Archaeologists unearth colonial-era mummies in Peru

STORY: Location: Lima, Peru

Archaeologists have unearthed

eight centuries-old mummies

The discovery points to the

existence of a colonial-era cemetery

[Lucenida Carrion, Archaeologist]

“We have found eight colonial-era individuals buried; they are added to the previous ones found in August. Three individuals, one of them carrying a cross in his hand. This finding backs our hypothesis that this could be a cemetery from the colonial period, at the time of conversion to Christianity or Catholicism."

The mummies were found in unusual positions and with a mix of textiles

that point to the influence of Spanish colonials

Spain's conquest of Peru's Inca empire

began in 1532 and lasted four decades