1,000-Year-Old Tomb Found at Pachacamac in Peru Contains 80 Mummies
Posted on May 24, 2012
Archaeologists have discovered a tomb containing over eighty individuals of varying ages at the site of Pachacamac in Peru. The site, situated on the Pacific coast about 19 miles from Lima, has been dated to around 1,000 years old.
Researchers from The Ychsma Project, led by Professor Peter Eeckhout from the Universite libre de Bruxelles (ULB), found a tomb at the site located directly in front of the Temple of Pachacamac. The oval tomb contains a dozen newborn babies and infants. The heads of the baby and infant bodies are oriented towards the tomb. The main chamber of the tomb is divided into two sections separated by a mud brick wall. Remains of 70 skeletons and mummies were found inside the chambers.
The research team's group of anthropologists, led by Dr. Lawrence Owens from the University of London, have found that some of the individuals suffered mortal injuries, physical trauma or serious illness. Discovery quotes Eeckhout as saying one juvenile was killed by a blow to the skull.
The researchers have many questions about the tomb, such as could the infants have been sacrificed or could the site have been a destination sick and injured people traveled to for healing.
The site is currently under review for UNESCO World Heritage status. You can find out more about the project here. You can see some maps of the site here. Google Maps also has a satellite view of Pachacamac.