Latest news with #PieterVanDalen
Time of India
25-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
1,000-year-old well-preserved mummy with hair intact discovered in Peru
In a stunning archaeological find, a 1,000-year-old mummy has been discovered just over a metre below ground during a routine gas pipeline installation in Lima, Peru. The remains, believed to be of a boy aged 10 to 15, were remarkably well-preserved, with brown hair still visible and the body found in a formal seated posture with bent arms and legs. Wrapped in a shroud alongside ceremonial objects, the mummy is thought to belong to the pre-Inca Chancay culture. Experts say the burial offers rare insight into ancient funerary practices on Peru's coast and the natural preservation effects of desert heat. Seated mummy discovered during gas pipeline work The remarkable discovery was made by gas company workers from Calidda while laying pipes in a residential part of Lima. Following Peru's rigorous heritage regulations, archaeologists were immediately called in to investigate the site. The mummy was found just 1.2 metres beneath the surface, highlighting how shallow yet significant archaeological layers can exist beneath modern cities. This unplanned find underscores the importance of routine archaeological oversight during all construction activities in culturally rich zones. Burial aligned with Chancay cultural practices Archaeologists have identified the burial as consistent with the Chancay culture, which thrived on Peru's central coast between 1,000 and 1,470 AD. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 40세 넘고 PC만 있으면? 이 게임 완전 내 거임! Hero Wars 플레이하기 Undo The seated position, bent limbs, and wrapping in a fabric shroud are all hallmarks of Chancay funerary rituals. Intriguingly, a native huarango tree trunk was found next to the body, believed to have functioned as a symbolic tomb marker. This practice reflects the Chancay's spiritual beliefs and the significance they placed on marking sacred burial spaces within their communities. Accompanying artefacts and symbolic items Several ritual and domestic artefacts were found surrounding the mummy, including calabash gourds etched with fine artwork, and ceramic vessels decorated with geometric shapes and fishing motifs. These items likely served both spiritual and practical functions, either as offerings to aid the deceased in the afterlife or as indicators of the individual's social status or occupation. The iconography of marine life strongly suggests a connection to a coastal fishing community, common in Chancay settlements. Natural mummification in Peru's desert climate Experts attribute the mummy's exceptional state of preservation to Peru's arid coastal climate. The extreme dryness dehydrates bodies rapidly, naturally halting decomposition. According to archaeologist Pieter Van Dalen, this type of natural mummification is common in the region and explains why many mummies retain features like hair, skin, and even clothing. Unlike the complex embalming methods used in Egypt, Peruvian mummies are often preserved by their environment alone. Lima's archaeological depth Today's bustling capital of Lima is built atop layers of ancient history. Before Spanish colonisation in the 16th century, the area was inhabited by several advanced cultures. There are more than 500 documented archaeological sites scattered across the city, ranging from burial grounds and ceremonial pyramids to ancient settlements. As urban development continues, it is not unusual for modern infrastructure projects to unearth relics from Peru's distant past—sometimes just inches beneath the surface. A window into ancient lives This mummy provides more than just a glimpse into burial practices—it opens a valuable window into the daily lives, beliefs, and cultural expressions of the Chancay people. Researchers are currently analysing the artefacts and remains to better understand the social structure, diet, and health conditions of the era. Future studies may also yield DNA and isotopic data, offering further clues about the individual's origins, lifestyle, and possibly even family lineage. Such discoveries continue to deepen our understanding of Peru's pre-Columbian civilizations.
Washington Post
19-06-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
Utility workers uncover 1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy in Peru's capital
LIMA, Peru — Utility workers excavating trenches to expand the network of natural gas pipelines in Peru's capital have uncovered a pre-Inca mummy approximately 1,000 years old, barely half a meter (20 inches) from the surface. The mummy had gone unnoticed despite urban development in a district of Lima where former agricultural fields have been converted into working-class neighborhoods in recent decades. Jose Aliaga, an archaeologist with utility Cálidda, on Wednesday said the unearthed mummy, found in a seated position and covered by a bundle, still has dark brown hair. 'We found remains and evidence that there could be a pre-Hispanic burial,' Aliaga said. He said workers made the discovery last week. Lima, located in a valley irrigated by three rivers fed from the Andes, housed human civilizations thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in 1535. Now home to 10 million people, the city has more than 400 archaeological sites, most of which are intertwined with the current urban fabric. 'It is very common to find archaeological remains on the Peruvian coast, including Lima, mainly funerary elements: tombs, burials, and, among these, mummified individuals,' said Pieter Van Dalen, dean of the College of Archaeologists of Peru. Van Dalen, who is not involved in the discovery, said mummies on the Peruvian coast are usually found mummified naturally, generally in desert areas, with the skin dehydrated by the summer heat. He explained that other unearthed remains have been found to have undergone mummification procedures for cultural reasons and are usually discovered in a seated position with their hands covering their faces. Jesús Bahamonde, director of the archaeological monitoring plan of metropolitan Lima at Cálidda, said the mummy found last week would have belonged to a society of fishermen of the Chancay culture, which flourished between 1,000 and 1,470 AD.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Utility workers uncover 1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy in Peru's capital
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Utility workers excavating trenches to expand the network of natural gas pipelines in Peru's capital have uncovered a pre-Inca mummy approximately 1,000 years old, barely half a meter (20 inches) from the surface. The mummy had gone unnoticed despite urban development in a district of Lima where former agricultural fields have been converted into working-class neighborhoods in recent decades. Jose Aliaga, an archaeologist with utility Cálidda, on Wednesday said the unearthed mummy, found in a seated position and covered by a bundle, still has dark brown hair. 'We found remains and evidence that there could be a pre-Hispanic burial,' Aliaga said. He said workers made the discovery last week. Lima, located in a valley irrigated by three rivers fed from the Andes, housed human civilizations thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in 1535. Now home to 10 million people, the city has more than 400 archaeological sites, most of which are intertwined with the current urban fabric. 'It is very common to find archaeological remains on the Peruvian coast, including Lima, mainly funerary elements: tombs, burials, and, among these, mummified individuals,' said Pieter Van Dalen, dean of the College of Archaeologists of Peru. Van Dalen, who is not involved in the discovery, said mummies on the Peruvian coast are usually found mummified naturally, generally in desert areas, with the skin dehydrated by the summer heat. He explained that other unearthed remains have been found to have undergone mummification procedures for cultural reasons and are usually discovered in a seated position with their hands covering their faces. Jesús Bahamonde, director of the archaeological monitoring plan of metropolitan Lima at Cálidda, said the mummy found last week would have belonged to a society of fishermen of the Chancay culture, which flourished between 1,000 and 1,470 AD.
The Independent
18-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Utility workers uncover 1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy in Peru's capital
Utility workers excavating trenches to expand the network of natural gas pipelines in Peru's capital have uncovered a pre-Inca mummy approximately 1,000 years old, barely half a meter (20 inches) from the surface. The mummy had gone unnoticed despite urban development in a district of Lima where former agricultural fields have been converted into working-class neighborhoods in recent decades. Jose Aliaga, an archaeologist with utility Cálidda, on Wednesday said the unearthed mummy, found in a seated position and covered by a bundle, still has dark brown hair. 'We found remains and evidence that there could be a pre-Hispanic burial,' Aliaga said. He said workers made the discovery last week. Lima, located in a valley irrigated by three rivers fed from the Andes, housed human civilizations thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in 1535. Now home to 10 million people, the city has more than 400 archaeological sites, most of which are intertwined with the current urban fabric. 'It is very common to find archaeological remains on the Peruvian coast, including Lima, mainly funerary elements: tombs, burials, and, among these, mummified individuals,' said Pieter Van Dalen, dean of the College of Archaeologists of Peru. Van Dalen, who is not involved in the discovery, said mummies on the Peruvian coast are usually found mummified naturally, generally in desert areas, with the skin dehydrated by the summer heat. He explained that other unearthed remains have been found to have undergone mummification procedures for cultural reasons and are usually discovered in a seated position with their hands covering their faces. Jesús Bahamonde, director of the archaeological monitoring plan of metropolitan Lima at Cálidda, said the mummy found last week would have belonged to a society of fishermen of the Chancay culture, which flourished between 1,000 and 1,470 AD.
Associated Press
18-06-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Utility workers uncover 1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy in Peru's capital
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Utility workers excavating trenches to expand the network of natural gas pipelines in Peru's capital have uncovered a pre-Inca mummy approximately 1,000 years old, barely half a meter (20 inches) from the surface. The mummy had gone unnoticed despite urban development in a district of Lima where former agricultural fields have been converted into working-class neighborhoods in recent decades. Jose Aliaga, an archaeologist with utility Cálidda, on Wednesday said the unearthed mummy, found in a seated position and covered by a bundle, still has dark brown hair. 'We found remains and evidence that there could be a pre-Hispanic burial,' Aliaga said. He said workers made the discovery last week. Lima, located in a valley irrigated by three rivers fed from the Andes, housed human civilizations thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in 1535. Now home to 10 million people, the city has more than 400 archaeological sites, most of which are intertwined with the current urban fabric. 'It is very common to find archaeological remains on the Peruvian coast, including Lima, mainly funerary elements: tombs, burials, and, among these, mummified individuals,' said Pieter Van Dalen, dean of the College of Archaeologists of Peru. Van Dalen, who is not involved in the discovery, said mummies on the Peruvian coast are usually found mummified naturally, generally in desert areas, with the skin dehydrated by the summer heat. He explained that other unearthed remains have been found to have undergone mummification procedures for cultural reasons and are usually discovered in a seated position with their hands covering their faces. Jesús Bahamonde, director of the archaeological monitoring plan of metropolitan Lima at Cálidda, said the mummy found last week would have belonged to a society of fishermen of the Chancay culture, which flourished between 1,000 and 1,470 AD.
