An 800-year-old Burial of an Incan Mummy (Found in 2021)

Описание: Archaeologists in 2021 unearthed an 800-year-old mummy on the central coast of Peru, likely a young man aged 25 to 30, wrapped and bound in a funerary style typical of the Andean region. The mummy was found in an oval-shaped tomb beneath the town square of Cajamarquilla, once a significant pre-Hispanic trade hub, suggesting the individual held high status, possibly as a trader from the mountains.

Researchers are excited by the unexpected discovery and aim to study the tomb to better understand pre-Inca coastal Indigenous cultures. Grave goods such as ceramics, stone tools, vegetables, and offerings of seafood and llama meat indicate ongoing ritual activity long after the burial.

The practice of mummification was central in Andean societies, later adopted and expanded by the Inca Empire, where mummified leaders played ceremonial roles. Even after Spanish conquest, Indigenous communities continued to secretly honor these mummies, reflecting their deep cultural and spiritual importance.