Teenage mummy from the pre-Incan era that was discovered in Peru

On the outskirts of Lima, a pre-Incan mummy that was between 800 and 1,200 years old and in perfect condition was found.

A pre-Incan mummy that was between 800 and 1,200 years old was found in great condition in a prehistoric mud city on the outskirts of Lima, according to the team leader of the dig on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

The remains of a pre-Inca individual unearthed at the Cajamarquilla archaeological complex in Cajamarquilla, Peru. | HANDOUT / ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE SAN MARCOS UNIVERSITY / AFP

The remains belong to a youngster, whose biological sex is presently unknown, who was probably between the ages of 12 and 13 and stood about 1 m 30 cm tall.

According to Yomira Huamán, director of the Cajamarquilla Archaeological Project, “We have discovered the mummy of an adolescent between 800 and 1,200 years old in a two-meter-deep funerary structure at the archaeological site of Cajamarquilla.”

A huge mud rock covered the burial structure.

The youngster was most likely a member of the Ichma tribe, which inhabited the area around 900 years ago before being incorporated into the Inca Empire in the fifteenth century.

Huamán asserts that the area's abrasive sand, which contains a lot of salt, caused a natural mummification process that preserved the skin's remnants on the arms, forearms, and both legs. Despite being separated from the body, the head still has hair, and the jaw still has some of the teeth visible.

According to the researcher directing the team of archaeologists from the University of San Marcos, “the finding is very important due to its state of conservation.”

A boleadora ("stone weapon"), a mate (plate), a copper needle, textile remnants, corn, and chili peppers were discovered next to the mummy.

Eight children were among the 20 mummies that archaeologists discovered in Cajamarquilla in February 2022.

In the urban center of Cajamarquilla, various tasks related to the administrative, domestic, and residential sectors were carried out.

An estimated 10,000–20,000 people could have lived there on a 167 hectare area, making it a pre-Hispanic mud metropolis.

It was constructed in 200 BC, and people continued to live there until the year 1500.

The city, one of the largest archaeological complexes in the Peruvian capital, is situated 24 kilometers to the east of Lima.