In northwestern Peru, archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a 5000-year-old ceremonial temple and human remains under a sand dune. The find is located in the Zaña area and is part of the Los Paredones de la Otra Banda - Las Ánimas archaeological complex.
Excavations that started on June 3 uncovered the remains of the walls of a multi-story temple. Among the walls, researchers found the skeletons of three adults. The burials contain offerings wrapped in cloth, which may indicate sacrificial rituals at this site.
"We are probably exploring a 5000-year-old religious complex in an archaeological space defined by clay walls. There is what could have been a central staircase, leading to a unique stage in the central part," said Luis Armando Muro Iñonan, head of the cultural landscapes archaeology project of Ucupe - Zaña Valley.
The walls are adorned with intricate friezes depicting the human body with bird heads, feline characteristics, and reptilian claws. The upper parts of the walls were covered with "thin plaster with painted designs."
Researchers also discovered a monument dating back to the years 600-700 AD, a period of the Moché culture in Peru. The Moché, known for their majestic temples and exquisite works of art, particularly ceramic goblets shaped like human heads, practiced human sacrifices. The team also identified the burial of a 5-6-year-old child, which occurred much later.
Source: Livescience
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