Archaeologists have discovered a mass grave containing more than twelve individuals from approximately 400BC, all positioned face-down with their wrists bound behind them.
The unusual burial was uncovered at the Puémape archaeological site in the San Pedro Lloc district in Peru, according to researchers from the National University of San Marcos.
The remains were found during recent excavations at what researchers believe was an ancient ceremonial complex in Peru's northern coastal area.
Evidence of brutal treatment emerged from examination of the skeletal remains, with multiple injuries visible across various body parts.
Archaeologists have discovered a mass grave containing more than twelve individuals from approximately 400BC, all positioned face-down with their wrists bound behind them
|UNMSM
The individuals displayed fractures and trauma consistent with violent assault, leading researchers to conclude these deaths were not natural.
The peculiar arrangement of the corpses, combined with their restrained position, indicates deliberate placement rather than standard burial practices.
Scientists examining the site believe these individuals were killed following military conflict and subsequently used in religious ceremonies.
The combination of bound hands, prone positioning and evidence of violence strongly suggests these were sacrificial victims rather than honoured dead.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
"The way in which they were placed in the tomb is strange," Dr Henry Tantaleán from the National University of San Marcos told Live Science.
The archaeological team leader, who directs the Research Group in Archaeology of Andean Science and Technologies of San Marcos, noted that the victims were positioned "with their faces to the ground, an unusual burial pattern throughout Andean prehistory."
Dr Tantaleán suggested that "they would have been a sacrifice offered to this ancient place of worship," though he acknowledged uncertainty about the victims' identities.
The research team speculates the sacrificed individuals might have originated from the local area or a neighbouring valley.
The remains were found during recent excavations at what researchers believe was an ancient ceremonial complex in Peru's northern coastal area (stock image)
|GETTY
The Puémape temple complex is one of the earliest known ceremonial sites along Peru's northern coastline, with archaeological evidence placing its initial occupation around 1000BC.
Human presence at the location extends even further into antiquity, with confirmed activity dating to 2200BC based on recent archaeological findings.
Modern excavation techniques, including satellite imagery analysis, have revealed the full facade of the temple structure along with an entrance stairway and walls constructed from massive stone blocks.
The site's extensive paved area surrounding the temple suggests it served as a destination for religious pilgrimages and ceremonial burials throughout its long history.