Lima (AFP) – A crew of workers accidentally discovered a mummy more than 1,000 years old while installing gas pipes in Peru's capital Lima, their employer and archaeologists said Thursday.

The mummy was found last week in a tomb underneath a street north of Lima, said archaeologist Jesus Bahamonde.

The mummy was covered in a shroud in a seated position, arms and legs bent.

Pottery was also found in the tomb which was dated to the pre-Inca Chancay civilization that lived around the Lima region between the 11th and 15th centuries.

It was believed to be part of a large, ancient cemetery.

Lima, a city with over 10 million inhabitants, also houses more than 500 archaeological sites.

Gas company Calidda has reported more than 2,200 chance archaeological discoveries since 2004.