Pre-Inca tombs found in Peru

Ferrenafe, Peru Archaeologists said Tuesday they have unearthed 22 graves in northern Peru containing a trove of pre-Inca artifacts, including the first tumi^*1 ceremonial knives ever discovered by archaeologists rather than looted by thieves.

This discovery comes as an important contribution to know the burial rites of the elite of this culture, It’s confirmed that no tumi had before been unearthed by archaeologists. The tombs, more than 900 years old, were found next to a pyramid in the Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary, 420 miles northwest of the capital, Lima. They are from the Sican culture, which flourished on Peru's northern desert coast from A.D. 750 to 1375.

Shimada, of Southern Illinois University, began excavations at the site in July with Carlos Elera Arevalo, director of Peru's Sican National Museum. He said 10 tumi knives were found, including a 14-inch copper alloy tumi bearing the image of the Sican deity.

The tumi has for many years been the symbol of Peru, and yet no decorated tumi has ever been found or documented scientifically.

One grave contains the remains of a woman about 25 years old buried with 120 miniature clay "crisoles" or crucibles, Which is believed that were made by each member of the funeral ceremony "as a sort of last offering to be placed in the burial chamber."

*1 The Tumi is a sacrificial ceremonial knife, made of either bronze, gold, silver, or copper, used by some Inca and pre-Inca cultures in the Peruvian Coastal Region.

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