Archaeologists working in Peru have uncovered a 3,000-year-old sealed corridor dubbed “the condor’s passageway” that likely leads to other chambers inside what was once a massive temple complex about the ancient Chavin culture. The discovery is a rare opportunity to delve into the earliest days of Chavin, revealing more about their advanced art and religious practices.
The discovery was made in the northern highlands of the Andes at the Chavin de Huantar archaeological site, located around 190 miles (306 km) northeast of Lima. The archaeologists believe the corridor is part of an underground system connected to a series of vaulted rooms and shrines. The archaeologists also found a mummy believed to date back to the Chavin period, which they estimate at around 1500BC, and a frieze depicting the figure of an animal that may have been a crested eagle or hawk.
According to Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, the mummy is thought to be of a woman who died from childbirth. The mummy was discovered in a burial chamber near the entrance to the U-shaped temple. It is believed she was buried with her unborn child, who died shortly after birth. The mummy was covered with cotton and a resin layer to keep it moist and preserve it. The remains of the child are still inside the mummy.
The discovery is the latest addition to the extensive excavation at the site, which has been underway since 2009. It has already revealed more about Chavin than any other Peruvian temple complex. It is one of the most important centers for the ancient Chavin culture, thriving from around 1,500-550 B.C. The culture was a high-level society interested in binaries such as men and women, the sun and moon, water and sky, and more. The architecture reflects this.
The complex was abandoned in 200 BC, coinciding with the disappearance of the Chavin civilization. It was investigated again in 1919 by Julio C Tello, who drew national and international attention to it. He is considered the father of Peruvian archaeology.
Despite its importance, the site has been under threat of being destroyed by grave robbers for hundreds of years. The robbers are known as vaqueros, taking their name from the Quechua word for temple. They often stab the ground to find bones or even entire tombs. Technological advances in drones and other tools have helped curb their efforts.
While a tour of the Chavin site is only available to some of the public, tourists can visit another magnificent temple complex in Lambayeque called Museo de Tumbes Reales. This museum displays an incredible collection of gold and silver pieces, including a statue of the god Inti. Several reconstructed buildings from various periods in Peru’s history are in the same complex, such as a Moche pyramid. Sadly, the museum is safe from squatters who use heavy machinery to destroy ceramics and tombs containing mummies. The settlers claim they own the land on which the archaeological site is, which is why the Peruvian government has yet to do much to stop them.