performed these rituals viewed death not as an end but as a transition to a parallel world in which the deceased continued to exist and protect the living.

One of Peru archaeologists, Pieter Van Dalen explained that this burial pattern is reminiscent of other significant discoveries, such as the tomb of the Lord of Sipán, a ruler from 1,700 years ago, which contained the remains of sacrificed children and adults buried alongside him.

In some individuals found at Cajamarquilla, evidence of violence has been observed, indicating the presence of rituals involving violence.

Peru is home to numerous archaeological sites representing cultures that flourished before and after the Inca Empire, which dominated the southern part of the continent around 500 years ago, from southern Ecuador and Colombia to central Chile.

Despite the remarkable findings at Cajamarquilla, archaeologists believe they have only scratched the surface, with just 1% of the complex excavated thus far.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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