Scientists have unearthed an Inca-era tomb in the heart of Peru’s capital Lima, archaeologists said on Wednesday. The cave was excavated beneath a working-class house, which is believed to house the remains of nobles wrapped in cloth, alongside pottery and fine ornaments.
Archaeologist group leader Julio Abanto told Reuters the 500-year-old tomb contains “several funeral packages” tightly wrapped in cloth.
He said those buried were likely from the elite of Riricancho society, a culture that once populated what is now known as Lima before the mighty Incas built a vast empire across South America in the 1400s.
Famous for its gilded and sophisticated buildings, such as the royal retreat at the peak of Machu Picchu, the Incas were conquered by Spanish invaders in 1532.
Hipolito Tica, the owner of the house in Lima, said in an interview that he was moved by the surprising discovery.
“It’s incredible. I really don’t have the words to describe it,” he said, expressing hope that future generations in the working-class neighborhood of San Juan de Lurigancho will better appreciate the rich history around them.
