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The Herald Scotland
11-07-2025
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
See photos of 1,000-year-old-mummy discovered in Peru
Archaeologists believe the well-preserved remains belonged to an adolescent, aged between 10 and 15 years old, of the pre-Inca Chancay culture, Calidda said in a Facebook post. Dark hair and pieces of skin were still attached to the body, which Jesus Bahamonde, archaeologist and scientific coordinator for Calidda, told AP and the Agence France-Presse was likely buried between 1000 and 1200 CE. 'Great stories aren't just told' Because discoveries of this nature are common in Peru, utility companies are generally required to have archaeologists on staff to oversee digs. "Great stories aren't just told: they're lived, discovered, and shared," Bahamonde said in a LinkedIn post, translated from Spanish, about the discovery. "This is a new story added to the more than 2,200 archaeological remains discovered along our path. Millennia-old testimonies that lie beneath our streets, waiting to be interpreted with respect and returned to the collective memory." The Chancay culture flourished from around 1000 to 1470 CE, before later being absorbed into the Inca Empire, according to the University of Missouri's Museum of Art and Archaeology. The coastal Chancay civilization is recognized by archaeologists for its people's accomplishments in producing distinct ceramics and textiles.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
Gas workers in Peru stumble across 1,000-year-old mummy: See photos
The mummy, discovered by utility workers, is believed to have belonged to an adolescent from a pre-Inca culture. Peruvian workers clearing the way for new gas pipes stumbled across a mummy that archaeologists have since determined to be approximately 1,000 years old. The mummified remains were discovered not even two feet beneath the Earth's surface in Peru's capital of Lima. reported the Associated Press. Workers for the gas company Cálidda initially unearthed a makeshift tomb maker fashioned from the trunk of a huarango tree in June, under which a child-sized body was found sitting upright, wrapped in cloth and surrounded by ceramics, rope and food items. Archaeologists believe the well-preserved remains belonged to an adolescent, aged between 10 and 15 years old, of the pre-Inca Chancay culture, Cálidda said in a Facebook post. Dark hair and pieces of skin were still attached to the body, which Jesus Bahamonde, archaeologist and scientific coordinator for Cálidda, told AP and the Agence France-Presse was likely buried between 1000 and 1200 CE. 'Great stories aren't just told' Because discoveries of this nature are common in Peru, utility companies are generally required to have archaeologists on staff to oversee digs. "Great stories aren't just told: they're lived, discovered, and shared," Bahamonde said in a LinkedIn post, translated from Spanish, about the discovery. "This is a new story added to the more than 2,200 archaeological remains discovered along our path. Millennia-old testimonies that lie beneath our streets, waiting to be interpreted with respect and returned to the collective memory." The Chancay culture flourished from around 1000 to 1470 CE, before later being absorbed into the Inca Empire, according to the University of Missouri's Museum of Art and Archaeology. The coastal Chancay civilization is recognized by archaeologists for its people's accomplishments in producing distinct ceramics and textiles.
New York Post
28-06-2025
- Science
- New York Post
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 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. Advertisement 4 An ancient mummy covered in a bundle and found in a seated position in the ground on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on June 18, 2025. AP '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. Advertisement 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. 4 Archaeologist Jose Aliaga excavates the ancient mummy from the dirt it had sat in for thousands of years. AP Advertisement 4 People gather to look at the ancient discovery. AP 4 The mummy is seen through protective netting set up around the excavation area. AP 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.
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.
Scottish Sun
23-06-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Haunting 1,000-year-old mummy found ‘seated with bent arms' and brown hair still visible just INCHES below ground
The desert heat dehydrates the bodies, naturally mummifying the bodies and leaving them fairly well preserved DEAD STRANGE Haunting 1,000-year-old mummy found 'seated with bent arms' and brown hair still visible just INCHES below ground Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GAS workers have discovered a 1,000-year-old mummy just a metre below the surface of the Earth during a routine pipe installation in Peru. The remains, believed to be a boy aged between 10 and 15-years-old, have been uncovered in surprisingly good condition, with some of his brown hair still intact. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Archaeologist Jose Aliaga excavates an ancient mummy Credit: AP 6 The remains are from the pre-Inca Chancay culture Credit: AFP 6 The body was wrapped in a shroud, which contained calabash gourds Credit: AP The burial was formal, with the trunk of a native huarango tree found next to the bound remains serving "as a tomb marker in the past," according to archaeologist Jesus Bahamonde, a scientific coordinator of Calidda gas company. The ancient boy's remains were discovered "in a sitting position, with the arms and legs bent," according to Bahamonde. "The burial and the objects correspond to a style that developed between 1000 and 1200 [AD]," he added. The body was found just 1.2metres beneath the Earth in Lima, Peru's capital, while the wooden tomb marker was found just a depth of 50cm (20 inches). READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY TAT'S AMAZING Mysterious mummy with face tattoos STILL visible after 800 years found They were wrapped in a shroud, which contained calabash gourds - a vegetable that was not only eaten but etched with intricate art in ancient Peru. Calabash gourds are used for medicinal purposes in Peru, and throughout Bolivia and Ecuador today. Though it's unclear what the significance of the vegetable was at the time. Ceramic objects, including plates, bottles and jugs decorated with geometric figures and figures of fishermen, were also found next to the mummy. The mummy, found last week, belonged to a society of fishermen of the Chancay culture, which flourished between 1,000 and 1,470 AD, according to Jesús Bahamonde, director of the archaeological monitoring plan of metropolitan Lima at Cálidda. Despite not being covered by much ground, the mummy had gone unnoticed for a millennia - even with all of the urban development in the area. Dozens of medieval skeletons in mysterious stone coffins unearthed by man renovating his cellar Lima, a city home to 10million people, housed human civilisations for thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in Peru in 1535. As a result, there are more than 500 archaeological sites sprawled across the coastal city, including dozens of ancient cemeteries. In Peru, utility companies must hire archaeologists when drilling because of the possibility of stumbling upon ancient treasures and heritage sites. "It is very common to find archaeological remains on the Peruvian coast, including Lima, mainly funerary elements: tombs, burials, and, among these, mummified individuals," Pieter Van Dalen, dean of the College of Archaeologists of Peru, told the Associated Press. The desert heat dehydrates the bodies, naturally mummifying the bodies and leaving them fairly well preserved, according to Van Dalen, who was not involved in the discovery. 6 The body was found just 1.2metres beneath the Earth in Lima, Peru's capital, while the wooden tomb marker was found just a depth of 50cm (20 inches) Credit: AFP 6 Ceramic objects, including plates, bottles and jugs decorated with geometric figures and figures of fishermen, were also found next to the mummy Credit: AFP
