3,000-Year-Old Tomb of Possible Earth-Spirit Mediator Shaman Discovered in Peru

A 3,000-year-old tomb has been found by archaeologists in Peru. The tomb was discovered to hold a "priest's" remains that were buried with a jaguar's depiction.

3,000-Year-Old Tomb of Shaman

The tomb was specifically found at the Pacompampa Archaeological Complex, which holds several prehistoric burials that Japanese and Peruvian archaeologists have been excavating for nearly two decades.

The burial was found to host three stamps of ceramic that had engraved images, including the said jaguar. Such stamps could have been utilized for body painting.

Aside from this, the specialists also found decorated ceramics within the tomb.

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Priestly Shaman?

The face of the priestly shaman was found to be covered with red cinnabar, which is a natural substance that is difficult to get as it needs to be sourced from the mountains. Archaeologist Yuji Seki, who is from the National Museum of Ethnology in Japan and who serves as the archaeological team's director, explains that cinnabar is thought to have originated from the central Andean highlands. They also think that only the elite could have accessed it or used it in a trade that spans a large distance.

Seki explains that though the team referred to the individual as a priest, the person could have had a shaman-like figure, adding that the individuals could have manipulated the powers of snakes, bird prey, and jaguars like shamans. The archaeologists that were involved in the discovery also cautioned that it is premature for the individual to be dubbed a priest.

In the past, individuals could have gone to shamans to get answers or healing aid, while the shaman could have used the perceived link with the spiritual realm to aid these individuals. This meant that the shaman could have had the capacity to mediate between the earthly and spiritual realms. Seki adds that the stamps that were spotted inside the tomb could have been authority symbols.

Though the team is not yet finished with radiocarbon dating, the artifacts' styles match those of others found within the region that have been analyzed and dated to around 3,000 years ago.

The items found along the person's body include body painting seals and full ceramic vessels. According to associate professor Jason Nesbitt from Tulane University, who has performed extensive archaeological efforts across Peru, these findings suggest the elite status of this person. Professor Nesbitt expresses his excitement regarding a more in-depth look into the person's actual skeleton and data regarding the person's sex and age.

Senior curator Justin Jennings from Canada's Royal Ontario Museum warns that there is a need for caution when it comes to concluding the individual's identification, adding that it seems premature to refer to the individual as an elite or priest. Jennings also adds that it is unlikely that roles were established at the time this person was buried inside the tomb.