11:32 | Trujillo (La Libertad region), Aug. 19.
For the first time, archaeologists have found the complete remains of two Kogiids at Huanchaco Beach —located in the province of Trujillo in northern La Libertad region. The cetaceans are believed to be offerings left by ancient residents of the
Moche society.
The offering ceremony —which saw the largest marine species ever known— took place more than 1,500 years ago along the Huanchaco coastline in Peru's La Libertad region.
The ritual was conducted by men of the Moche culture (100-700 AD). The aim was to find and build a sacred temple dedicated to the worship of a deity that ruled the seas.
This information was released by Gabriel Prieto, head of the Huanchaco Archaeological Project, after excavations at Huaca de los Sacrificios (a mass child sacrifice site) in the archaeological area of Pampa La Cruz.
Prieto and his team have so far found five marine species, which were used as offerings during the ceremony, including sharks, moonfishes or sunfishes, tunas, and rays.
Major discovery
Nevertheless, what caught Huanchaco-native researcher's attention the most was the complete skeletons of two Kogiids —an uncommon species of Cetacea of whose little information has been obtained from stranded specimens.
"This is a sensational discovery. It consists of a series of marine offerings, large and unusual fishes even for Peruvian biology, in particular, these two complete skeletons of cetaceans or Kogiids, which are believed to have been used as a foundational offering to kick off the construction of this structure during the days of the Moche civilization," Prieto stated.
(END) DOP/MAO/RMB/MVB
Publicado: 19/8/2019