Archeologists discovered a pre-Hispanic fresco that depicts mythological scenes from northern Peru. They had previously only seen it in black and white photos that were more than 100 years old.
Sam Ghavami (a Swiss archeologist) said, “It’s an extraordinary discovery, first and foremost because it is rare for such quality wall paintings in pre-Columbian arheology.” He led the excavations that revealed the mural in October.
Ghavami spent 4 years searching for the rock paintings, which he believes to be approximately 1,000 years old. He also worked with Peruvian students.
The archaeologist who studied at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, said that “the composition of this painting was unique in the history of mural art in pre-Hispanic Peru.”
The Huaca Pintada temple houses the fresco. This temple belonged to the Moche civilization which thrived between the 1st century and the 8th century. The Moon, the rain and iguanas.
The mural, which is uncovered, measures approximately 30 meters (98 feet). Its images in blue, brown and red paints, as well as those in white and mustard yellow paint, are exceptionally well preserved.
A procession of warriors is seen in one section heading towards a birdlike deity.
“The painted images appear to be inspired by the concept of a sacred hierarchy centered around a cult-of-ancestors’ intimate links with the deceased. Forces of natureGhavami said,
According to him, he would be working with AFP to decipher the message of the mural’s message. However, he said that he believed it could be interpreted as a metaphorical representation of the political and religious order of ancient residents.
It is also unique in that the discovery shows a combination of styles and elements from two pre-Incan cultures, the Moche (pre-Incan culture) and the Lambayeque (pre-Incan culture), who lived along Peru’s north coast from 900 to 1350 CE.
Scientists have forgotten
The existence of the mural was not known except by black-and white photographs taken in 1916 in Peru by Hans Heinrich Bruning, a German ethnologist who had lived in Peru many years.
Ghavami stated that treasure hunters had demolished a wall in their attempt to find the site.
Moreover, nobody knew anything about Bruning’s photos until they were discovered in 1978.
“Archeologists knew about Huaca Pintada since then. But no one excavated the site because they believed they would not find anything there.”
Thick foliage grew over the years. Ghavami was attracted to the fresco while he was working on his doctoral thesis about cultural transitions, such as those between the Moche-Lamalayeque civilizations.
He had to first fight hard for permission from his family, who owns the land where the mural is situated.
Ghavami said, “It took me 2 years to get them to let me dig. I tried different solutions with the help of a shaman who works in the spirit of shrine.”
