In a modern neighborhood in Lima, Peru, archaeologists have uncovered a mummy dating back approximately 1,000 years. This remarkable discovery took place at the Huaca Pucllana monument, an 82-foot tall clay pyramid that serves as both a ceremonial site and archaeological treasure trove. The mummy was found in a seated position with bent legs, accompanied by well-preserved brown hair and an intact jaw, although the individual’s sex remains undetermined, as reported by head archaeologist Mirella Ganoza to Reuters.

Huaca Pucllana, originally built by the Ychsma people around 500 CE, is located in Lima’s Miraflores district and is believed to have served as a cemetery for the Ychsma civilization. The Ychsma were known for constructing numerous pyramids, predating even the pyramids of Egypt by approximately 4,000 years. This site and others like it in Lima have provided archaeologists with valuable insights into the cultural practices, health conditions, and social structures of ancient Peruvian civilizations.

Earlier this year, another significant discovery was made near Lima at the Cajamarquilla archaeological site, where a 1,000-year-old mummy believed to be from the Ychsma culture was found buried alongside other individuals, possibly victims of human sacrifice. These findings underscore the rich archaeological heritage of Peru, stretching back millennia before the Inca empire’s rise and the arrival of Spanish colonizers in the early 16th century.