Pre-Incan ruins found in Peru

Archaeologists have discovered a tomb complex that is over 1,000 years old in a northern region of Peru.

The complex is an important discovery in the study of the Sican civilization, which flourished and was wiped out before the Incas emerged in the South American country.

Sicans were metal workers and traded gold, silver and copper for rocks and shells from neighbouring societies.

Significantly, the discovery wielded the infamous 'tumi' knives in their original location, allowing archaeologists to study the pieces in their normal surroundings.

This is important to understand the society's burial rituals and already remains have been discovered with various figurines left around the skeletons, according to the BBC.

Walter Alva, an archaeologist uninvolved in the dig, told the Guardian: "This discovery comes as an important contribution to know the burial rites of the elite of this culture."

The tumi knife is the national symbol of Peru and this new discovery has raised hopes that researchers will finally be able to understand what their purpose was.