Peruvian mummy found

A joint Japanese-Peruvian archaeological mission has uncovered the remains of a woman who they believe was killed as a sacrifice, almost 3,000 years ago in Peru.

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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

tıklayın Sözcükleri dinleyin

how well preserved the remains were

cesedin çok az hasar görmüş ya da çürümüş olması

pendants and ceramics

takılarla kilden yapılmış çömlek, fincan gibi küçük nesneler

archaeologists

arkeologlar

seashells
deniz kabukları

the coast

sahil, kıyı

the circumstances of her death

ölüm nedeni

the foetal position

cenin pozisyonu, yani bir bebeğin anne karnındaki pozisyonu

bound by a cord

bir iple bağlı olmak

mummified bodies

bedenin mumyalanması

contemporary

çağdaş