Four tombs discovered of 600 years in the Huaca Pucllana

A team of archaeologists from the Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores discovered four tombs possibly the Ychsma culture. Were three women and a grown man, they were buried in the main pyramid of the archaeological site in Lima.

The bodies were located to the southeast, in a seated position, wrapped in fabrics, baskets and ropes, all buried in the Great Pyramid. The finding confirms that this structure was used as a burial place for people considered elite. The characters found in the tombs ichmas are squatting beside reed brackets that hold them in that position. The funeral paraphernalia included pottery and textile tools such as punches and cactus spines.

This finding confirms the presence of the Ychsma culture in the ceremonial center located in the heart of Miraflores. Which it was installed on the central coast of the country between 1000 and 1450 AD.

Source: El Comercio.

Visit Lima: The Colonial Capital Tour 3D/2N

Basque expedition found an Inca sanctuary

Most of the adventure has run for the Inca trail in Vraem region. For two weeks amounted rugged mountains up to 5,000 meters and have ventured into the jungle with a rainy weather that has not stopped to rest.

Fortunately Miguel Gutierrez guided by his intuition on a hill 12 hectares at 3,700 meters by the expedition found an Inca cemetery full of graves hidden in caves.

Following this finding, the expedition also found on the western slope of the Vilcabamba’s mountains an Inca ceremonial center to 5,000 meters, where they photographed what they believe are the remains of inns, tombs, carved relics, platforms, Inca roads, stairs and stands.

The whole mountain seems "huge reservoir" whose archaeological and scientific scope is still unknown but believe there may be children buried after being killed in rituals to the god of water during periods of drought.

Basque expedition follows in the footsteps of explorers like Galician Santiago del Valle and Carmen Martin Rubio, also trapped by the mixture of history, magic, myth and legend surrounding the Inca and his lost city of Vilcabamba.

Source: Efefuturo.

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The New Museum of Pachacamac

Pachacamac was the main sanctuary of the central coast for over a thousand years, on the south of Lima. Their temples were visited by crowds of pilgrims on the occasion of the great Andean rituals and going people of the Andes in search of solutions to their problems or answers to their questions.

Pachacamac is regarded as an oracle and its worship was the center of all coastal religion. The word Pachacamac means "soul of the earth, which animates the world." The ancient Peruvians believed that one movement of his head would cause earthquakes. He could not look into his eyes, and even his priests entered the enclosure back.

The new Pachacamac site museum under construction, part of the National System of Museums of the National Institute of Culture. It aims to integrate the archaeological site with the community. It provides information to understand the Archaeological Sanctuary of Pachacamac and place in the history of Peruvian archeology. Among the main buildings we can find: the Sun Temple, pyramids with ramps, Taurichumpi Palace, Temple Pintado, Uhle Cemetery, North and South Streets, Square of the Pilgrims and the Acllahuasi.

You can visit the museum in the old Panamericana Sur Km. 31.5 Lurin district in Lima. A building that will offer visitors modern spaces for the exhibition of major collections that currently houses and efficient research work and preservation of cultural material environments.

Visit Lima: The Colonial Capital Tour 3D/2N

New Nazca geoglyphs

A few months ago a group of Japanese archaeologists from the University of Yamagata were those who discovered new and enigmatic geometric shapes on the floor, 1 ½ kilometers north from the city of Nazca. According to the analysts these geometric shapes date from the III – V century A.D. and belong to Paracas ancient civilization.

These figures are hardly recognizable and sum a total of 24 new geoglyphs, within these the figure of a Llama (a mammal that is used to load and transport) is recognized and other animals that measure up to 20 meters long formed of volcanic stones.

So far they have found 41 geometric figures since 2004, thanks to the agreement signed between the Japanese university and the Peruvian State. These geometric shapes have been recognized by the  Unesco as Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Initially they could not be discovered because of the surface of the desert and the wind, which only allowed to be recognized from the air or from a surrounding hill.

Masato Sakai, head of the research warned that the discovery could be in danger due to the expansion of urban areas, noting that the figures should be preserved and showed to the world.

For more information about Nazca visit: Paracas 

The Amazing Sillustani

In Sillustani 35 kms. from Puno, a mysterious and impressive burial grounds of the Lords of the Colla called chullpas is situated, with square and cone shapes made of stones that fit symmetrically exact. This sanctuary is surrounded by the beautiful Umayo Lagoon only 20 kms. from Lake Titicaca.

The Chullpas can reach up to 12 meters high, with vaulted crypts where mummies were kept inside, almost 90 of them. According to researches the bodies were mummified in a fetal position and placed inside the chullpas. Close to the bodies were placed their belongings, jewelry, pottery and food; due to their beliefs were said that after death the bodies will resurrect elsewhere, where then they will eat and drink.

Higher chullpas settled on platforms and had graves that were buried around that were surely their servers. These numerous monuments were accompanied by other facilities in circles as well as decks and fences designated for rituals.

Even this tourist attraction and funerary sanctuary was the inspiration for the Central Bank of Peru to issue a new edition of the national currency (Nuevo Sol), in commemoration of the Sillustani Chullpas as part of its Numismatics Wealth and Pride.

To arrive to Sillustani we should take the paved road between Puno and Juliaca, 3950 meters above sea level; where you will find one of the largest cemeteries in the world and must see point to visit in Puno.

More information about Puno and Lake Titicaca here.

Treasures of the Northern Kingdoms

The north of Peru has a lot of history, culture and priceless treasures. To visit its archaeological sites, temples and museums will show the extensive pre-Inca past and the magnificence on how ancient people used to live between 100 and 700 A.D.

Ancient cultures that inhabited the valleys of the north of Peru showing many social developments, infrastructure developments, art and mystical traditions.

In Chiclayo we can find more about the Moche Culture that worshiped the god Ai Apaec as main god, the sea and the moon. This society made great hydraulic engineering work and architectural as contemplated in its pyramids and temples.

The new Huaca Rajada – Sipán museum,  exhibits to the world ornaments of the Warrior Priest, whose remains are on a glass vase in which can also be seen jewelry and ceramics and the Sipán dynasty with all his descendants with information about the later periods of Lambayeque and Chimu.

The museum was opened in April 2009 and its main purpose display objects that can be found in future studies on the site of Huaca Rajada - Sipan being one of the newest in the region which cannot  be missed.

Learn more about the treasure of the northern kingdoms: North of Peru

THE PUSHARO PETROGLYPHS

On the banks of the Palatoa river in Manu National Park - Madre de Dios, it’s located the largest petroglyph of Peru, which was carved between 1000 and 2000 A.D. In 2003 It was recognized as an archaeological heritage by the National Institute of Culture of Peru.

The first description of the petroglyphs was made by the Dominican missionary Vicente de Cenitagoya in 1921.  Dr. Carlos Neuenschwander from Arequipa, studied Pusharo site in 1969. Besides its gigantic size, takes our attention  the engraving pictures. Many studious argued that such drawings would be related to the legendary kingdom of Paititi.

The italian researcher Yuri Leveratto indicates that it could be related to the Quiaca petroglyphs.

Most of the glyphs represent  animal hunting, and even when they have not managed to successfully figure out  the drawings,  the closest interpretation would be the one that holds Reichel-Dolmatoff and Schultes & Hofmann: Petroglyphs are representations of the Amazonian mythological people performed by shamans, influenced by the use of hallucinogenic plants.

Not far from the petroglyphs, the recent discovery of giant figures carved on the eastern slope of a mountain, also may significantly change our knowledge of the Incas in this place and the theory of its influence in the Amazonian people, but it hasn’t been demonstrated yet.

 For more information about the Manu National Park: Manu