Human remains and pre-Hispanic artifacts unearthed in Lima's Puente Piedra district—during excavations by a domestic gas company— are believed to belong to the Chancay culture, which flourished along the central coast of what is now Peruvian territory.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the tomb dates back to around 1200 or 1300 BC, Cálidda archaeologist Jesus Bahamonde told Andina News Agency.
The expert explained that after ceramic remains were identified during excavation work on Santa Teresa Street in the El Zapallal Alto area, further efforts led to the discovery of what appears to have been a funerary chamber.
"During the excavation, we were able to identify reed roofs and logs surrounded by adobe matrices," Bahamonde indicated.
What was also found there was a funerary offering, meaning a body accompanied by four ceramic vessels and three gourd containers.
He noted that the body was wrapped in a thin textile which, due to the passage of time, temperature, and climate, is now heavily deteriorated.
The position in which the remains were found indicates that the body was buried in a flexed or seated position.
The iconography depicted on the objects found alongside the body is what links the discovery to the Chancay culture, which developed between the Fortaleza Valley, in Ancash region, and the Lurin Valley, in Lima, from around 1200 BC to AD 1470.
Pre-Hispanic cemetery
The expert noted that last June, in the same area of Puente Piedra, company workers found a body accompanied by ceramic vessels, gourd containers, and offerings that may have been food items.
Finds like this have been occurring since 2019 in areas such as this one, which are located near the Zapallal cemetery.
In that regard, "I believe we are within a pre-Hispanic cemetery," the archaeologist stated.
In the case of the most recent find, in addition to the chamber where the funerary offering was discovered, another structure of similar size and characteristics was found next to it—empty and sealed.
The site shows no signs of having been "looted," Bahamonde said.
"It is very likely that during the time this culture existed, they themselves removed the body and relocated it elsewhere," he remarked.
Next steps
Regarding what should be done with the findings and the care that may eventually need to be given to the site where they were made, the archaeologist explained that all interventions must be approved by the Ministry of Culture.
In the case of the body and objects found this week, a supervisor from the aforementioned government agency reviewed the excavations and verified the procedures carried out.
Cálidda will first be in charge of retrieving the remains and the associated artifacts, transferring them to its laboratories for further analysis and preservation.
Before that, the uncovered tombs were documented through photography, drawings, and 3D modeling.
"This will provide material that can later be used for some type of publication or by a researcher," Bahamonde stated.
"Once the objects have been studied and preserved, everything is handed over to the Ministry of Culture so they can decide whether to place them in a museum or use them for research," he added.
As for the work to install a domestic gas pipeline at the site, once the excavations are completed, it will have to follow a diversion plan, Bahamonde noted.