Approximately 600 years ago, more than 30 people were buried in a grand mausoleum near the present-day city of Trujillo (Peru). The deceased were interred with metal weapons, gold and bronze artifacts, and exquisite jewelry, evidence that they belonged to the royal or elite class.
This tomb has been perfectly hidden beneath layers of sand and rock at the ancient city of Chan Chan (a UNESCO World Heritage site) for the past six centuries, escaping the ravages of both time and colonial tomb robbers. This integrity is all the more remarkable considering it dates back to the Inca Empire's conquest of the region in the 15th century.
Jorge Meneses, head of the archaeological team, told the press: “This is the first time we have found a nearly perfect burial space of the elite, with the main tomb sealed shut for 600 years. Previously, all data about Chimú funeral rituals was obtained from tombs that had been looted and disturbed.”
Once the largest city in the Americas with 60,000 inhabitants, Chan Chan was the heart of the Chimú civilization (which existed from 900 to 1470). It is considered the "first truly technological society in the New World," with a masterful irrigation system that helped them conquer the harsh desert valley.
The newly discovered tomb is located within the Utzh An Royal complex. A staircase leads down to the main burial chamber, nearly 5 meters deep, containing the remains of a single individual. The skull bears traces of red powder. The missing bone fragments suggest that the remains may have been reburied – a common practice of ancestor worship in Andean societies of that time.
Adjacent to the main chamber are two auxiliary rooms, one of which contains approximately 20 sets of remains. Combined with the bodies in the surrounding foundation, the total number of people buried here amounts to at least 38.
Although their identities and causes of death remain a mystery, Gabriel Prieto, an anthropologist at the University of Florida, told the New York Times that this is "the discovery of the decade."
This untouched discovery not only offers a rare opportunity to decipher the funeral rituals and social system of the Chimú people, but also reveals enormous untapped archaeological potential. To date, scientists have only excavated “less than 7% of the total area of Chan Chan,” indicating that this ancient capital still holds countless stories and secrets waiting to be revealed.