Archaeologists find mummy of young priestess from 300-450 AD in Peru

Lima (Peru), November 9 (ANI): An archaeological excavation has uncovered the mummy of a young priestess, a member of the elite, with several precious items dating from the period of 300-450 AD in Cahuachi, Peru.

According to a report in Travel Culture History News, the mummy was found inside a series of rooms between the Great Pyramid and what is known as the Orange Pyramid.

The building would have formed a small temple that had 4 columns holding up its roof.

Giuseppe Orefici, director of the Nasca Project, said that the archaeologists had to remove a layer or reeds and ropes that covered the burial.

The body appeared to have been painted and found with an additional vertebra added.

She also had slightly deformed forearms, apparently something self-inflicted by having the arms extended vertically for long periods of time - perhaps as a result of a praying.

She was wrapped in finely woven fabric that had patterns of orcas (killer whales) found in the southern pacific and contained obsidian arrow heads.

But the most impressive items are the jewels found in the bundle.

Of these one in particular stands out; a spectacular golden nose ring bathed in silver, which was found on her nose when uncovered.

Also found were necklaces and bracelets of precious spondylus shells among other precious items.

Although there is much to discover about the supposed priestess, researchers have begun the journey decipher the meaning of the burial objects.

The find has been taken to the city of Nazca where it is being studied by anthropologist and physicist Andrea Drusini from the University of Padua. (ANI)