The newly-discovered tomb, seen in the center – © ANDINA Editora Perú
An unspoiled, undiscovered tomb containing the remains of an elite society belong to a major Andean civilization has been uncovered in Peru.
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Chan Chan, inside a palatial complex called Utzh An, its contents of 38 skeletons and a wealth of grave goods have remained undisturbed to our day.
Chan Chan was built by the Chimú, an impressive society that reached its zenith in the 15th century with a series of large settlements characterized by substantial irrigation canals and kingly residences. Their highly-stratified society, political organization, and civil infrastructure were all adopted by the later Inca, it’s believed, who conquered the Chimú in the 1460s.
The tomb platform is one of several known to have been built by the Chimú elite, and excavations found a mausoleum measuring 4 feet wide and 16 feet deep at the bottom of a staircase. Therewithin, a single individual, whose skull bears traces of a red pigment, was found. Two secondary chambers branched off either side of the central chamber, one of which contained the remains of 20 people and various artifacts.
These included metal weapons, copper and gold artifacts, ornate jewelry, and colorful textiles, suggesting they belonged to the society’s aristocracy. 17 other skeletons were found in the surrounding tomb platform, above the mausoleum.
Jorge Meneses lead the archaeologists excavating the tomb, and he’s been making the media rounds explaining the significance of the discovery.
“[W]hat was known about elite burials in Chimú society came from looted platforms, private collections, and museum holdings,” he told El Pais. “There was no scientific data on the individuals and their corresponding artifacts and associations.”
ANDEAN ARCHEOLOGY:
Meneses told the state-run Andina news agency that the red-painted individual was buried with his body fully extended, an unusual arrangement compared to other Chimú burials, which were characterized by flexed or seated positions.
His body was also missing several bones, suggesting perhaps that the individual had been moved there from another location—a common practice in Chimú and other Andean societies.
Gabriel Prieto, an anthropologist at the University of Florida who wasn’t involved in the research, was interviewed by the New York Times about the news, which he called “the discovery of the decade,” for offering the first undisturbed glimpse of an elite Chimú burial.”
Meneses added that just 7% of Chan Chan has been excavated—making it a veritable Peruvian Pompeii in terms of the possibility for future discoveries.
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