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vandalized cemetary cave of Peru's Chachapoyas culture (Photo: ElComercio)

(LIP-wb) -- For centuries the Yayacuj cave ("Enchanted water" in Quechua) remained intact because it is hidden by a surrounding leafy forest. Until a few days ago when a settler of the Jalca Grande region discovered that unscrupulous people stole several mummies and burial artifacts from this cemetery of Peru's Chachapoyas culture.

Not even the 300 meter (1000 ft.) deep descent into the cave prevented the eager desecrators to remove the skeletons and seriously damage this archaeological, remote site located three hours from Chachapoyas, the capital of Peru's Amazon region.

According to Herman Corbera Valdivia, regional director of Peru's Cultural Institute, the vandals caused irreversible damage to the circular stone construction that the ancient settlers of this culture used as houses. Similar constructions can be found at the nearby Kuélap fortress.

The external part of the area is dominated by a series of platforms, indicating that the place was inhabited by old Chachapoyas during the Late Intermediate Period, before the arrival of the Incas.

map of the area (Source: ElComercio)

Corbera said that, with the support of an archaeologist and crime scene specialists, samples were taken from the cave as evidence. Nevertheless, he pointed out that Teodoico Huamán, proprietor of the estate where the cave is located, is currently being questioned in order to gather more detailed information about the ransacking.

“Meanwhile, we have decided to put settlers of the area and authorities from Jalca Grande in charge of the cave's protection. We will soon inspect the deepest point of the cave because we think that there are still more bodies left intact”, he declared.

Corbera reminded of a similar situation that happened weeks ago in the district of Conchán. After a swift intervention they managed to recover two sarcophagi that had been stolen from a cemetery of the same culture. He estimated that there are about 500 archaeological sites in Peru's Amazon region.

- related article -

- Peru finds ancient burial cave of warrior tribe (by Robin Emmott, Reuters, Oct. 5, 2006)

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