Archaeologists exploring Peru's pre-Colombian past recently unearthed a glimpse of a less prominent chapter in the Andean country's history — the remains of 16 Chinese laborers from around the turn of the 19th century.
The bodies, thought to be those of indentured workers brought to Peru to replace slave labor, were found buried at the top of an adobe pyramid first used by the ancient Ichma people, Roxana Gomez, the lead archaeologist of the site, said Thursday.
Peru was one of the biggest destinations for Chinese labor in Latin America in the 20th century, a market that thrived after slavery was abolished in the country in 1854.