Latin America has been key in world archaeology for its impressive pre-Columbian finds, including a treasure comparable to that of Tutankhamun. Archaeology in Latin America has been an inexhaustible source of wonder for the world at large. From imposing pre-Columbian civilizations to treasures hidden underground, this region of the world has revealed finds that have had an impact and are essential to human history.
Pyramids, lost cities, ritual artefacts and majestic tombs have placed Latin America at the centre of the most fascinating discoveries in world archaeology. And among them, one treasure in particular marks its history, and bears comparison to Tutankhamun.
Archaeology and the world: the Latin American country with a treasure comparable to Tutankhamun’s
The treasure of the Lord of Sipán, found in northern Peru, has been compared to that of Tutankhamun because of its wealth, symbolism and the impact it had on the world of archaeology. While the tomb of the young Egyptian pharaoh dazzled the world at large in the 20th century with its magnificence, the discovery of the Lord of Sipán in 1987 revealed the splendour of the Mochica civilization, one of the most sophisticated and enigmatic in Latin America.
The Lord of Sipan was the leader of a civilization in Latin America that flourished between the 1st and 8th centuries AD with a sophistication that rivaled the cultures of the Old World. The magnificence of his burial, replete with gold and silver jewelry, fine ceramics and symbols of power, not only revealed the artistic and technological level achieved by the Moche, but also allowed for the reconstruction of key aspects of their worldview, social hierarchy and rituals.
What is this treasure of Latin American archaeology like?
This civilization in Latin America was known for its advanced agriculture, trade, architecture and gold and silver work. They built canals, pyramids (huacas), temples and made ceramics and precious metal jewelry. Their culture disappeared around the year 800 due to climatic disasters, leaving behind their buildings and tombs as a legacy.
This find made by experts in archaeological studies in Latin America includes:
- A gold crown
- A funeral mask and gold ornaments (nose ring, eye rings, chin ring)
- Necklaces and breastplates made of gold, turquoise and shells
- A golden scepter
- Anthropomorphic ceramic vessels (more than a thousand)
- Human and animal sacrifices (a child, women, men, a dog and llamas)
- The Old Lord of Sipán, from an earlier period.
- The Priest, a Mochica religious figure.
- Up to 13 Mochica tombs at the Huaca Rajada site, Sipán.
This discovery has been considered by National Geographic as one of the most important of the 20th century, comparable to the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun or the terracotta warriors of China. In 2002, the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum was opened in Lambayeque, where these treasures are on display, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world.
