LIMA (AFP) – A team of Peruvian and Japanese archaeologists has unearthed a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in northern Peru dedicated to ancestor worship, with burial chambers, human remains and ceramic offerings.
“We have discovered an archaeological site of the Wari period with an antiquity of between 800 to 1000 years CE” in the Cajamarca region 900 kilometres north of Lima, Japanese archaeologist Shinya Watanabe told AFP on Saturday.
“Two burial chambers with pits for placing mummies and offerings to the ancestors were found at the site,” the expert said.
Each of the burial chambers contains two levels, and both have five niches in the walls that contain offerings such as mollusk shells, ceramic fragments and a tripod dish with three conical supports.
“It is a great find because the archaeologists were looking for evidence of the Wari culture,” said Watanabe, who is a professor at Nanzan University in Japan.
A bundle containing a female character, a black Wari ceremonial vessel, two musical ceramic wind instruments, and two copper fasteners were also found.
The discovery occurred in the Jequetepeque valley in the province of San Miguel in Cajamarca.
“Many people of multiple origins lived here. It was a ceremonial centre dedicated to the cult of the ancestors,” Watanabe said.
