Archaeologists in Peru find 3,000-year-old mummy in Lima

Peruvian archaeologists reported this Wednesday (15) that they discovered a mummy approximately 3,000 years old in Lima, the most recent discovery in the Andean country dating from pre-Hispanic times. Initially, University of San Marcos students and researchers found hair and the mummy’s skull in a cotton bag during the excavation, before discovering the remains of the mummy. The mummy was likely from the Mantayan culture, which developed in the Lima valleys between 1,500 and 1,000 BC, said archaeologist Miguel Aguilar, and was associated with the construction of temples mounted in a U-shape that pointed towards the sunrise. The person “was left or offered (as a sacrifice) during the last phase of the construction of this temple,” Aguilar said. “It is approximately 3,000 years old.” Archaeologists unearthed other items buried alongside the body, including maize, coca leaves and seeds, which they believe may have been part of an offering. *Additional reporting by Anthony Marina and Alfredo Galarza Reproduction of this content is prohibited

Agência Brasil