AN UNTOUCHED 1200-year-old "Temple of the Dead" in Peru has been discovered, still filled with gold and silver funeral offerings.

"We are talking about the first unearthed royal imperial tomb," archaeologist Milosz Giersz told National Geographic.

Archaeologists uncovered more than 1000 artefacts, including gold and silver jewellery, gold tools and bronze axes.

The tomb is centred on a ceremonial room with a prominent stone throne.

Another chamber was strangely filled with tons of stone rubble.

But as archaeologists from the University of Warsaw dug deeper, they found 60 human bodies arranged in seated positions. They were possibly victims of human sacrifice.

Nearby were the bodies of three queens.

Among their bodies were gold and silver ear decorations, silver bowls, gold weaving tools and an unusual alabaster drinking cup. Many brightly painted ceramic pots and objects were also placed about the bodies.

It is the first unlooted tomb from the ancient South American Wari civilisation to be discovered.

The Wari people lived in much of what is now known as Peru, between 700AD and 1000AD.

Giers and project co-director Roberto Pimentel Nita kept the location of the tomb secret to protect the untouched burial chamber.

Wari artefacts are a favourite among looters, who have destroyed many imperial palaces and shrines.

"I had a nightmare about the possibility," says Giersz.

The tomb is yet to be fully explored, with the possibility remaining that more chambers may be found.

The Wari capital city was one of the worlds biggest at that time - holding more than 40,000 people.