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In Peru, archaeologists have discovered a 600-year-old burial complex containing 38 bodies, including a skeleton whose unusual position has raised questions about the possibility of human sacrifice.
The tombs were discovered in Chan Chan, an ancient pre-Inca city near Trujillo, Peru, about 350 miles north of Lima.
Peru’s Culture Ministry announced the discovery earlier this fall, saying the nearly intact Chimú burial site had remained hidden for more than six centuries.
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Images shared with Fox News Digital by Culture Ministry officials show an assortment of ancient ceramic vessels, including decorated jugs and pottery with carved figures.
Other photos offer an aerial view of the burial complex, revealing its network of rooms, walls and staircases.
Peruvian archaeologists have discovered a 600-year-old burial complex containing 38 bodies in the ancient pre-Inca city of Chan Chan. (Ministry of Culture)
The burial complex contained three chambers, including a central chamber containing an individual surrounded by objects made from shells and metal, according to the Ministry of Culture.
Another chamber contained weapons and metal emblems, while a third contained 20 bodies. Archaeologists reported discovering 38 individuals throughout the site.
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One skeleton was notable for being buried fully extended, unlike typical Chimú burials, in which bodies were placed in a hunched or seated position.
“This unusual feature raises new questions about the circumstances of the individual’s death and has led researchers to consider several hypotheses, including the possibility of a sacrificial ritual or an extreme difference in social status compared to other individuals buried in the same space,” the ministry said in a statement translated from Spanish.
The burial complex was discovered at Chan Chan, near Trujillo, Peru, about 350 miles north of the capital, Lima. (Ministry of Culture)
Grave goods included metal headdresses, earrings, necklaces, carved wooden boxes, and ceremonial items made of shell and quartz.
Some of those buried also had red pigment on their heads, which authorities said was “used exclusively in high-ranking burials in Andean societies.”
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Officials added that fragile remains must be carefully documented before they can be removed from the site.
“Because skeletal and organic remains are extremely fragile after centuries of deterioration caused by time and coastal humidity, scientific protocols require that no evidence be removed without first conducting a thorough examination and documentation of its original context,” the statement said.
The ancient burial complex included chambers, walls and staircases that researchers are documenting before removing fragile remains and artifacts. (Ministry of Culture)
Researchers will first take hundreds of photographs to create a detailed 3D model of the burial site before carefully removing the remains and artifacts by hand.
Jorge Meneses, an archaeologist at the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, said in a statement that the discovery provides a rare opportunity to study ancient Chimú burials that have remained largely intact.
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“What was known about the tombs of the Chimú elite before this discovery came from burial platforms that had been looted and destroyed since colonial times, with disturbed and incomplete archaeological contexts and valuable objects on display in collections and museums,” Meneses said.
“Now archaeologists have the opportunity to study individuals and artifacts exactly as they were placed inside this platform almost 600 years ago,” he added.
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The Ministry of Culture plans to publish its full findings in an upcoming book, offering a deeper insight into the ancient Chimú civilization and its burial practices.
Peru, a country rich in ancient history, has yielded numerous archaeological discoveries in recent years.
Ancient ceramic vessels, including decorated jugs and pottery with carved figures, seen above, were among the artifacts documented by Peruvian authorities. (Ministry of Culture)
Last summer, utility workers digging a natural gas pipeline in Lima, Peru, discovered a well-preserved 1,000-year-old female mummy buried just 20 inches below the surface.
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In August 2025, utility workers digging trenches for a natural gas project in Lima, Peru, discovered two 1,000-year-old tombs in a single day.
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