Cemetery found in excavation of park in Lima

Peruvian archaeologists have discovered what they believe to be a colonial-era cemetery, found in a secluded area of a large park in the capital, Lima. The Park of Legends is home to a zoo and is known for being one of the most popular playgrounds among children in the capital.

The discovery of the colonial-era cemetery at the park surprised the excavators who are normally accustomed to coming across pre-Hispanic finds. During the excavation, archaeologists found 11 mummies facing the sky.

For the archaeologists, the presence of a Catholic cross on one of the skeleton's chests indicated the find was from a period after the 16th century when the Spanish arrived in Lima. Peru's capital city, Lima, was founded in 1535 by Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro.