Peru finds ancient burial cave of warrior tribe - Chachapoyas, white-skinned aka "Cloud People"

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 10/5/06 | Robin Emmott

[NormsRevenge]

LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Archeologists have uncovered a 600-year-old, large underground cemetery belonging to a Peruvian warrior culture, thought to be the first discovery of its kind, an official said on Thursday.

After a tip-off from a farmer in Peru's northern Amazon jungle, archeologists from Peru's National Culture Institute last week found the 820-feet-(250-meter)deep cave that was used for burial and worship by the Chachapoyas tribe.

So far archeologists have found five mummies, two of which are intact with skin and hair, as well as ceramics, textiles and wall paintings, the expedition's leader and regional cultural director Herman Corbera told Reuters.

"This is a discovery of transcendental importance. We have found these five mummies but I believe there could be many more," Corbera said. "We think this is the first time any kind of underground burial site this size has been found belonging to Chachapoyas or other cultures in the region," he added.

The Chacapoyas, a white-skinned tribe known as the "Cloud People" by the Incas because of the cloud forests they inhabited in northern Peru, ruled the area from around 800 AD to around 1475, when they were conquered by the Incas.

GREAT WARRIORS

But their strong resistance to the Incas, who built an empire ranging from northern Ecuador to southern Chile from the 1400s until the Spanish conquest of the 1530s, earned them a reputation as great warriors.

They are best-known today by tourists for their stone citadel Kuelap, near the modern town of Chachapoyas.

In 1996, archeologists found six ancient burial houses containing several mummies, thought to belong to the Chachapoyas.

"The remote site for this cemetery tells us that the Chachapoyas had enormous respect for their ancestors because they hid them away for protection," Corbera said.

"Locals call the cave Iyacyecuj, or Enchanted Water in Quechua, because of its spiritual importance and its underground rivers," he added.

Corbera said the walls in the limestone cave near the mummies were covered with wall paintings of faces and warrior-like figures that may have been drawn to ward off intruders and evil spirits.

"The idea now is to turn this cave into a museum, but we've got a huge amount of research to do first and protecting the site is a big issue," Corbera said, adding that looters had already vandalized a small part of the cave in search of mummies or gold.

Archeologists have uncovered thousands of mummies in Peru in recent years, mostly from the Inca culture five centuries ago, including about 2,000 unearthed from under a shantytown near the capital Lima in 2002.

One of Peru's most famous mummies is "Juanita the Ice Maiden," a girl preserved in ice on a mountain.

[NormsRevenge]

One of the five mummies that archeologists found in Peru October 2, 2006. Archeologists have uncovered a 600-year-old, large underground cemetery belonging to a Peruvian warrior culture, thought to be the first discovery of its kind, an official said on Thursday. After a tip-off from a farmer in Peru's northern Amazon jungle, archeologists from Peru's National Culture Institute last week found the 820-feet-(250-meter)deep cave that was used for burial and worship by the Chachapoyas tribe. Picture taken October 2, 2006. REUTERS/Stringer (PERU)

[NormsRevenge]

Some of the five mummies that archeologists found in Peru October 2, 2006. Archeologists have uncovered a 600-year-old, large underground cemetery belonging to a Peruvian warrior culture, thought to be the first discovery of its kind, an official said on Thursday. After a tip-off from a farmer in Peru's northern Amazon jungle, archeologists from Peru's National Culture Institute last week found the 820-feet-(250-meter)deep cave that was used for burial and worship by the Chachapoyas tribe. Picture taken October 2, 2006. QUALITY FROM SOURCE REUTERS/Stringer (PERU)

[Pharmboy]

GGG ping...

[Pharmboy]

The Chacapoyas, a white-skinned tribe known as the "Cloud People" by the Incas because of the cloud forests they inhabited in northern Peru, ruled the area from around 800 AD to around 1475, when they were conquered by the Incas.

Extreme eastern Celts??

[NormsRevenge]

http://www.inkanatura.com/interiorchachapoyaskuelap.asp

[lesser_satan]

bump

[YdontUleaveLibs]

Could be.

[AliVeritas]

BTTT

[tet68]

Could this be the burial ground of the "Wild Tchapatulas"?

[Slowsky]

Wait, I thought the Incas were innocent natives conquered ruthlessley by Europeans? They couldn't possibly have conquered another tribe? \s

[keithtoo]

They even had their own logo...

[blam]

Excellent find.

Not much is known about the Chapapoyas. It sure would be nice if we could get a DNA sample from one of these mummies and compare it with 9,400 year old Spirit Cave Man and the 8,000 year old Windover mummies found in Florida.

Something I posted previously on the Chapapoyas:

Pre-Inca Ruins Emerging From Peru's Cloud Forest (Chapapoyas)

[gleeaikin]

"Extreme eastern Celts?"

It will be interesting to see if DNA studies can be made and determination made of their origin. Other candidates beside Celts, might be Iberians, or Scandinavians.

[SunkenCiv]

I think they invented toilet paper.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Pharmboy for the ping, and NormsRevenge for the topic.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[blam]

2004: Top (Archaeological) Finds On Bolivian Highlands

“By comparing small details, such as clothing, headgear, jewellery and even facial characteristics, to other finds from the highland area, we can actually start drawing conclusions about the ethnic identities of the people who lived there at the time. The discovery also provides new information on the relationship between the Inca and Tiwanaku cultures,” Korpisaari says. "

[blam]

"Other candidates beside Celts, might be Iberians, or Scandinavians."

King Solomon's miners? (Ofir)

[Ptarmigan]

Interesting find. I have read that these White Indian tribes could be related to Basques, Celts, Berber, Guanche, and Dals. I wonder if Anasazi could be related to them too? I have seen Anasazi relics and they look very Celtic like.

[Fred Nerks]

http://www.inkanatura.com/interiorchachapoyaskuelap.asp

remind you of anything?

[BenLurkin]

LOL!