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

VALLEY OF THE PYRAMIDS IN THE HEART OF LAMBAYEQUE

In Lambayeque, 33 kilometers north of Chiclayo, can be found the Valley of the Pyramids of Tucume. It is a complex of 26 pyramids made of adobe (clay and sand), also called temples.

These majestic pyramids are up to 40 meters high and cover about 220 hectares surrounding a hill known as “El Purgatorio” (Purgatory), from where you can see the entire valley.

It is known that this area was built around 700 AD, and passed through the hands of the Lambayeque, Chimu and Inca cultures. Travelers can see temples, courtyards, halls and warehouses between these buildings.

In the valley you can take tours through all of the museums, participate in archaeological research and healing rituals, as well as other traditions.

 For more information enter in this link: Chimu Culture

Source: Peruthisweek

Chan Chan's working woman is praised by the UNESCO

The person in charge to take care of the archaeological ruins of Chan Chan, Maria Mendoza, was considered a heroine by the UNESCO, given its ongoing efforts to protect this monument heritage.

Maria Mercedes and other 80 women works at Chan Chan, monitoring the damages left by the passage of time and the weather at the monument. Each one loads in a wheelbarrow, buckets of mud on a detailed work that is repeated every day.

With an inexhaustible patience, Maria Mercedes divides her time: in the morning she takes care of this architectural complex, and in the evening turns into a great housewife.

She grew up next to her mother, who guided her steps and taught her to love the history and traditions of her homeland, to respect the legacy of the ancient Peruvians. Education that puts in practice until today.

The German journalists Ruth Wolter and Astrid Piethan travelled from Germany to Chan Chan as part of the project "Heroes of the Heritage" promoted by the UNESCO in Germany, exclusively to interview María.

In the German city of Bonn, the headquarters of the UNESCO, an exhibition will be held soon with all the protagonists worldwide, and Maria Mercedes is the only representative of all Latin America.

Learn more of the north of Peru and its architectural riches, on the following link: Moche Culture.

Archaeological site was found in Zaña precedent of the Mochicas

An archaeological finding about "Mata Indio" hill makes archeologists to think that the Archaeological Site in Zaña, would be the precedent of the Moche Sanctuaries. In this site there has been found a small temple, which according to Walter Alva respectable team, has ancestry Moche.

In April of this year began the excavation work in the area, with the purpose of knowing mochicas villages and the origins of this culture. One thinks that these small temples could be the precedents of the big sanctuaries or administrative centers in Moche's final stage.

In the surroundings of these enclosures they have found cemeteries that have been stripped throughout the years. In the interior of the constructions have been found a series of occupations, in the center the Early Mochica, then Chimú and Lambayeque, respectively.

Inside of the enclosure  they have found fragments of Mochica ceramics and in the top part four funeral contexts belonging to the Lambayeque Culture.

The lowest platforms were painted by colors white and yellow, that would have been the most ancient building of this place and corresponded to the Mochica period.

Weather has affected these constructions, mainly because for the intense  rains, for which it was extended and remodeled in different times by the former Peruvians. The way to cross the desert towards the valleys of the south, are appellants.

The work of excavation continues in Chancay's Valley, in the monumental site known as " The Victory", located between the districts of Pomalca and Tumán, which also tracks of the Mochica culture has been found.

If you want to visit Zaña, this is located half hour from Chiclayo's city. Other attraction is the Museum Afro- Peruvian from Zaña, which speaks of the African Diaspora and the instruments and the contribution of the Afro- Peruvian are kept in force.

Discover the north of Peru, with Inkanatura Travel:

- Tour: Treasures of Northem Kingdoms

Source: Andina

Approximately 50 thousand tourists visit the Chiclayo Municipal Palace

In 2010 the Municipal Palace of Chiclayo was remodeled, since then it has become the only attraction in the city center. The visitors' highest point was given in April, when schools, colleges and universities entered to 14 showrooms, adding up more than 3 thousand visitors in one day.

"If we speak about the Historical Center,  is the only attraction that we have in Chiclayo, since the renovation of the place oriented to a cultural and artistic use, and is very gratifying to know that in this place the photographic and pictorial samples displayed have captivated visitors. " said the Head of the Documentation Center of Historical Memory, Jorge Vasquez Orrego.

So far the museum has received 50 thousand visits. The 15 % of the visitors comes from abroad: Holland, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, Chile, between other countries of the orb. Those people are very satisfied with the importance and the remodeling of this architectural work.

In the halls can be observed graphics of the Chiclayo Colonial, photos of the reconstruction of the palace, as well as art exhibitions of  Mórrope and Tucume of local, regional and national artists.

Learn more of the north of Peru with the following tours:

• Moche Route Tour 3D/2N : Chiclayo and Trujillo
• Archaeology and Nature Tour 4D/3N: Trujillo, Chaparri and Chiclayo