Archaeologists have unearthed a mummified body dating back approximately 1,000 years at the Cajamarquilla site in Peru. Researchers found the mummy in a fetal position and bound with ropes.
The mummy was found in a bound position.
At the time the mummy was buried, Cajamarquilla was a prosperous city located on the right bank of the Rímac River, about 25 kilometers from the coast, where people from coastal and mountainous regions of Peru came to trade.
Researchers indicated that over 10,000 people may have lived in this city at that time.
This mummy was well-preserved in an underground tomb with a seven-step staircase leading down. It is a male mummy aged between 18 and 22 at the time of death. The mummy was wrapped in ropes, a common practice at that time for those living in the mountainous areas near Cajamarquilla.
“The remains of a dog and an Andean guinea pig were found next to the mummy, along with corn and remnants of other vegetables,” said Pieter Van Dalen Luna, an archaeology professor at the National University of San Marcos and the leader of the research team.
Researchers also noted that this man died approximately 1,200 years ago and may have been the son of a wealthy merchant.
Van Dalen added: “After the body was placed in the tomb, the descendants of this individual continued to visit for many years, leaving food and offerings there, including shellfish.”
The mummy is currently on display at the museum of the National University of San Marcos. Analysis of the mummy is ongoing.
