Gas pipe workers have discovered the remains of eight people, who were buried alongside musical instruments and food in Peru 800 years ago. The bodies of adults and children had been covered in plant material before being buried, at the site in Chilca, Peru, which is about 37 miles (60km) south of Lima. Workers laying gas pipes found the remains with corn, dishes, and a variety of wind instruments, including flutes, placed around them.
Insights into the Chilca Culture
Cecilia Camargo, an archaeologist hired by the Calidda gas company, whose workers made the discovery, said it provides information on pre-Hispanic Chilca. “Food, artefacts and ancient funeral bundles containing the remains of eight inhabitants were uncovered by workers of the gas distributing company Calidda, during the installation of natural gas pipes in Chilca, Peru,” she explained.
The remains, buried approximately 800 years ago, belonged to the Chilca culture, a small pre-hispanic village that remained isolated from other pre-hispanic cultures in its territory. The history of Chilca dates back to about 7000 BCE, with houses discovered going back as far as 5800 BCE, according to archaeologists.
Preserving Peru’s Archaeological Heritage
The recently discovered remains were of people alive around 1220 CE, during the rise of the Inca empire, but are said to belong to the Chilca culture, which remained isolated from other pre-Hispanic cultures in the area. The Incan empire reigned until the Spanish arrived in the sixteenth century, when the Hispanic-era began.
For nearly two decades, workers for Calidda, building gas lines across Peru’s capital, Lima, have found themselves unearthing a treasure trove of history. Peruvian workers laying gas pipes found the remains with corn, dishes, and a variety of wind instruments, including flutes, placed around the bodies. Archaeologists have been working through the remains to better understand the people that lived in the pre-Hispanic village.
This remarkable discovery in Chilca provides a window into the lives and practices of the pre-Hispanic Chilca people. By preserving these ancient artifacts and carefully studying the remains, archaeologists can uncover the forgotten histories that lie beneath the modern landscape of Peru. The efforts of the Calidda gas company to protect and document these important findings are crucial for preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region.