Posted on 06/30/2013 5:54:39 AM PDT by csvset
Reuters) - Archaeologists in Peru on Thursday said they have unearthed a massive royal tomb full of mummified women that provides clues about the enigmatic Wari empire that ruled the Andes long before their better-known Incan successors.
"For the first time in the history of archeology in Peru we have found an imperial tomb that belongs to the Wari empire and culture," lead archeologist Milosz Giersz said.
Researchers said the discovery will help them piece together life in the Andes centuries before the rise of the Incan empire, which was written about in detail by the conquering Spaniards.
The mausoleum, unearthed a few months ago at a coastal pyramid site called El Castillo de Huarmey 185 miles north of Lima, contained gold pieces, ceramics and 63 skeletons about 1,300 years old.
Researchers said most of the bodies found in the burial chamber were mummified women sitting upright - indicating royalty and suggesting Wari women held more power than previously thought.
"The women were buried with finely engraved ear pieces made of precious metals that once were believed to be used only by men," archaeologist Patrycja Przadk said.
Historians believe the Wari, who ruled between 600 and 1100 A.D., were the first people to unite diverse tribes into a sophisticated network across most of today's Peruvian Andes.
Bioarchaeologist Wieslaw Wieckowski said six skeletons were not wrapped in textiles and appear to have been human sacrifices for the mummified elite.
"They were people thrown into the grave before the grave was sealed," he said. "They were lying on their bellies, in an extended position and their limbs went in different directions."
Archaeologists told National Geographic that they kept their work quiet for fear grave robbers would pick the site clean.
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.reuters.com ...
GGG Ancient Peru ping
Surprised the Feds didn’t steal the gold and leave a U.S. Treasury Bond..... ;-)
Wonder if Billy Jeff Clinton has arranged a playdate....
When UCLA’s Fowler Museum had an exhibit of Peruvian gold found in gravesides, it was spectacular. Humongous gold pieces. Mind boggling in its scope!
More impressive than I had seen at previous other Latin American exhibits.
What I didn’t like was waiting 3 hours on the last day of the show to get in.
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GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
Thanks csvset. |
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Archaeologist, grave robber, no difference except the profit motive vs. feeding at the public trough.
Was that recent? If so I'm really sorry I missed it. I saw the Lord of Sipan (Moche) exhibit there quite a long time ago and it was outstanding. The gold work was amazing! At the same time they had a wonderful exhibit of Moche pottery which gave tremendous insight into that fascinating culture.
To call Clinton’s comment “Tacky” is a gross understatement — the guy is a full blown psycho-pervert.
i imagine BJClintoon’s private humor is more crude than was Nixon’s or LBJ’s - said to have been among the worst
In a related side note, today in 1520, Montezuma died in Cortes’ custody.
I’d be Wari of letting Billy Jeff near any of my mummies.
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