Chachapoyas Mummies of the Amazon region, Peru
The
Chachapoyas, also called the Warriors of the Clouds,
were an Andean people living in the cloud forests of the
Amazonas region of northern Peru from 800 A.D to about
1475 A.D until they were conquered and exterminated by
the Incas led by Tupac Yupanqui. The Incas conquered
their civilization shortly before the arrival of the
Spanish in Peru. When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the
XVI century, the Chachapoyas were one of the many
nations ruled by the Inca Empire. Their incorporation
into the Inca Empire had not been easy, due to their
constant resistance to the Inca troops. The name
Chachapoya is in fact the name that was given to this
culture by the Inca; the name that these people may have
actually used to refer to themselves is not known.
The presence of two funeral patterns are also typical
from the Chachapoyas culture. One of them is represented
by sarcophagi, placed vertically and located in caves
that were excavated in the highest place of the
precipices. The other funeral pattern was groups of
mausoleums; that is to say "mansions for deceased
people". They were constructed like tiny houses and were
located in caves worked in cliffs.
A 600-year old mummy from the Chachapoyas culture was
recently found in the mountains of Kohechan, in the
Peruvian northern department of Amazonas. The hidden
burial vault in the Amazon, part of a massive cave
complex that unwinds 82ft down, contained a dozen
mummies, including one of a woman with her hands over
her eyes and her face allegedly gripped with horror.
The vault -also used for worship- was discovered by
chance in October 2006 by Bernardo Chuquizuta, a
potato-farmer working at the edge of northern Peru’s
rainforest. He tipped off scientists who uncovered
ceramics, textiles and wall paintings.
Hernan Corbera, the leader of the archaeological team
that explored the cave, said: ‘This is a discovery of
transcendental importance. It is the first time any kind
of underground burial site this size has been found
belonging to Chachapoyas or other cultures in the
region.’.
X-rays showed that their internal organs had been
removed. The skin was embalmed through some treatment.
Cotton was filled into the facial cavity. The
Chachapoyas also chose a site covered by ledge, one of
the driest places in the jungles to ensure the
preservation
The mummies -together with the ceramics, textiles, and
metal artefacts found in the vault- are currently being
exhibited (until February 25th 2007) at the Museo de la
Nación (Av. Javier Prado Este 2465 - San Borja, Phone
476-9933).
Moment 600 years ago that terror came to Mummies of the
Amazon
January 10, 2007 Source:
ThisIsLondon
Hands over her eyes and her face gripped with terror,
the woman's fear of death is all too obvious. The remarkable mummy was found in a hidden burial vault
in the Amazon.
It is at least 600 years old and has survived thanks to
the embalming skills of her tribe, the Chachapoyas or
cloud warriors.
Eleven further mummies were recovered from the massive
cave complex 82ft down.
The vault - which was also used for worship - was
chanced upon three months ago by a farmer working at the
edge of northern Peru's rainforest. He tipped off
scientists who uncovered ceramics, textiles and wall
paintings.
The Chachapoyas were a tall, fair-haired, light-skinned
race that some researchers believe may have come from
Europe.
Little is known about them except that they were one of
the more advanced ancient civilizations in the area.
Adept at fighting, they commanded a large kingdom from
the year 800 to 1500 that stretched across the Andes.
It is not known what the Chachapoyas actually called
themselves - they are identified by the name given to
them by their rivals and eventual conquerors, the Incas.
It comes from the Inca's Quechua language and means
'cloud people', because of the high forests in the
clouds that the Chachapoyas inhabited.
Virtually all record of the tribe was lost when the
Incas were themselves overrun by the Spanish
conquistadors who landed in 1512.
They have, however, left behind a spectacular citadel,
called Kuelap, 10,000ft up in the Andes.
It has more than 400 buildings and defensive towers,
many of them with decorated walls, cornices and friezes.
Some experts rate Kuelap more highly than the Incan
ruins at Machu Picchu.
Hernan Corbera, the leader of the archaeological team
that explored the cave, said: 'This is a discovery of
transcendental importance.
'It is the first time any kind of underground burial
site this size has been found belonging to Chachapoyas
or other cultures in the region.'
He said walls near the mummies in the limestone cave
were covered with paintings of faces and warriorlike
figures which may have been drawn to ward off intruders
and evil spirits.
'The remote site for this cemetery tells us that the
Chachapoyas had enormous respect for their ancestors
because they hid them away for protection,' added Mr
Corbera.
'Locals call the cave Iyacyecuj, or enchanted water,
because of its spiritual importance and its underground
rivers.' The archaeologists have not yet established an
accurate age for their finds.
Once they have finished exploring and excavating the
tomb, Peruvian authorities want to turn it into a
museum. The mummies are going on show at the Museum of
the Nation in the capital Lima.
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