Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Andina

Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed the remains of what is believed to have been a high-ranking official of the Sican culture who lived about 1,200 years ago.

A team co-led by Peruvian archaeologist Carlos del Carpio found the tomb, along with many burial artifacts, about 1,500 meters west of the Lord of Sican's tomb in Huaca Las Ventanas archaeological site, near the Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary, in the northern Lambayeque region.

According to Peruvian daily El Comercio, the ancient nobleman was buried in lotus posture (sitting with his legs half-crossed) and the finds included a winged eye mask, a ceremonial knife and a metal cup.

The tomb also contained a breastplate of coral colored Spondylus shell beads, seven ceramics and a gold tweezer, representing a bird image of the Sican or Lambayeque cultures.

Archaeologists Carlos Elera, Jose Pinilla and Carlos del Carpio, who work together in the area, described this discovery as a miracle given the erosive power of the La Leches river and the ongoing dam construction.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.