Amazing ancient tomb of priest found in Peru

Female attribute found in male burial

Archaeologists have found in Peru the tomb of an ancient clergyman, whose age is estimated at 3,000 years. This find is very intrigued by scientists with its unusual details.

In northern Peru, archaeologists have unearthed a 3,000-year-old tomb that they believe could be dedicated to an elite religious leader in the Andean country some three millennia ago, Reuters reported.

Called the “Priest of Pacopampa” (referring to the high-mountain archaeological area where the tomb was found), the ancient cleric was buried under six layers of ash mixed with black earth, decorated with ceramic bowls and seals indicating ancient ritual body paint. used for elite people, Peru’s culture ministry said in a statement.

Two seals were also found along the upper edges of the tomb, one with an anthropomorphic face facing east and the other with a jaguar face facing west.

Project leader Yuji Seki said the large size of the tomb, nearly two meters (2.2 yards) in diameter and one meter (3.3 feet) deep, seemed “very unusual”, as did the position of the body, lying face down with an outstretched half of the body and crossed legs.

He added that the body also contained a bone in the shape of a tupu, a large pin used by Andean Indians to fasten cloaks and ponchos, which was probably used to hold a woman’s blanket.

“Even though this person is a man, his associations are very peculiar,” said Seki. “I think he was a leader in his time.”

The Pacopampa archaeological project has been operating in the area since 2005, the ministry said, adding that rock layers indicate the priest, who was buried around 1200 BC, was about five centuries older than the tombs of the “Lady of Pacopampa.” and “Priests of the Snake Jaguar of Pakopampa”, which were discovered in 2009 and 2015, respectively.