On the outskirts of Lima, a well-preserved mummy of a teenage child, complete with skin fragments and tufts of hair, has been discovered by an excavation team, as reported on Tuesday. The youngster, who would have been about 12 or 13, was found in a grave around two meters deep at the Cajamarquilla archaeological site.
Cajamarquilla was built around 200 BC and is believed to have housed up to 20,000 people. Due to the high salt content in the area's sand, the child's remains were naturally mummified, and bits of skin, hair, and teeth were discovered.
The excavation team from the University of San Marcos also found a stone weapon, a copper needle, a plate, and remnants of corn, chili, and textiles next to the mummy. In February 2022, the Cajamarquilla site revealed 20 mummies, including eight children.