An unlooted royal tomb, belonging to the Wari civilization was discovered by archaeologists from Peru. The tomb contains treasures and mummified skeletons of women, which are approximately 1200 years old
In an unexpected discovery, archaeologists from Peru unearthed an unlooted royal Wari tomb which along with treasures, contained bodies of women that may have been mummified more than 1,200 years ago. Archaeologists say that this discovery could help shed more light on the Wari Empire, which ruled way before the better known Inca Civilization in the Andes. The tomb was discovered in El Castillo de Huarmey, about 280 kms (175 miles) north of Lima.
Approximately 60 mummified skeletons were retrieved from the tomb, three of which belonged to Wari queens. The bodies were buried laden with gold and silver jewellery as well as brilliantly-painted ceramics. Some other skeletons were found in the tomb sitting in an upright position which indicated royalty.
"We have found for the first time in Peruvian archaeological history, an imperial tomb of the Wari culture," co-director of the project Milosz Giersz from the University of Warsaw in Poland was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. "The contents of the chamber consisted of 63 human bodies, most of them women, wrapped in funerary bundles buried in the typical seated position, a native Wari pattern."
According to forensic archaeologist Wieslaw Wieckowski, the way some of the skeletons in the tomb were positioned indicated human sacrifice. In a press statement, published by theNational Geographic Society, who supported the discovery, Wieckowski revealed that six of the skeletons were not in "textiles" but were placed on top of the other burials in very strange positions.
"The fact that most of the skeletons were of women and the very rich grave goods, leads us to the interpretation that this was a tomb of the royal elite and that also changes our point of view on the position of the women in the Wari culture," he said.
Waris ruled the Peruvian Andes between 600 and 1100 A.D. and were instrumental in unifying the different tribes of the region, according to historians.
For months now, archaeologists have been secretly digging the site in hopes of unearthing more fascinating discoveries. The archaeologists have been very careful and secretive so as not to attract grave looters.
