Remarkable Discovery Near Peru’s Sports Center
An archaeological team has made a remarkable discovery near a sports center in Peru—a burial site containing eleven pre-Inca tombs, some dating back over 1,400 years. The excavation work at the Huaca Tupac Amarú B site, located near Peru’s national sports village in the capital city of Lima, began in December. Recently, the team unveiled their findings, which include remarkably well-preserved graves containing eleven bodies from the pre-Hispanic era.
Ancient Civilizations Unveiled
At the site near Peru’s national sports village in Lima, an archaeological team has uncovered eleven pre-Hispanic bodies, with some dating back over 1,400 years. These well-preserved remains offer a glimpse into the lives and customs of ancient civilizations that inhabited the region long ago.
The skeletons discovered are believed to belong to the Lima and Yschma cultures. These cultures thrived in the region during different periods of ancient Peruvian history. The findings provide valuable insights into the practices, rituals, and lifestyles of these past civilizations. By studying the skeletal remains, archaeologists can further understand the cultural and historical significance of the Lima and Yschma cultures in the region.
Burial Practices and Artifacts
The well-preserved skeletons were discovered enveloped in cloth and surrounded by a variety of artifacts, including ceramics, textiles, fruit tree leaves, and agricultural tools. Archaeologist Fernando Herrera, who leads the project, identified three sets of remains belonging to the Lima culture, which thrived between A.D. 200 and 700. The remaining eight skeletons were associated with the more recent Yschma culture, dating from A.D. 1000 to 1400.
Each skeleton was found lying on a bed of woven reeds and secured with braided rattan, a type of palm. The bodies were covered by one or more cloths and buried alongside the mentioned artifacts, which shed light on the cultural practices and daily lives of these ancient civilizations.
A Unique Juxtaposition
Remarkably, the 400-square-meter site is located just a few meters away from the stadium where Peru’s national football team trains, adding a unique juxtaposition between ancient history and modern sports activities.
Ongoing Excavations and Future Discoveries
The archaeological site is located just a few hundred meters away from where Peru’s national football team trains. According to Herrera, the first skeleton was discovered in December, and the others were recovered in January. The archaeological team believes there may be more remains at the site and continues to search and excavate.
Shedding Light on the Lima Culture
Lima is home to numerous archaeological sites, including Huaca Pucllana in the Miraflores residential district, which features a towering pyramid from the Lima culture.
Luis Felipa Villacorta, an archaeologist and historian who serves as the director of the private Antonio Raimondi museum, mentioned that the find at the sports center contributes to the broader understanding of the Lima culture, which is relatively less known compared to the contemporaneous Nazca and Moche civilizations that developed in other coastal regions of Peru.
He further explained that the limited knowledge about the Lima culture is partly due to the growth of the modern city of Lima, which has expanded over ancient sites.
Moreover, there has been growing interest in exploring pre-Hispanic cultures located outside the metropolitan area, such as the Moche, Nazca, and Wari civilizations, Villacorta added.
Ongoing Research and Unanswered Questions
Scientists do not yet know the age of the mummified individuals, but the discovery of these well-preserved remains and accompanying artifacts offers a unique opportunity to unravel the mysteries of ancient Peruvian cultures and their burial practices.
