Mummy Discovery in Peru Highlights Chancay Civilization
posted in Archaeology |Decorated with scarlet paint and a tattoo, a well –preserved mummy, 1000-year old, was discovered in Peru. The anthropologists removed the layers of ancient textiles on the thirty- year -old male at a lab in Lima. Other things found were a slingshots, figurine in similar dress and corn.
The artefacts, excavation site and the mummy indicate that the Chancay civilization had a tight grip on the fertile areas of the north-central Pacific coast of Peru between 1000A.D. and 1500 A.D. It fell to the Inca empire.
The discovery of the mummy in corn-cob lined tomb in Chancay civilization Rontoy farming village is quite a breakthrough. Scientistsists have nicknamed the mummy as “ Kiko Rontoy”. It holds a loop of yarn and empty bag in its right hand. Kernels and corncobs were found in the layers.
Corn was used to make a type of beer known as chichi and used for food according to Guiellermo Cock, Peruvian archaeologist as well as an Andean expert culture. Since the corn in the burial was in abundance, it indicates that the mummy belonged to social status of high order. Of course, some amount of corn is found in burials.
The mummy was found dressed in loin cloth and two tunics. A foot long wooden figurine, dressed similar to mummy, was found near the head of the mummy. Further study is essential to understand the significance of the artefacts.
A black tattoo was found on the right knee. Tattoos indicate high social status. The mummy’s face was covered with gauzy, loosely woven material. In each layer, little offerings could be seen, such as, a piece of silver. He also had a sliver bead necklace adorned on a cotton string around his neck.
The well- preserved face of the mummy was covered with red paint prepared with mercury sulfide, an adornment which is indicative of a high ranking individual’s burial. Pieces of silver and copper metal cover the eyes. Another such piece is placed between the teeth.
The mummy’s bowels seems to have been removed from the anus, which indicates they may have been enlarged. Disembowelment, which is practiced by the Egyptians, helps in the preservation of the body. The tight wrapping of the mummy in textiles also helped in its preservation.
Other prehistoric mummies were not found in the specially built Kiko Rontoy’s tomb. A burial from the 1800s was discovered at the top of the site that was dug.