Archaeologists in Lima, Peru, have unveiled skeletal remains believed to be those of an adult sacrificed as part of a ritual during the Lima culture's era. The discovery was made near Huaca Pucllana, an ancient adobe pyramid in the nation's capital.
Gladys Paz, the archaeologist who led the excavation, stated that the bones will provide valuable insights into the rituals of the Lima culture and help reconstruct ceremonies performed hundreds of years ago. The remains were found buried inside a canal, positioned on their left flank with the skull oriented towards the pyramid and the Pacific Ocean.
The Lima culture thrived along Peru's central coast between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, predating the Inca Empire by approximately 700 years. Huaca Pucllana served as a significant ceremonial and administrative hub for this civilization, which had vanished before the Spanish founded Lima in 1535.
Today, the pyramid is situated in a district surrounded by parks and modern buildings. Huaca Pucllana is accessible to tourists and features a restaurant. Peru has over 400 known archaeological sites within its metropolitan Lima area. Experts note that the discovery of tombs, mummified remains, and other burial artifacts is common along Peru's coast, with such findings often occurring during construction projects, such as digging canals for utility installations.