A 3,000-year-old tomb believed to belong to an elite religious leader from ancient Peru has been uncovered in the highland archaeological zone of Pacopampa. The discovery was made by archaeologists in the northern region of the Andean country, shedding light on the ancient civilization that existed three millennia ago.
The tomb is being referred to as the “Priest of Pacopampa,” as it is believed to be the final resting place of a priest who held a high status in society. The individual was interred under six layers of ash mixed with black earth, and the tomb contained decorated ceramic bowls and seals which indicated the use of ancient ritual body paint reserved for people of elite standing, according to a statement released by Peru’s Culture Ministry. Interestingly, two seals were discovered along the upper edges of the tomb; one depicted an anthropomorphic face looking east, while the other showcased a jaguar design facing west.
Yuji Seki, the project leader, highlighted that the size of the tomb, which is nearly two meters in diameter and one meter deep, is “very peculiar.” Equally unusual was the position of the body, which was found lying face down with one half of the body extended and the feet crossed. Additionally, a bone shaped into a tupu, a large pin used by Andean Amerindians to secure cloaks and ponchos, was found with the body. This pin would typically have been used to hold a woman’s blanket, leading Seki to comment on the peculiar associations and suggest that the individual might have been a leader of his time.
The Pacopampa Archaeological Project has been conducting research in the area since 2005. The ministry’s statement noted that the rock layers suggest the priest was buried around 1,200 B.C., making the tomb approximately five centuries older than the tombs of the “Lady of Pacopampa” and the “Priests of the Serpent Jaguar of Pacopampa,” which were discovered in 2009 and 2015, respectively. However, the “Priest of the Pututos,” discovered last year, is believed to be even older than the recently uncovered tomb.
This discovery adds to the growing body of knowledge about ancient civilizations in the Andean region and provides valuable insights into the customs, rituals, and societal structures of the people who lived there thousands of years ago.
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