Ancient Natural Mummies Found in Northern Mexican Cave (PHOTOS)

Two partially mummified human bodies have been discovered in a cave in the northern state of Chihuahua in Mexico.

Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) unearthed the two mummies at La Cueva del Gigante, or the Cave of the Giant, located in the Sierra Tarahumara region in North Mexico.

The mummies, believed to be 800 to 1,000 years old, were discovered from a pre-Hispanic cemetery, built before Spanish explorers arrived in the sixteenth century, archaeologists said in a statement on Monday.

According to archaeologists, eight other mummies from the same period were found at the same place in 2010. About 23 more human bodies' remains and skeletons have been discovered from the interior of the cave in the past two years. Most bodies were found in a fetal position, and have evidence that they were deposited in the cave in bulk form.

“The individuals were deposited on the floor of the cave and the entrance was blocked by a wall. Over time, dirt, dust and litter were burying human remains. The condition of the cave and dry weather helped preserve the remains, and thus was a natural mummification,” archaeologist Enrique Chacon of INAH, said.

However, the bodies were not left untouched since they were buried, he added.

"There are signs that some were removed at least twice, perhaps by animals. Some bodies are better preserved than others, and some are mummified and others are not."