Pre-Incan Tomb Discovered by Utility Workers Preparing Gas Networks in Lima Likely Belonged to Chancay Culture

Lima, Peru, now has another discovery added to its name. This time, it is two pre-Incan tombs along with certain ancient items in the district of Puente Piedra, according to Phys. Out of the two tombs, one actually held the remains of the buried individual. Further examinations indicated that the finds could be connected to the pre-Incan Chancay culture. During the excavation, several passersby stopped to get a glimpse of the discoveries. Several also took out their phones to capture the whole process. Some were stunned by the finding, as they believed that the area was uninhabited in the past. The tombs clearly paint a different picture. 

Pre-Incan Tombs at the Site

The discovery unfolded on July 31, 2025, when utility workers from Cálidda were working in the outskirt area to expand an underground gas network, according to CBS News. Both the pre-Incan tombs were determined to be more than 1,000 years old through analysis. The individuals inside one of the tombs were placed along with three pumpkin shell artifacts and four clay vessels. It was these vessels that provided researchers with clues that the individual may be from the Chancay culture. This culture was set up in Rimac, Lurin, Chillon, Chancay, and the central coast of present-day Peru, as stated by The Botijo News. Their clay vessels were designed with a particular methodology. The items carried a rough texture with designs following a "Black over White" style.

Link with Chancay

The design on the vessels, along with the use of red, white, and black colors, indicated to experts that the discoveries might belong to the Chancay culture. This ancient culture was reportedly 1,000 to 1,470 years old. Seeing the buried individual, researchers believe that he was buried in a sitting position, with his legs placed against his chest. The person also seemed to have been wrapped in what appears to be a torn bundle. Archaeologists are still in the process of cleaning these remains, and hopefully, more insights will follow. 

Lima: A Storehouse of Archaeological Finds

Archaeologist José Aliaga shared that Lima is a storehouse of archaeological discoveries from several periods. The capital of Peru supposedly has over 400 archaeological sites dating back to the pre-Inca period and the Inca period, starting from the 15th century. Aliaga claims that the situation is such that nearly every civil project, like this one, in the Peruvian capital leads to an archaeological discovery. Cálidda, the company monitoring the expansion of the underground gas network, has found several such items in its other projects. According to the company, they have managed to unearth around 2,200 ancient items during their excavations.

Just last month, another set of utility workers discovered a 1,000-year-old child mummy while installing pipes. The child was supposedly 10 to 15 years old, whose tomb was likely marked by the trunk of a huarango tree. Pieter Van Dalen, dean of the College of Archaeologists of Peru, who was not involved in the project, was unsurprised by the burial in Lima, according to Fox8 Live. He shared that tombs as well as burials with mummified individuals are common findings for the site.