Lima (EFE).- At least five burials dating from 800 to 2,000 years ago have been uncovered during gas pipeline expansion works in Lima, revealing new evidence of the ancient cultures that once flourished in the Peruvian capital.
The remains were found just beneath street level in the upscale Santiago de Surco district, located southwest of the city, by workers of natural gas distribution, Cálidda.
Archaeologists identified the tombs as belonging to the Lima and Ychsma cultures, which inhabited the valleys where today’s metropolis of nearly 11 million residents stands.
Multiple burials identified
Jesús Bahamonde, director of the Archaeological Monitoring Plan for Cálidda in metropolitan Lima and Callao, said the discoveries include two separate burial contexts, both accompanied by pottery, vessels, and imported shells.
The first site, attributed to the Lima culture (100–650 AD), contains the remains of one adult and two children, along with at least eight ceramic pieces.
The graves were uncovered just 20 centimeters (approximately 8 inches) below the road surface.
“It is a multiple funerary context, and we are still excavating as there may be additional remains,” Bahamonde said, noting archaeologists suspect the presence of a third body.
A few meters (feet) away, another tomb contained two adults buried in a typical fetal position, wrapped in textile bundles, and identified as belonging to the Ychsma or Pachacámac culture (1100-1469 AD).
Valuable offerings
Both individuals were found with ceramic vessels and spondylus shells, a prized marine mollusk imported from Ecuador by ancient traders.
These shells were considered symbols of status and spirituality, reserved for high-ranking individuals,” Bahamonde explained.
The findings highlight the significance of long-distance trade networks in pre-Hispanic societies along the Peruvian coast.
According to Bahamonde, all archaeological finds are immediately reported to the Ministry of Culture, which oversees and authorizes further excavations.
Once recovered, the often-fragmented remains are sent to laboratories for conservation, analysis, and research.
“After that, we share the results through itinerant or permanent exhibitions, or on our website,” he added.
Cálidda, which has been expanding Lima’s gas network for years, has reported more than 2,200 archaeological finds across the capital’s 43 districts, some dating back as far as 3,000 years.
“In Lima, this is common,” Bahamonde said. “We live in a city with more than 10,000 years of continuous occupation. Every time we open a street, there is a high probability of finding archaeological remains.” EFE
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