'With Rich Hair Intact'... Millennium-Old Mummy Excavated in Lima, Peru

Around 400 Archaeological Sites Distributed in Downtown Lima
Mummy Estimated to Be 3,000 Years Old Found in June

A human mummy estimated to have lived 1,000 years ago was excavated in the heart of Lima, the capital of Peru.

On the 7th (local time), according to Peru's Andina News Agency and public broadcaster TV Peru, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture announced that a mummy buried along with ceramic bowls and textiles was confirmed at the Huaca Pucllana archaeological site in Miraflores, one of the bustling areas of Lima.

The skeletal remains of the discovered mummy appeared to be sitting with its legs drawn up to the torso. The facial jawbone was relatively intact, and notably, the brown hair was abundant, almost as if wearing a wig.
[Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]

The skeletal remains of the discovered mummy appeared to be sitting with its legs drawn up to the torso. The facial jawbone was relatively intact, and notably, the brown hair was abundant, looking as if it were wearing a wig. The gender of the mummy has not yet been identified.

Mireya Ganosa, the archaeologist leading the excavation, told local media, "It seems to be a resident of the 'Ichma' period, which developed civilization on the central coast before the Incas settled in this area," adding, "It is estimated to be a person who lived 1,000 years ago."

Andina News Agency analyzed that the discovery is expected by academia to greatly aid research on the 'Ichma' civilization.

Archaeological site near a residential area in Lima, Peru, where the remains of a 1,000-year-old mummy were discovered
[Photo by Reuters·Yonhap News]

Huaca Pucllana in Lima, a city with a population of 8 million, is a massive pyramid site estimated to have been built around 500 AD. As the city developed, upscale residential areas have grown around it. There are over 400 ancient sites inside and outside Lima.

In June, archaeologists also excavated a mummy estimated to be 3,000 years old in Lima.

Meanwhile, since the 1980s, the Peruvian government and archaeologists have been conducting site surveys and preservation work. However, due to long-term neglect, some sites have been found in a damaged state.