- Title: PERU: Archaeologists discover hundreds of Inca burial sites atop mountain
- Date: 15th June 2011
- Summary: CHUMBIVILCAS, CUSCO, PERU (JUNE 12, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (CH.N - NO ACCESS PERU) MOUNTAINS WHERE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IS LOCATED INCA BURIAL SITE VARIOUS OF FUNERAL TOWERS ARTIFACTS AND REMAINS WRAPPED IN BASKET THAT WAS WOVEN BY USING ROPES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HEAD OF THE CHUMBIVILCAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE JORGE ATAUCONCHA SAYING: "Workers from the Ministry of Culture are currently in the process of registration. We have 370 tombs that are situated to the right of the basin of the Chinisiri and Kerone Rivers." ARCHAEOLOGISTS ON SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HEAD OF THE CHUMBIVILCAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE JORGE ATAUCONCHA SAYING: "There are various burial styles. We have tombs that are quadrangular, circular, terraced into the rock walls, we have some that are in holes, and we also have some underneath the stone floors." VARIOUS OF REMAINS AND OTHER ARTIFACTS AT THE SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HEAD OF THE CHUMBIVILCAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE JORGE ATAUCONCHA SAYING: "These individuals have a funeral characteristic that involved baskets made of rope, and they were woven based on the individuals volume, and each time that they were wrapped, the volume of the body was reduced." GENERAL VIEW OF BURIAL SITE
- Embargoed: 30th June 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Peru, Peru
- Country: Peru
- Topics: History,Science
- Reuters ID: LVA49FVKI4S379VJ4LQ2JCL17CXY
- Story Text: Peruvian archaeologists registered on Sunday (June 12) 370 Inca tombs located in the cultural site of Chinisiri located in Chumbivilcas.
The tombs are perched high atop the mountains and some of them still have the remains of the deceased located inside baskets made of woven ropes.
"Workers from the Ministry of Culture are currently in the process of registration. We have 370 tombs that are situated to the right of the basin of the Chinisiri and Kerone Rivers," Jorge Atauconcha, head of the Chumbivilcas archaeological zone, said.
Atauconcha explained the culture that inhabited the area used various styles for burying their deceased.
"There are various burial styles. We have tombs that are quadrangular, circular, terraced into the rock walls, we have some that are in holes, and we also have some underneath the stone floors," he said.
The most interesting aspect was how the bodies were encased in baskets made of ropes, a space-saving tactic.
"These individuals have a funeral characteristic that involved baskets made of rope, and they were woven based on the individuals volume, and each time that they were wrapped, the volume of the body was reduced," Atauconcha said.
The site is located some 3,726 meters (2,315 miles) above sea level, and is situated in between massive rock formations and caves. Experts believe the site could yield more tombs and artifacts, however, the terrain has proven difficult to explore.
Experts have dated the site to be between 1400 to 1500 AD. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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