An Ancient Cemetery Revealed

In a remarkable archaeological find near Lima, Peru, thousands of Inca mummies have been uncovered from a significant ancient cemetery located beneath a shantytown. This site, believed to be the largest cemetery from a single time period in Peru, has revealed the resting place of potentially 10,000 Incas buried between 1480 and 1535 at Puruchuco in the Rimac Valley.

Lead archaeologist Guillermo Cock has noted that the ongoing destruction of the site is alarming, with daily sewage discharge from the shantytown damaging many mummies and their surroundings. “The impact of humanity on these burials is severe,” Cock remarked, mentioning that some mummies were infested with worms, leading to distressing conditions.

A Treasure Trove of Incan Life

Cock and his team have unearthed between 2,200 and 2,400 Inca remains, providing a comprehensive scientific sample that includes individuals from all walks of life—from infants to the elderly and from the affluent to the impoverished. “This gives us a unique opportunity to explore the Inca community, their health, and cultural practices,” Cock explained during a press conference at National Geographic.

The Inca Empire once stretched across a vast expanse of South America, from Colombia to Chile, until its conquest by Spanish invaders led by Francisco Pizarro in the early 16th century.

The Fascinating Mummy Bundles

Among the discoveries are “mummy bundles,” some containing as many as seven individuals, all buried with their belongings. These bundles can weigh hundreds of pounds and have yielded astonishing artifacts, including well-preserved bodies, a copper mask, a war club, and intricately painted textiles.

Interestingly, the bodies were not embalmed but rather mummified through a deliberate process involving dry soil and textiles that facilitated quicker drying. Cock mentioned that only three bundles had been unwrapped so far, a painstaking and costly endeavor that will take generations to fully comprehend.

One notable bundle, dubbed the “Cotton King,” contained the body of an Inca noble alongside a baby and 70 accompanying items, including food and pottery. The presence of elite individuals wearing elaborate feather  headdresses has provided valuable insights into the social hierarchy of the Incas.

Insights from the False Heads

Another striking discovery involved 22 intact and 18 disturbed “false heads,” or falsas cabezas, typically reserved for the elite. These mummy bundles feature a distinctive bump filled with cotton, resembling a human head, and often adorned with wigs. The positioning of the bodies, curled in a traditional fetal pose with their belongings arranged nearby, suggests a belief in accompanying the deceased into the afterlife.

Cock speculated that when an important individual pᴀssed away, their body might have been set aside until others could join them in burial. “Mummy bundles are like time capsules from the Inca,” said Johan Reinhard, an explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society. The sheer number of mummies from this period offers an unparalleled opportunity for fresh insights into Incan society.

A Race Against Time

The excavation site has yielded around 50,000 to 60,000 artifacts, with 22 currently on display at National Geographic, showcasing ancient ceramic pots and textiles. Over the past three years, Cock and his team have worked tirelessly to salvage as much as possible from the cemetery before the shantytown is demolished for development.

Known as Tupac Amaru, the area has been home to around 1,240 families seeking refuge from guerrilla warfare since 1989. Despite the ongoing threat of destruction—from sewage contamination to bulldozers—shantytown residents have fought to stay, even ᴀssisting archaeologists in their efforts. Many graves were found remarkably close to the surface, notably in a playground that had been leveled in previous years.

Conclusion: A Legacy Preserved

The discovery of this ancient cemetery near Lima not only sheds light on Incan burial practices but also highlights the pressing need for preservation of cultural heritage in the face of modern development. As researchers continue to study these extraordinary finds, the mummies and artifacts unearthed will contribute to a deeper understanding of Inca society, its complexities, and its enduring legacy.