Archaeologists in Lima, Peru, unearthed a mummy believed to be approximately 3,000 years old at a rubbish dump on Wednesday 14th June 2023.
The find was made by a team of archaeologists and students from San Marcos University who were assisting with the excavation.
The mummy was initially identified by the students who noticed its well-preserved hair and skull. However, before the examination of the ancient remains could take place, a significant amount of rubbish, weighing over eight tonnes, had to be cleared from the site.
According to reports from Reuters, various items associated with the mummy’s burial were also recovered, including corn, coca leaves, and seeds.
These findings provide valuable insights into the cultural practices and rituals of the time.
The mummy is believed to belong to the Manchay culture, an ancient civilisation that thrived in the vicinity of present-day Lima from around 1500 BC to 1000 BC.
This discovery adds to the growing collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts and remains found in Peru, highlighting the rich and diverse heritage of the Andean nation.
Archaeologist Miguel Aguilar expressed the significance of the find, stating that the mummy’s discovery contributes to our understanding of the Manchay culture and the ancient history of the region.
Aguilar believed that the person “had been left or offered [as a sacrifice] during the last phase of construction of this temple”.
