Uncovering ancient mummies: A discovery in Peru

​Alongside the children's, the remains of an adult were also discovered near a small hill, which might have led to an ancient temple estimated to be around 3,500 years old. (Reuters photo)

The remains found in Huaca La Florida archaeological site belong to the pre-Inca Ychsma culture that inhabited the central coast of Peru from approximately 900 to 1450 AD, according to archaeologists. (Reuters photo)

​Luis Takuda, leading the Huaca La Florida research project, detailed that three of the mummies were enveloped in textiles, while the remaining two were skeletons, intriguingly retaining hair on their skulls. He said, "This whole area is a very important ceremonial chamber. "The people who lived here during the Ychsma period still considered it a sacred space and therefore buried their dead here." (AP photo)

The site of the recent discovery in Peru is near residential areas and a field utilized by a professional soccer team. Lima, renowned for its sacred sites or huacas, has around 400 such locations, as reported by the Ministry of Culture. (Reuters photo)

The hill where the mummies were found was initially covered in trash and debris and required extensive clearing by excavators. The expansion of Lima's capital has increasingly encroached upon these ancient huacas, often leading to their destruction or isolation. (AP photo)

​Archaeologist Hector Walde, who did not participate in this excavation, explained that the discovered burials were typical in a sacred area and did not involve human sacrifices. Although Lima is home to numerous archaeological sites in Peru, most of them are situated beyond the city limits, such as in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. (Reuters photo)