LIMA — Gas workers installing pipelines in Lima’s Puente Piedra district uncovered a 1,000-year-old child mummy, believed to belong to the pre-Inca Chancay culture.

The boy, aged around 10 to 15, was found buried 1.2 meters underground in a seated position, wrapped in a shroud alongside calabash gourds and ceramic items like plates and bottles bearing geometric and fisherman designs.

A huarango tree trunk, used as a tomb marker, was found nearby. Archaeologists say the burial dates between 1000 and 1200 AD.

In Peru, utility work requires archaeological oversight due to the country’s rich heritage. Since 2004, Calidda has reported over 2,200 archaeological discoveries. Lima alone hosts more than 500 heritage sites.