Archaeologists have unearthed 73 mummies in Peru, some adorned with intricately carved masks, dating back to various periods between 800 and 1100 AD.
The mummies were found in an astonishing state of preservation, wrapped in funeral bundles at Pachacamac, an extensive burial complex dating back to the era of the Wari Empire’s expansion.
Scientists from the University of Warsaw explained that some of the mummies were wearing masks made of carved wood and ceramics, on so-called “false heads,” designed to give the deceased a lifelike presence during their transition to the “world of ancestors.”
The mummified remains, discovered in recent excavations, were also wrapped in cloth and ropes, some of which were colored.
The scientists believe that the dead were thought to transition to their ancestors’ world, provided that “family members fulfill their duty and prepare the deceased for the afterlife. This duty of ensuring continuity of life after death for direct ancestors was taken very seriously.”
Near the mummified remains, archaeologists also discovered two wooden staffs bearing images of prominent figures from the Wari Empire. These staffs were found in a layer covered with parts of spiky oyster shells, which the archaeologists suspect were likely imported from Ecuador.
While the site was initially discovered in the early 19th century by archaeologists, it underwent systematic destruction during colonial times and by grave robbers before further detailed studies could be conducted.
