Cleaners at Peru's ancient city of Chan Chan have discovered the remains of a Pre-Incan mummy dumped near rubbish in a cardboard box, local media reported.

The mummy was found by chance after a curious cleaner opened up the mysterious box wrapped with rope.

The mummy was later taken to a local police station to investigate how the ancient remains had found itself outside the archaeological site.

One theory is that the Pre-Incan mummy had been stolen from its original burial location within the site.

The archaeological area of Chan Chan is the largest Pre-Columbian city in South America and was built by the ancient kingdom of Chimu in 850 CE.

It flourished until its conquest by the Inca Empire in 1470.

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