Treasures: A pair of gold-and-silver ear ornaments found alongside what archaeologists believe were three Queens of the ancient and mysterious Wari civilisation

An unusually designed 1,200-year-old ceramic flask depicting a Wari lord with eyes wide open, was among a wealth of ceramic artifacts discovered in the tomb

The tomb was discovered at the El Castillo de Huarmey site four hours north of the Peruvian capital Lima

Scene: The undisturbed tomb was found at the El Castillo de Huarmey site, 299 km north from Lima, which for decades has been raided by tomb robbers

An archaeologist carefully brushes of dirt at the site of the site of the tomb. The team kept the find secret for months fearing grave robbers would arrive and pick the site clean

Royal bones: An archaeologist measures the skull of one of the Wari women whose mummified bodies were discovered among a wealth of jewellery and other treasures

Examination: The archaeological team has found the remains of three Wari queens as well as 63 other skeletons about 1,300 years old

Regal pose: The mummified women were discovered sitting upright - indicating royalty and suggesting Wari women held more power than previously thought

Researchers said most of the bodies found in the burial chamber were mummified women sitting upright - indicating royalty and suggesting Wari women held more power than previously thought.

The Wari, who came from Peru’s southern highlands and ruled a vast area of the country from 500 to 1000 AD, conducted multiple burials and sent their loved ones into the afterlife with provisions and the tools of their trade.

'The women were buried with finely engraved ear pieces made of precious metals that once were believed to be used only by men,' archaeologist Patrycja Przadk said.

Among the other artfacts discopvered alongside the mummfied queens were weaving tools made of gold, ritual kinives and axes, drinking cups, coca leaf containers and an array of beautifully decorated ceramics.

Two workers walk on the coastal pyramid site called El Castillo de Huarmey in Huarmey, 185 miles north of Lima

Exciting find: A worker brushes dirt from around one of the mummies skulls with locks of hair still intact

Skulls belonging to women from the Wari empire are placed in boxes after being discovered at a pyramid site

An archaeologist measures the remains of a woman believed to be a Wari queen

Macabre: Skeletons, believed to be human sacrifices thrown into the tomb moments before it was sealed, were found alongside the mummified remains