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One archaeology discovery in Peru after another—Walter Alva is beginning to seem like the modern day Indiana Jones.
The Peruvian archaeologist, the same who had uncovered the Lord of Sipán tomb back in 1987, has now stumbled upon a megalithic temple.
Located in the Huaca El Toro site in the Lambayeque region of northern Peru, the temple is over 130 feet long and includes a staircase measuring 49 feet long and 35 feet wide. Twenty-one tombs were discovered in the temple, holding ceramic and metal objects.
Various clues have caused Alva and his team to believe that the space was used for fertility rituals: the temple dates back to 3,000 years ago, a time when water was considered divine; it includes an alter with holes (for water to drip through), similar to other water alters; it is located in the springs of the Zaña Valley river.
The only megalithic architecture found in Lambayeque, Alva highlighted to press the uniqueness of the mountain-facing temple. The esteemed archaeologist also noted that remnants show the temple had been reused by later cultures, such as the Chimu.
The discovery, some 83 km from Chiclayo, was actually made in October 2019 and the digging took 45 days. It went undisclosed for nearly a month in order to prevent looting or vandalism.
Alva hopes to find funding in order to continue searching the area next year.
All photos: Andina/Difusion
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