The tomb of the “Priest of Pacopampa” was recently discovered in northern Peru
The 3,000-year-old tomb of the “Priest of Pacopampa” was recently discovered in northern Peru, sparking excitement in the scientific community as it was unearthed.
Under six layers of ash mixed with black earth, archaeologists found the entire skeleton of the priest, along with two seals and other sacred offerings to the deceased.
Peru: Priest of Pacopampa exhumed after 3,000 years https://t.co/MPKkfjKyFZ
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 29, 2023
Excavator Yuji Seki told Reuters the large size of the grave, nearly 2 meters in diameter and 1 meter deep, was “very strange”, as was the position of the skeleton.
“The deceased was buried face down with half of his body protruding and his legs crossed,” said the archaeologist, stressing that the “priest of Pacopampa was most likely a leader in his time.”
In addition, as Peru’s Ministry of Culture said in a statement, traces of ancient ritual body paint used for elite individuals were found on the seals.
“We have recently discovered the tomb of a 3,000-year-old figure at the Pacopampa archaeological site,” in the Cajamarca region, archaeologist Juan Pablo Villanueva told AFP.
“He is one of the first priests in the Andes to have a series of offerings” https://t.co/ddTc0BxIgf
— Ticia Verveer (@ticiaverveer) August 28, 2023
The area of ​​Cajamarca where the tomb was found is 900 kilometers north of Lima. The site of Pacopampa (from which the dead of the tomb takes its name), includes nine monumental ceremonial buildings of carved and polished stone, dating from about 700 to 600 years BC.
Source :Skai
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