Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Untouched 600-Year-Old Chimú Tomb Declared 'Discovery of the Decade'

An undisturbed mausoleum, sealed for approximately 600 years, has been unearthed in Peru, offering unprecedented insights into the pre-Inca Chimú civilization. The tomb, found at Chan Chan, contains the remains of at least 38 individuals and grave goods.

The mausoleum, dating to the mid-15th century, was discovered with its entrance buried. It is believed to contain high-status individuals interred with metal weapons, gold and copper artifacts, jewelry, and textiles.

This find is significant as it's the first time archaeologists have accessed an intact elite burial platform with unaltered contents. Previous knowledge came from looted sites or museum collections.

The Chimú civilization, thriving between 900 and 1470, was known for advanced irrigation. Rulers resided in palaces, often with funerary platforms.

The tomb's central chamber held the remains of a single individual with traces of red pigment. Some bones were missing, suggesting reburial, a common practice.

Flanking the central chamber were two rooms: one nearly empty, the other with about 20 sets of human remains and artifacts. An additional 17 skeletons were found outside, totaling at least 38 individuals.

While details like age and cause of death are unknown, researchers are confident the individuals were elite. The tomb is expected to illuminate Chimú funerary practices and social structures.

The discovery also highlights the vastness of unexplored areas within Chan Chan, with less than 7 percent excavated, suggesting much more remains to be uncovered.

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