One morning last July that he can barely remember, archaeologist Noé Huamán made a discovery that has drastically changed our understanding of the Wari culture in Peru.
It was 10 o'clock a.m. and after three months of excavating in the Inca archaeological site of Espíritu Pampa, in the Vilcabamba district of Cusco's La Convención province, he found an earthenware pot, three copper axe blades and 17 pieces of silver.
But he knew what he held in his hands was not Incan. Three months later, studies determined that the pieces were Wari remains. This was the first step of a journey that culminated yesterday in the presentation of the pieces that Huamán found, in what Peru's ministry of culture calls the greatest archaeological find in recent years.
Juan Julio García, Cusco's regional director of culture, recalls thinking that the Wari empire had penetrated Cusco only in the mountainous sierra, while the Espíritu Pampa jungle region had been inhabited purely by the Incas- their final refuge after the arrival of the Spanish.
Last October, just one month after it had been determined that the artifacts were Wari, researchers made another discovery in the area: nine tombs, one main one surrounded by eight smaller ones. The person found in the primary tomb- or what was left of him, which was two of his teeth- was named the Señor de Vilca.
Lost city
According to José Carlos Silva Gonzales, director of research for Cusco's regional culture ministry, this find shows that the Wari's influence in pre-Hispanic Peru was much more significant than originally believed. He added that based on what is known about the Wari culture, these kind of tombs were always located inside a city or settlement, and represented a very formal burial rite. "However, we still do not have enough information to tell us the age of the city or its geographical reach," he said.
The funerary complex covers an area of 450 square meters. In the primary tomb, an anthropomorphic mask, a silver chest plate, necklaces, gold bangles with feline figures and two palm-heart walking sticks plated with silver were also discovered.
The tomb, according to archaeologists' preliminary calculations, dates back to around the year 1000 A.D. Before this discovery, it was assumed that the Wari empire had never extended past the jungle territory of what is now known as Ayacucho.
A few minutes after the official presentation of the discovery, Huamán answered some questions with the patience of someone who removes centuries of dirt with a brush. Perhaps the full impact of the find he made last July has yet to be uncovered.
Author: Emily Finn | Source: Living in Peru [February 24, 2011]
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| A gold chest plate unearthed [Photo: El Comercio] |
But he knew what he held in his hands was not Incan. Three months later, studies determined that the pieces were Wari remains. This was the first step of a journey that culminated yesterday in the presentation of the pieces that Huamán found, in what Peru's ministry of culture calls the greatest archaeological find in recent years.
Juan Julio García, Cusco's regional director of culture, recalls thinking that the Wari empire had penetrated Cusco only in the mountainous sierra, while the Espíritu Pampa jungle region had been inhabited purely by the Incas- their final refuge after the arrival of the Spanish.
Last October, just one month after it had been determined that the artifacts were Wari, researchers made another discovery in the area: nine tombs, one main one surrounded by eight smaller ones. The person found in the primary tomb- or what was left of him, which was two of his teeth- was named the Señor de Vilca.
Lost city
According to José Carlos Silva Gonzales, director of research for Cusco's regional culture ministry, this find shows that the Wari's influence in pre-Hispanic Peru was much more significant than originally believed. He added that based on what is known about the Wari culture, these kind of tombs were always located inside a city or settlement, and represented a very formal burial rite. "However, we still do not have enough information to tell us the age of the city or its geographical reach," he said.
The funerary complex covers an area of 450 square meters. In the primary tomb, an anthropomorphic mask, a silver chest plate, necklaces, gold bangles with feline figures and two palm-heart walking sticks plated with silver were also discovered.
The tomb, according to archaeologists' preliminary calculations, dates back to around the year 1000 A.D. Before this discovery, it was assumed that the Wari empire had never extended past the jungle territory of what is now known as Ayacucho.
A few minutes after the official presentation of the discovery, Huamán answered some questions with the patience of someone who removes centuries of dirt with a brush. Perhaps the full impact of the find he made last July has yet to be uncovered.
Author: Emily Finn | Source: Living in Peru [February 24, 2011]
