Misi arkelogi Jepang-Peru telah menemukan kerangka mumi wanita yang mereka yakini dibunuh sebagai korban 3.000 tahun silam.

Dengar ceritanya

At close to 3,000 years old, scientists were amazed at how well preserved the remains were. The woman, named the 'Lady of Pacopampa' after the site in the northern highlands where she was found, stood at just over one and a half metres tall.

She was discovered surrounded by gold necklaces, pendants and ceramics. Archaeologists were also surprised to find jewellery made from seashells as the site where she was found in the Andean Cajamarca region is several hundred miles from the coast and there was little previous evidence of trade between the two areas.

Although the circumstances of her death are still unclear, the Japanese researcher leading the dig, Yuji Seki, said her bones were found in the foetal position with the legs bound by a cord. He added that she was between 30 and 40 years old when she died, considerably older than most mummified bodies found in Peru.

Archaeologists believe the Pacopampa area where she was found was an important ceremonial site, contemporary with the better-known Chavin and Cupisnique cultures.

Dan Collyns, BBC News, Lima

Dengar kata-katanya

how well preserved the remains were
seberapa utuh mayat atau jasad saat ditemukan, seberapa sedikit bagian jasd yang rusak atau hancur

pendants and ceramics
kalung khusus (yang digantungi suatu benda) dan barang-barang seperti wadah air, mangkuk, hiasa, dsb) dari bahan tanah liar yang dipanaskan

archaeologists
orang yang meneliti banguna, makam-makam, benda-benda, dsb peninggalan orang-orang dari masa lalu

seashells
cangkang, kerang satwa kecil laut yang sering ditemukan tergeletak di pantai

the coast
pesisir, tanah di dekat laut

the circumstances of her death
bagaimana dan mengapa dia meninggal

the foetal position
dalam posisi seperti janin dalam kandungan

bound by a cord
diikat dengan tambang

mummified bodies
jasad yang diawetkan (agar tidak membusuk atau terurai) dengan membubuhkan minyak dan bahan khusus lain dan dibungkus dengan kain

contemporary
sezaman, ada pada saat yang sama (di sini, peradaban Chavin dan Cupisnique)