Holiday Ayo - Archaeologists working in the Pacopampa Archaeological Complex in the Peruvian highlands have uncovered an ancient tomb holding a profound secret.

Inside, the body of a suspected powerful shaman was buried with mystical seals and symbols of spiritual authority dating back 3,000 years.

The tomb was discovered in the Pacopampa Archaeological Complex, near the city of Cajamarca.

In an official statement, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture stated that the body was buried with a seal depicting a jaguar, an animal believed to possess mystical powers.

The object was likely used in death rituals to paint the body, further suggesting that the deceased possessed a high spiritual status.

The archaeological team also discovered ceramics with images and traces of red cinnabar on the body's face.

Cinnabar is a rare natural ore found only in the highlands of the central Andes. Due to its difficulty in obtaining it, it was believed to be a material only possessed by the elite.

"Cinnabar originates from the central Andes mountain region and was likely only acquired through long-distance trade," said Yuji Seki, an archaeologist at the National Museum of Ethnology of Japan and director of the excavation.

According to Seki, the remains likely belonged to a shaman believed to have the ability to manipulate the powers of jaguars, snakes, and birds of prey.

This figure was said to be able to act as an intermediary between the human world and the supernatural, providing guidance and healing to the local community.

The seal found is thought to be a symbol of his spiritual authority.

However, the team has not yet conducted radiocarbon dating to confirm the tomb's age.

However, the style of the artifacts found is similar to other artifacts from the region dating back around 3,000 years.

Several archaeologists not involved in the discovery welcomed the news enthusiastically, but cautioned that it was too early to confirm the identity of the figure in the tomb as a shaman.