Long-lost ancient mural rediscovered in northern Peru after more than a century

Swiss archaeologist Sâm Ghavami with his team of Peruvian students at the Huaca Pintada in northern Peru. Photograph: Sâm Ghavami

A team of student archaeologists has rediscovered a 1,000-year-old multicoloured mural depicting a deity surrounded by warriors which was last seen a century ago in northern Peru.

Known as the Huaca Pintada, the 30-metre-long wall painted with fantastical images depicting mythical scenes was first found in 1916 by a band of treasure-hunting tomb raiders in Illimo near the city of Chiclayo.