Archaeologists have discovered an ancient mass grave containing around 25 virtually intact pre-Columbian skeletons in the citadel of Chan Chan in northern Peru.
Handout photo released by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture showing human remains discovered in the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex, Peru on November 11, 2021.
Archaeologists have discovered an ancient mass grave containing around 25 virtually intact pre-Columbian skeletons, mostly of women and children, in Chan Chan Citadel in northern Peru, a team member said Nov. 11, 2021. They also found dozens of ceramics and objects such as needles used for sewing, archaeologist Jorge Meneses told AFP.
A citadel that flourished between the years 900 and 1450
The grave was discovered about three weeks ago in Chan Chan, about 500 kilometers north of the capital Lima. Chan Chan - meaning "shining sun " in the Chimu language - was a citadel of the Chimu culture, which flourished between the years 900 and 1450 on the northern coast of Peru before falling into the hands of the Incas. The citadel was built on an area of approximately 20 square kilometers for up to 30,000 citizens at its peak and had ten fortified palaces.
Pre-Columbian remains and artifacts are frequently discovered in Peru. Last month, workers laying gas pipes on a street in Lima came across the remains of a tomb that included 2,000-year-old ceramic burial vessels.