CAJAMARCA, PERU – Archaeologists in northern Peru have made a significant discovery, unearthing a 3,000-year-old tomb believed to be dedicated to an elite religious leader from ancient Andean society. This tomb, referred to as the “Priest of Pacopampa,” was found in the highland archaeological site of Pacopampa and contained intriguing artifacts.
The priest was interred beneath six layers of ash mixed with black earth, surrounded by decorated ceramic bowls and seals. These seals indicated the use of ancient ritual body paint, a practice associated with individuals of high social status in ancient Andean cultures.
The tomb’s unique features included its size, measuring nearly two meters (approximately 2.2 yards) in diameter and one meter in depth. The positioning of the body was also unusual, as it lay face down with one half of the body extended and the feet crossed. Additionally, a bone shaped into a tupu, a large pin used by Andean Amerindians to fasten cloaks and ponchos, was found with the remains, suggesting its use to secure a woman’s blanket.
Project leader Yuji Seki noted that while the individual in the tomb was male, the burial’s characteristics were exceptional. Seki suggested that this person likely held a significant leadership role in their society.
The Pacopampa Archaeological Project, which began in 2005, conducted this excavation. Geological evidence indicated that the priest was buried around 1,200 B.C., making this discovery approximately five centuries older than the tombs of the “Lady of Pacopampa” and the “Priests of the Serpent Jaguar of Pacopampa,” found in 2009 and 2015, respectively. However, the “Priest of the Pututos,” discovered last year, is believed to be even older.
This remarkable find sheds light on the ancient cultures of northern Peru and their religious practices and social structures.