Archaeologists believe they have solved the mystery of why this 1,000-year-old “petrified” mummy covers its face.
When archaeologists from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos set out to begin excavating at Cajamarquilla, an archaeological site located just 25 kilometers inland from the coastal city and capital of Lima, Peru, they had no idea what they were about to do. an incredible and valuable discovery. In October 2021, approximately 40 people began digging for artifacts and it wasn’t long before they found the archaeological treasure.
Fetal position
During the excavation, archaeologists were not sure exactly what they would find and certainly could not predict the location of the valuable artifact they soon unearthed in the tomb. Without a doubt, the most incredible discovery of the excavation was a mummy in almost perfect condition. The entire body was well preserved and is, without a doubt, that of a human being.
Pennsylvania State University associate professor of Latin American history Christopher Healey explained that “artificially preserved mummies from the Andes do not look like mummies from Egypt.” Instead, these mummies were wrapped in layers of leather and cloth to form small bundles that were placed in a crouching position.
The position the mummy was found in is a little creepy to see today, but it was actually very common in funerary rituals during the height of the Huari civilization. The body was wrapped in cloth and tied with ropes in the fetal position. The strangest thing was that the hands covered the face. What seems like a painful death for the mummy was actually a position created by those in charge of the funeral, a ritualistic practice for the dead.
What we have learned about the discovery
Upon examining the mummy’s body, archaeologists determined that it was a man, between 25 and 30 years old. It has also been determined that this particular man must have been someone important in his society, as not everyone would have been buried with the same care as him.
Cajamarquilla’s location allowed it to become a prosperous city where people from the coast and mountains could gather to engage in trade. Therefore, researchers believe that the mummy they found here was the son of a rich merchant. This is supported by the other artifacts found in the tomb with the mummy. By comparing funerary practices with those of the Lord of Sipán, the 1,700-year-old mummy of a ruler previously found in Peru with similar burial patterns, researchers have been able to more clearly understand the social status of this man.
The mummification process
The Andean region was home to many different cultures, all of which practiced different mummification processes depending on their location. Depending on the area, mummification could be achieved through desiccation or freeze-drying, caused by the natural climatic conditions of the desert or mountains where the mummification process took place. It could also be achieved through the use of alcohol or salt, aided by the extraction of flesh and bodily fluids from the corpse to achieve the desired result.
During the decline of the Huari civilization, funerary practices became much less intricate and more careless. Many of the remains discovered from this period have broken bones or fractures, suggesting violence between humans that led to the end of civilization. Therefore, archaeologists have also suggested that this specimen likely lived between 800 and 1,200 years ago, during the height of the Huari civilization, prior to the Inca civilization.
Also in the grave
Along with the mummy, other important objects were found in the tomb that have helped clarify the customs of the past. Various plant and animal remains such as dogs, guinea pigs and llamas were found, as well as primitive musical instruments, suggesting that visitors attended the tomb for years after the man’s death.
One of the excavation’s chief archaeologists, Pieter Van Dalen Luna, said: “For them, death was not the end, but rather a transition to a parallel world where the dead lived. “They thought that the souls of the dead became the protectors of the living.” This knowledge has allowed archaeologists to understand why remains of marine mollusks were also found in the tomb. Located relatively close to the coast, the tomb would be filled with offerings of marine mollusks made by the living.
Other sacrificed bodies
Archaeologists also found eight children and 12 other adults who were found outside the mummy’s tomb. It is believed that these bodies were sacrificed in an ancient pre-Hispanic ritual to accompany the burial of the mummy. The bodies of the children were found wrapped in funeral bundles and the adults were in the form of skeletons, without having been subjected to a mummification process.
The conclusions about the sacrifice of these 20 bodies also arose from a comparison of the Lord of Sipán, who was also discovered with the remains of children and adults who were sacrificed to be buried next to him.
On display
The discovery of the mummy in these conditions was incredible. The co-director of the excavation, Yamira Huamán Santillán, said: “The entire team was very happy because we did not think this was going to happen.” Their findings exceeded expectations and have helped us better understand the pre-Hispanic period.
The mummy, now called “Chabelo,” as well as the remains of the eight children and 12 adults, were removed from the tomb and placed on display at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru. Along with them, the different remains of food, instruments and other artifacts have been placed on display. The exhibition is now public so that those interested in learning about pre-Hispanic culture can see this disturbing discovery.
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