Peruvian mummy that's at least 800 years old found by archeologists in Lima
A mummy estimated to be between 800 and 1,200 years old has been unearthed by archeologists in Peru, at a site near the country's capital city of Lima. Researchers from the National University of San Marcos found the preserved body underground in the middle of a town square at the archeological site of Cajamarquilla, around 25 kilometers inland from Lima.
The mummy was tied with ropes and with its hands covering its face, in what researchers say is a southern Peruvian funeral custom. The age of the mummy means it dates back to pre-Hispanic times, and even precedes the Inca civilization who established Peru's best-known citadel of Machu Picchu in the 15th century.
Pieter Van Dalen Luna, one of the archeologists who led the excavation, told CNN the mummy was most likely a young man between 25 and 30 years old who had come from the mountains to Cajamarquilla, formerly a bustling commercial center in the pre-Columbian era.
The circumstances of the discovery led the researchers to conclude this was no ordinary citizen, but likely an important person in contemporary society. "The fact of finding a mummy with these characteristics in the middle of the plaza makes it clear that this is someone of high status," Van Dalen Luna said, adding that among other options, the person in question could have been a leading trader.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/28/americas/peru-mummy-discovery-archeology-funeral-scn-scli-intl/index.html
