This photo was taken at the Nazca cemetery. The people buried here lived and died during the days of the Nazca civilisation (pre-Inca) between 300BC and 800AD. The Nazca area on the coast of Peru is desert, so the bodies buried there were mummified (to a certain extent).
Grave robbers had their way here and until recently many of the bodies that were dug up were exposed to the elements and bleached by the sun. They have now been gathered into new crypts that were dug in the ground and lined with adobe bricks. They have also been roofed over so that they are protected from the sun.
The bodies were buried in a sitting position facing the east (rising sun). Many of the bodies, hair and textiles have been incredibly well preserved.
