Treasures from antiquity found in 3,000-year-old tomb

Archaeologists in northern Peru have found a tomb that hasn’t been touched for 3,000 years.

The person buried in the grave was given the name “Priest of Pacopampa” by archaeologists because it was discovered in the highland region called Pacopampa.

Scientists carefully excavated through layers of ash and black earth to find his bones. They also found two seals and other valuable items that were given as offerings.
According to Peru’s culture ministry, the seals showed that ancient people of high social rank used special body paint for rituals.

Yuji Seki, the leader of the project, told Reuters that the tomb is very big, about 2 meters in diameter and 1 meter deep. He also said that the position of the body inside the tomb is strange, as the person is lying face down with one half of their body stretched out and their feet crossed.

“I believe he was a prominent figure during his era,” he said.
MrSeki said that the discovery is very important because the priest was among the first to start managing the temples in the northern Andes of the country.

The Pacopampa site is located 2,500m above the sea level. It has nine big ceremonial buildings made of carved and shiny stone.

They are believed to be around 700 to 600 years old.

The excavation is a project where archaeologists from Japan’s National Museum of Ethnology and Peru’s National University of San Marcos are working together.