According to researchers, they have recently discovered numerous dozens of tombs that contain as many as 40 mummies. This discovery has been made near what is known to be a 1,200-year-old ceremonial site in the Cotahuasi Valley of Peru.

Archaeologists said that these tombs are situated on small hills that surround the ceremonial site. Up to now, the team of the researchers has unearthed seven tombs in order to find minimum 171 mummies. The scientists said that these mummies were moved before rigor mortis set in.

It seems that their knees had been shifted to reach shoulder level and then their arms were folded along their chest. The researchers have also found that the corpses were bound with rope and after that covered within layers of textiles.

"The dead, likely numbering in the low thousands, towered over the living", writes archeologist and author Justin Jennings, a curator at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum.

Jennings said that these mummies range in age and some were older adults and others were neonate fetuses. The researchers said that some of the mummies were buried in jars. It has been speculated that when they were living, the people who had been mummified most likely lived in villages nearby to Tenahaha.

According to the researchers, various mummies were found in very poor shape due to water and rodent damage. Some of the mummies were deliberately dissected and their bones scattered between numerous tombs.

One tomb has about 400 separate human body parts, involving feet, hands, and teeth. According to Jennings, the action of breaking apart and moving mummy parts possibly have promoted a sense of community. Jennings also said that it is really essential to understand the meaning behind this selective destruction.