The extremely well-preserved mummy was found at the archaeological site of Cajamarquilla, about 24 kilometers from Lima. According to archaeologist Van Dalen Luna of San Marcos University, the mummy is likely from the Chaclla civilization that flourished in the Andes around Lima between 800 and 1,200 years ago.

“The main characteristic of the mummy is that the entire body was wrapped in ropes with both hands covering the face. This was part of a local funeral ritual. Carbon dating will give a more accurate date,” Luna said.

Although the team has not been able to determine the gender of the mummy, it is likely that it was an adult male. The mummy was found in an underground tomb in a fetal position. The ropes were used to keep the mummy in a bent position for thousands of years. The mummy was buried with many offerings such as pottery, stone tools and a water jar containing traces of vegetables.

The site of Cajamarquilla lies on a trade route that linked the high Andean mountains with coastal cities. It became an important commercial center between 1000 and 1470. The prosperity of the land is reflected in its large public buildings, avenues, and plazas.

Both the fetal position and the rope wrapping were common burial practices among pre-Hispanic people in the high Andes. The mummies thus suggest that Cajamarquilla was inhabited not only by people from the coastal areas but also by people of Andean origin. It is possible that Cajamarquilla’s role as a commercial center connecting the sea and the mountains attracted people from the Andes to settle there.