A pre-Hispanic mummy aged between six and eight centuries was discovered inside a delivery worker’s backpack in the Puno region of Peru, near the border with Bolivia. Official sources reported the finding on Monday, noting that the remains have been classified as a national cultural property. The mummy likely represents an adult man from the eastern part of Puno, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Culture.
Officials familiar with the case explained to EFE that preliminary assessments indicate the individual was more than 45 years old and stood about 1.51 meters tall. The Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Puno confirmed the authenticity of the material, placing it within a roughly 600 to 800 year time frame. In response to the discovery, the ministry ordered the immediate confinement of the remains to ensure their preservation and the protection of the country’s heritage.
Authorized teams are currently taking the necessary steps to safeguard the mummy both physically and legally, recognizing it as an integral part of the nation’s cultural legacy in the Andes region.
The event occurred at a vantage point in Puno last Saturday, according to local media. Reports indicate that several police officers encountered three men who had consumed alcohol and other beverages. One of the men carried a box associated with the delivery company identified as Pedidos Ya. Inside the box were human remains and soft tissues arranged in a fetal-like posture, characteristics that align with a mummy. The material was subsequently referred to the Ministry of Public Affairs and the Ministry of Culture for evaluation. A report cited by El Comercio noted that the delivery worker claimed the mummy had been kept in his family home and was shown to neighbors on occasion.
In light of these events, the ministry called on the public to participate actively in the protection of cultural heritage and to report any similar discoveries to the authorities so that proper steps can be taken to secure artifacts of historical significance.