Ancient bones found near lost city of the Incas: 16-09-2008
Travellers heading off on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu will be interested to hear of a recent discovery in the area.
Eighty skeletons and a range of textiles were found in caves near the ancient Incan city in south-eastern Peru.
The remains were found at two sites near to the city and date back around 500 years, according to lead researcher Francisco Huarcaya.
The find is an extremely rare one in that it contains human remains and textiles, explains Andean culture expert Guillermo Cock.
"Finding organic material in the mountains is significant because it's so scarce," he told National Geographic.
"The humidity from rain decomposes individuals and textiles."
"We should be able to tell whether these people carried large burdens to help construct terraces, for example. Their bones will be bent, not straight. They will have deformities."
It is hoped that the artefacts will help scientists gain a further insight into Incan culture and Machu Picchu's function as a regional centre of trade and power.