Uncovering the past
LIMA, Peru – Last week, the Virú Valley Archaeological Research Project (PAVI) made an astonishing archaeological discovery that could fundamentally change our understanding of the ancient history of northern Peru. The announcement, made at the Queneto archaeological site in the San Juan Gorge (Virú, about 500 km north of Lima), was spearheaded by doctoral student Feren Castillo Luján and graduate student Christian González, both from the Faculty of Archaeology of the National University of Trujillo (UNT).
The team of archaeologists has excavated the skeletal remains of four people buried about 3,800 years ago in Peru’s Virú Valley. These remains were found in what appears to be a pre-Inca temple dedicated to a water cult that is almost four millennia old – a discovery that could “redefine” our understanding of South American history.
Bird carving on the temple complex in Cerro Las Animas. Corteys: Archaeological project of the Ucupe cultural landscape
Among the remains were those of two children, a teenager and an adult, all buried within the confines of what is believed to be an ancient temple. The individuals lay on their sides, facing a nearby mountain, a detail that may have symbolic meaning. Alongside the bodies, the team discovered grave goods, including stone pendants and snail shells, which provided further insight into the cultural practices of the time.
Before this discovery, the temple site was associated with an ancient water cult that probably existed over 3,000 years ago.
The excavation, which covered an area of 51 square metres – just 1% of the entire site – revealed cobblestone walls covered in mud plaster, indicating five interconnected environments. These environments, characterised by their rounded corners, reveal a unique architectural style from the Early Formative period, which spanned approximately 1800 BC to 900 BC.
Research team that excavated the tombs at the Queneto archaeological site in Peru. (Image credit: National University of Trujillo)
Castillo Luján noted that the early ceramic fragments uncovered at the site bear a striking resemblance to those of other important settlements such as Gramalote in the Moche Valley and Huaca Negra near the coast in the Virú Valley. This similarity suggests a broader cultural connection between these regions during the Early Formative Period.
The burial site dates from a time when Peru’s ancient peoples were building monumental structures, including early pyramids, and beginning to use ceramics on a large scale. The site, which predates the Inca Empire, offers a glimpse into a time long before that civilization’s rise in the Andes. The newly discovered tombs at Queneto offer a rare and valuable window into an even earlier era, shedding light on the complex societies that existed long before the Inca Empire.
The discovery of these tombs is particularly significant because it is thousands of years older than Peru’s most famous archaeological site, Machu Picchu – which itself is a testament to the advanced civilizations that inhabited this region.
Although humans have been known to inhabit Peru for over 15,000 years, it was not until 5000 to 3000 BCE that people on the coast of Peru began to form organized societies with political systems. From about 2000 BCE, evidence suggests the emergence of institutionalized religions among these ancient peoples, although much about their beliefs and social structures remains shrouded in mystery.
The positioning of the bodies overlooking the hills could provide clues to the religious or cultural beliefs of these ancient peoples.
Editor’s note: The researchers have published pictures of the bodies and their burials, which have not been included in this article out of respect for the ancestors.
Mountains are considered sacred in Andean cosmology. They are vital sources of life-giving water for irrigating the arid landscape of northern Peru. This location has led researchers to speculate that the placement of the bodies may have been an act of reverence toward this vital element.
The temple in which these tombs were found was built of cobblestone walls held together by mud plaster and featured rounded corners – a characteristic architectural style of the period. Pottery fragments discovered at the site also suggest a connection with the unknown water cult and reinforce the venerable connection between the ancient peoples and their environment.
This priceless archaeological site will no doubt gradually reveal more secrets, but it is under threat. The increasing agricultural use of the area poses a serious threat to the preservation of the ancient remains. The archaeologists have asked the local population for their help and shared responsibility to protect this cultural heritage.
This discovery at Queneto is not only an archaeological milestone, but also an important reminder of the importance of preserving our shared history for future generations. It is also a powerful example of our dependence on water.
As researchers continue to unlock the secrets of this ancient civilization, their work underscores the importance of protecting these sites and ensuring that the stories of our ancestors are not lost to time.
“The tourist potential of the area is immense, but beyond that we must reflect on the importance of valuing and preserving our cultural identity,” stressed Castillo Luján. He called for immediate action to protect the site and warned that time is running out.
Castillo Luján then stressed the importance of giving the preservation of cultural identity the highest priority. “Time is running out and urgent action must be taken to preserve this place before it is too late.”
