MessageToEagle.com – Archaeologists have unearthed several very peculiar artifacts in an ancient tomb that belonged to a powerful Mochica ruler. The tomb is about 1,500 years old and contains among other things odd metal claws and a pyramid-shaped copper scepter.
Two thousand years ago a mysterious and little known civilization ruled the northern coast of Peru. Its people were called the Moche.
The name is taken from the great site of Moche, in the river valley of the same name, which appears to have been the capital or chief city of the Moche peoples. Their settlements extended along the hot, arid coast of northern Peru from the Lambayeque River valley south for more than 215 miles (350 km) to the Nepeña River valley.
They built huge and bizarre pyramids that still dominate the surrounding countryside; some well over a hundred feet tall.
Many are so heavily eroded they look like natural hills; only close up can you see they are made up of millions of mud bricks.
Several of the pyramids, known as ‘huacas’, meaning sacred site in the local Indian dialect, contain rich collections of murals depicting both secular and sacred scenes from the Moche world.
Others house the elaborate tombs of Moche leaders.
Until the 1980s the culture’s best-known remains were those of Moche itself, near Trujillo in the Moche River valley. Two giant structures, known as the Temple of the Sun (Huaca del Sol) and the Temple of the Moon (Huaca de la Luna), dominate the site, though there is no evidence that they were ever so dedicated.
Unfortunately, very little is still known about the Moche civilization because they left no written texts to help explain their beliefs and customs.
Excavations in the region might help shed some light on the mysterious Moche civilizations.
According to Peru This Week the previously unknown tomb was discovered by archaeologists working at the Huaca de la Luna, Peru.
The tomb, which contained the remains of an adult male about 30 years, held a number of objects indicating the man’s elite status.
The body was accompanied by a copper scepter similar to the one found with the Lord of Sipan. Bronze earrings, a mask, and ceremonial ceramics were also found.
The most interesting artifacts, however, were small pieces made to look like feline jaws and paws. The claws are made of metal. Archaeologists believe the artifacts were ritual costume used in ceremonial combat.
“The scepter signifies power; the earrings, status; and the canchero [ceremonial ceramic piece] is indicative of an elite personage,” Santiago Uceda, co-director of the digs at the Huaca de la Luna and the Huaca del Sol told El Comercio.
“This find allows us to complement [what we know about] history. In six months, we’ll know the age and other details about these artifacts,” he added.
The remains of the ruler are set to be examined by a forensic investigator from the United States in Trujillo.
© MessageToEagle.com