Archaeologists unearth bodies in Peruvian temple up to 3,800 years old
LIMA, Aug 14 (Reuters) -Archaeologists have unearthed four human remains believed to be more than 3,000 years old in a stretch of barren land in northern Peru that appears to have housed a ceremonial temple honoring the gods of an ancient local culture.
The funeral bundles were found nestled between some mud and stone walls near a valley in the dry, coastal Viru province in the South American nation's La Libertad region, home to many major ancient cultures over the millennia.
Feren Castillo, an archaeologist at the National University of Trujillo in Peru who heads a research project in the area, said the remains and the walls were likely between 3,100 and 3,800 years old.
"This allows us to have a clear idea of the cultural evolution in this area," Castillo said, adding that finding four remains in such a small space meant there could well be many more buried there.
"It also shows the importance of the space. People have for a long time wanted to be buried in temples because these are very sacred spaces to them," Castillo added.
Peru, rich in archaeological sites of various ages, was home more than 500 years ago to the Inca empire that dominated a sprawling territory in the southern part of the continent from southern Ecuador and Colombia to central Chile until the arrival of Spanish conquistadors.
Researchers in La Libertad last month announced the discovery of the skeletons of 11 "high class" dating to 800 years ago. These were discovered near Chan Chan, the largest mud citadel in the Americas, built by the Chimu culture whose rule spanned swathes of Peru's northern coast.
Stonehenge's hefty Altar Stone came all the way from Scotland nL1N3JZ0DW
Ancient Egypt's 'screaming' mummy woman may have died in agony nL1N3JN13U
Maya sacrifice of twin boys revealed by DNA from Chichen Itza nL1N3IA010
Spain's entombed 'Ivory Lady' reveals leadership role of women in antiquity nL1N38R1DW
Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Marco Aquino and Sarah Morland; Editing by Will Dunham
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
