During an archaeological excavation at a garbage dump in the capital city of Lima, Peru, researchers have discovered a mummy estimated to be approximately 3,000 years old.

The excavation is being carried out by archaeologists alongside students from San Marcos University, who were the first to spot the mummy’s hair and skull, the BBC has reported.

Before the meticulous search for historical remains began, the team had already removed a staggering eight tonnes of waste from the site.

The mummy is believed to belong to the Manchay culture, which thrived in the region surrounding modern-day Lima from approximately 1500BC to 1000BC.

The Manchay people were renowned for constructing U-shaped temples that were aligned with the direction of the rising sun.

According to archaeologist Miguel Aguilar, the mummy was placed in a tomb located at the heart of one such U-shaped temple.

The body was laid out flat, a distinctive characteristic of the Manchay culture during the “formative era” approximately 3,000 years ago.

The mummy was found wrapped in fabric made from cotton and vegetable fibers, highlighting the cultural practices of that time.

Written by staff