Ancient tombs with 1000-year-old remains discovered in Lima

• During the expansion of the gas pipeline in Lima, ancient tombs were discovered.
• 1000-year-old remains and ceramic artifacts were found.
• Lima has more than 400 archaeological sites from various epochs.

Workers from local services, who were conducting work on the expansion of gas networks in Peru in the capital Lima, discovered two pre-Incan tombs. One of them contained ancient remains, while in the other, they found 1000-year-old remains of humans, as well as four ceramic vessels and three artifacts made of scarlet carabao.

This discovery took place on September 1, 2025. The company Cálidda, which is engaged in the distribution of natural gas in Lima, has uncovered more than 2200 archaeological artifacts during its operations over the past two decades.

Archaeologist José Aliaga confirmed that the iconography and colors of the pottery allow for a connection to the pre-Incan culture of the Chanka, which existed from about 1000 to 1470 AD. He also noted that the remains of humans were found "buried in the first package, in a sitting position with their back to the chest".

Aliaga emphasized that Lima is unique among the capitals of Latin America, as practically every civil project here reveals archaeological finds.

The Peruvian capital, home to nearly 10 million inhabitants, has over 400 archaeological sites from the Inca period and earlier pre-Incan times, according to data from the Ministry of Culture.

Passersby stopped to look at the burial site, many of them took out their phones to take photos. One of the passersby, Flor Prieto, said: "I always thought these were paths where no one lived. But now I know that people lived here, older than the Incas... it’s so fascinating."

Peter Van Dalen, dean of the College of Archaeologists of Peru, noted that the discovery of archaeological remains in the Peruvian outskirts, including Lima, is very widespread, especially concerning burial elements, such as tombs and mummies.

Tags: Research