Ancient Mummy Found Buried in Coca Leaf Ritual on Lima Hilltop
- A pre-Hispanic mummy was discovered on a hilltop in Lima, Peru's capital city,buried in a ritual including coca leaves and seashells.
- The mummy was found next to a destroyed clay temple and has not yet been dated.
- The mummy's lower body was tied with rope made of plant fibers, a pattern common in pre-Hispanic ceremonies.
- The hill where the mummy was found is a "huaca," a sacred site where spirits were thought to dwell - there are over 400 huacas in Lima.
- Mummies and other pre-Hispanic artifacts have previously been found in Lima in unusual places like large clay pots and residents' cooler bags.