LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

With the title of “Momias de Leymebamba, Misterios de la Gente de las Nuves”, appear a sample of 93 objects of the Chachapoyas culture, originating from the Zone of Leymebamba, exactly of the Lagoon of the "Cóndores". Between these objects, there are 12 fardos, wood ceramics, objects, basketwork and metal. The pieces are dated from the Inca time and return to Peru after to be exposed in Austria and Italy.

LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

The twelve momias found in the Peruvian amazonian forest, astonishes to the archaeologists by the “excellent conservation” and try to explain how it is that they managed to conserve itself so well.

Momias discovered in the Peruvian amazonian forest continues surprising the investigators who found them seven years back, by the way in which were processed.

LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

“Not yet we know what the Incas used, that is most amazing in this exhibition, to watch the excellent state of conservation of momias, processed with herbs, naturally, but still it is a mystery how”, said to AP Sonia Guillén, the archaeologist in charge of the care of momias discovered in 1996 in the peruvian amazon.

The exhibition “Mysteries of the people of clouds” left the city of Leymebamba for the first time, Leymebamba is located to 800 kilometers to the northeast of Lima, city in which is a museum with 2,049 bodies of children, young people, and old, mummify with Incas procedures, with an antiquity of around 500 years.

LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

The twelve momias and 81 objects, between vasijas, musical instruments and others, were presented/displayed for first time in Italy and Austria. Now it is prepared to be exposed by only a month in the city of Lima, and then they return to his place of origin.

In the sample they appear momias, still surrounded in the "fardos", layers of blanket that in certain cases arrive up to six, which they surround to the bodies placed with the doubled inferior extremities, and the superior ones touching to the maxilares bones, and present/display an admirable state of conservation, some even maintain still all his set of teeth.

LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

“What still it surprises to us, and it maintains us in mystery is how they managed to obtain a mummify process so perfected”, Guillén reiterated, while it point some skin that still is maintained in the bodies.

It said that these mummification stand out because they were obtained in hostile environment for the process, with humidity, insects, and discharges temperatures.

LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

The scientist lamented that many of the archaeological objects of the Chachapoya - Inca Culture (by the place where they were discover) has been sacked. “Some mumies have tracks of mistreat of knives, "machetes", and other objects that people used to extract and to sell the treasures”.

He said that the investigators are “in a race” to recover everything of this culture and protect it and avoid the illegal traffic.

LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

Nevertheless, he indicated that the thins recovered has been sufficient to maintain constant scientific studies of the bodies and that has helped the investigators to reveal the life of this culture, recognized by its archaeology, and whom were dedicated to agriculture and the war.

LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

“We have found momias that demonstrate that this town suffered of tuberculosis, and other that register the past warlike of this people”, it was indicated for Guillén, and it indicated that between the found bodies were wizards (chamanes), heads Incas, and other personalities of the town that lived in the forest.

Source: AP, 10 of January of 2007

LEYMEBAMBA MUMMIES, MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE OF CLOUDS

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