A large number of funerary contexts have been discovered during the construction works for the National Museum of Archeology situated in the Pampa Norte area of the Pachacamac Sanctuary.
All this material was part of an archaeological rescue and is now held by the site museum at this popular pre-Hispanic pilgrimage site.
It should be pointed out that archaeologists have been studying the best-preserved bundles since 2019.
According to Sarita Fuentes —an archaeologist from that museum— the most interesting thing about this work is that "they (the bundles) have not been unpacked."
Modern look
Unlike traditional methods, new technologies have been used to keep these ancient remains intact.
Thanks to the partnership between the Pachacamac Museum and the Canadian-Peruvian bioarchaeological project 'Mummies as Microcosms,' computed tomography (CT) scan and X-rays have been used to examine the inside of each bundle. Thus, their content has been unveiled without disturbing them.
For example, research has revealed remains of Spondylus, which had been very common in the pre-Hispanic world since ancient times. Besides, ceramics had been wrapped up in such burial fabrics.
Additionally, this technology provides information on how the buried bodies decomposed, which is useful for archaeologists.
(END) ECG/RMB
Published: 5/18/2021