Remains of a man likely sacrificed 1,400 years ago discovered in Lima's upscale district
The remains were discovered in a canal near an ancient pyramid at the Huaca Pucllana site, a former ceremonial center of the Lima culture. The body's position and the site's structure suggest he was buried as part of a ritual ceremony.
Skeletal remains of an adult were uncovered during excavations in Lima, the capital of Peru. Experts estimate the individual was a man who may have been sacrificed during a ritual ceremony at the Huaca Pucllana archaeological site — located in the heart of the Miraflores district on the Pacific coast — around 650 AD, approximately 1,400 years ago.
According to the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, the findings correspond to the Lima culture, which flourished in the region long before the rise of the Inca Empire. The discovery provides new insights into ritual customs performed during the pre-Hispanic occupation of the site, which features a giant 25-meter-high mud-brick pyramid at its center.
The individual was found lying along a canal on his left side, with his skull facing west toward the pyramid and the Pacific Ocean. This positioning suggests an intentional burial as part of contemporary rituals. Further analysis of the bones will allow for a more precise determination of the individual's sex and age at the time of death, as well as the identification of pathological findings that will shed light on his health status.
One of the most significant aspects of this discovery is the architecture of the ritual well associated with the canal. Unlike other structures at Huaca Pucllana, which are characterized by the use of small mud bricks, these were built from rounded stones. This construction technique is not standard for the site and highlights the diversity of architectural solutions and ritual practices of the Lima culture.
"The bones will help in a better and deeper understanding not only of the circumstances of this person's death but also of the rituals that were practiced during the Lima culture period," said Gladys Paz-Flores, the archaeologist who led the excavation.
The Lima culture flourished between the 1st and 7th centuries AD along the arid central coast of Peru. Huaca Pucllana was one of the most important ceremonial and administrative centers of this civilization, which disappeared centuries before Spanish conquistadors founded Lima in 1535. Today, the ancient pyramid is surrounded by parks and the upscale residential districts of Miraflores and San Isidro. The site is open to visitors, who can also enjoy traditional dishes like ceviche and alpaca meat at the on-site restaurant.
