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Tomb find reveals pre-Inca city | Tomb find reveals pre-Inca city |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Archaeologists working in northern Peru have discovered a spectacular tomb complex about 1,000 years old. | Archaeologists working in northern Peru have discovered a spectacular tomb complex about 1,000 years old. |
The complex contains at least 20 tombs, and dates from the pre-Inca Sican era. | The complex contains at least 20 tombs, and dates from the pre-Inca Sican era. |
Among the discoveries are 12 "tumis", ceremonial knives which scientists have not been able to study in a burial site before, as well as ceramics and masks. | |
The Sican culture flourished from approximately AD 800-1300, one of several metalworking societies which succumbed to drought and conquest. | The Sican culture flourished from approximately AD 800-1300, one of several metalworking societies which succumbed to drought and conquest. |
Archaeologists working on the project say the find will help them understand details of the culture. | Archaeologists working on the project say the find will help them understand details of the culture. |
Sican was a very organised society Izumi Shimada "It is a religious city, a sacred settlement, and at each excavation site is a cemetery," Izumi Shimada told Peru's El Comercio newspaper. | Sican was a very organised society Izumi Shimada "It is a religious city, a sacred settlement, and at each excavation site is a cemetery," Izumi Shimada told Peru's El Comercio newspaper. |
"That tells us that Sican was a very organised society." | "That tells us that Sican was a very organised society." |
Professor Shimada, based at the University of Southern Illinois in the US, has been excavating Sican sites for a quarter of a century. The latest dig was performed in conjunction with the Sican National Museum. | Professor Shimada, based at the University of Southern Illinois in the US, has been excavating Sican sites for a quarter of a century. The latest dig was performed in conjunction with the Sican National Museum. |
Trading goods | Trading goods |
The burial site sits on Peru's northern coast, near the town of Ferrenafe. | The burial site sits on Peru's northern coast, near the town of Ferrenafe. |
Discoveries in the tomb complex include tumis formed from an alloy of silver, copper and gold; masks, breastplates and ceramics. | Discoveries in the tomb complex include tumis formed from an alloy of silver, copper and gold; masks, breastplates and ceramics. |
The site contains at least 20 tombs, making it a "religious city"Buried in a pyramid 30m (100ft) long, archaeologists found the bones of a woman in her early 20s surrounded by figurines of Sican gods, ceramics and objects in copper and gold. | The site contains at least 20 tombs, making it a "religious city"Buried in a pyramid 30m (100ft) long, archaeologists found the bones of a woman in her early 20s surrounded by figurines of Sican gods, ceramics and objects in copper and gold. |
Another set of bones, clearly from a person of some stature, were found in a seated position accompanied by a metallic crown, part of a thorny oyster, and various ceramic objects including a vase. | Another set of bones, clearly from a person of some stature, were found in a seated position accompanied by a metallic crown, part of a thorny oyster, and various ceramic objects including a vase. |
The tumis are a prize find, because until now the knives have come to scientists from tomb raiders. Finding them in situ would allow a closer understanding of their role in Sican culture, researchers said. | The tumis are a prize find, because until now the knives have come to scientists from tomb raiders. Finding them in situ would allow a closer understanding of their role in Sican culture, researchers said. |
One of the tumis features a representation of Naylamp, the mythical founder of Sican society who according to legend emerged from the sea and became a god. | One of the tumis features a representation of Naylamp, the mythical founder of Sican society who according to legend emerged from the sea and became a god. |
The Sican were noted for producing gold, silver and copper in quantities which were substantial for the period. | The Sican were noted for producing gold, silver and copper in quantities which were substantial for the period. |
They traded shells and stones with societies in what are now Ecuador, Chile and Colombia. | They traded shells and stones with societies in what are now Ecuador, Chile and Colombia. |
Their civilisation had already declined by the time that the mightiest of Peruvian cultures, the Inca, rose to prominence about AD 1200. | Their civilisation had already declined by the time that the mightiest of Peruvian cultures, the Inca, rose to prominence about AD 1200. |
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