Existing between the 7th and 13th centuries, the Wari culture thrived over the lands that modern-day Peru encompasses. By 1100 CE, however, the growing Inca Empire overtook them.
In northern Peru, archaeologists have unveiled a significant find—an ancestral worship site dating back nearly a millennium, providing unique insights into the period before the Inca Empire’s dominance.
In a region spanning 900 kilometers north of Lima called Cajamarca, a collaboration between Peruvian and Japanese archaeologists led to the discovery of this sacred site. As Shinya Watanabe, a prominent Japanese archaeologist and Nanzan University professor shared with AFP, the site dates to the Wari period, which is estimated to be “between 800 to 1000 years CE.”
Sacred Chambers and Ceremonial Artefacts
Among the unique structures uncovered, two burial chambers stood out. Each chamber, designed with two levels, was built with pits designated for mummies and spiritual offerings. Interestingly, these chambers boasted five niches, housing varied offerings from ceramic fragments and mollusk shells to a distinctive tripod dish supported by three conical legs.
As Watanabe emphasized, the discovery is especially significant because “the archaeologists were looking for evidence of the Wari culture.” The site also yielded a bundle containing a female figurine, a black Wari ceremonial vessel, musical ceramic wind instruments, and copper fasteners.
A Cultural Melting Pot
Located in the Jequetepeque valley, near Ecuador, this region was once a bustling ceremonial center. As Watanabe elucidated, “Many people of multiple origins lived here,” with the core purpose being the “cult of the ancestors.”
Judith Padilla, who oversees Cajamarca’s cultural division, highlighted that these revelations provide a deeper understanding of the rituals and lifestyles of the ancient civilizations that once called this region home.
The Legacy of the Wari
Existing between the 7th and 13th centuries, the Wari culture thrived over the lands that modern-day Peru encompasses. By 1100 CE, however, the growing Inca Empire overtook them.
The exploration was spearheaded by the Project of Archaeological Investigation (PIA) Terlen-La Bomba, which spans 24 hectares. The Ministry of Culture emphasized the research’s aim: to comprehend the socio-political dynamics of the Cajamarca culture during the Middle Horizon and its intricate connection with the Wari civilization.
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