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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.
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