A remarkable discovery was made by residents of the Amazonas region in Pérou. They stumbled upon 35 sarcophagi belonging to the mysterious Chachapoyas culture of indigenous peoples. This archaeological find will shed light on this Peruvian civilization and their funeral rituals.
Archaeology: The Discovery of 35 Chachapoyas Sarcophagi
Pérou's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism was delighted to reveal, in November 2013, a spectacular find made several months earlier that had been kept secret for obvious reasons of looting prevention. It comprises 35 sarcophagi containing mummies of Chachapoyas, a people who inhabited the region between 700 and 1500 years after Christ. They were brutally annihilated by the Incas, who accused them of being responsible for the arrival of the conquistadors and the strange diseases they brought from Europe. A form of genocide, whose most striking episode was the massacre at Kuelap.
Manuel Cabañas, regional director of the ministry, stated: "the discovery of the sarcophagi was made by local residents passing through the El Tigre mountain, in the Jazán district, in Bongará province."
This discovery holds exceptional cultural and historical value, as very little is known about the Chachapoyas, despite their having ruled over a territory spanning more than 65,000 square kilometers and built impressive structures, such as the famous Kuelap fortress containing over 400 buildings, with some walls reaching heights exceeding 20 meters. Archaeologists have deduced that the volume of stone moved by the Chachapoyas people equaled the displacement required for three Egyptian pyramids of Giza!
Sarcophagi That Reveal More About Chachapoyas Rituals
A similar discovery had been made in 1983 near Carajia, located 48 km northeast of the city of Chachapoyas, but at that time it had been difficult to learn more about Chachapoyas rituals, as the sarcophagi had been looted. The 8 sarcophagi found then represented statues approximately 2.5 meters high, positioned on a vertiginous cliff face, difficult to access.
This time, the discovery of the 35 sarcophagi provides archaeologists with a collection of virtually untouched material, allowing them to better understand Chachapoyas funeral rites. This people carefully prepared their deceased, made offerings to them, and ensured they were protected from looting. The 35 sarcophagi are primarily occupied by mummies of children, in perfect condition of preservation and belonging to an elevated caste of the Chachapoyas. Archaeological excavations and topographical surveys are ongoing at the site, as archaeologists are convinced that further tombs or sarcophagi may yet be discovered.
