Archaeologists have recently discovered a mass grave in what is now Trujillo, Peru, containing the remains of approximately 25 individuals, primarily women and a few children, surrounded by textile tools including needles, stakes, and chalk.
The Peruvian Ministry of Culture stated that since the women were buried with these items, they may have been textile specialists. The women were interred in a seated position, with their legs drawn up, and most were under the age of 30.
Mass grave of women weavers from the 15th century in Peru.
Jorge Meneses Bartra, the archaeologist leading the research project, told Peru’s Andina news agency: “This is a very special group; they were not particularly young, considering the average human lifespan at that time was around 40 years. The skeletons were wrapped in a type of cotton fabric and then covered with another fabric made from plant fibers.”
The number of artifacts found in this mass grave includes dozens of ceramic items. This suggests that the buried individuals belonged to the upper class.
Archaeologists discovered that the mass grave measures 10 meters in length and width, sealed with mud and containing fragments that may have been used as grave markers.
The ancient city of Chan Chan, meaning “shining sun” in Chimú, is the largest city in pre-Columbian America and was the capital of the Chimú Empire, known for conducting human sacrifice rituals. This empire reached its peak in the 15th century before being conquered by the Inca around 1470.
Archaeologists have not yet found any evidence indicating that the remains in this mass grave were the result of sacrifices. In fact, researchers are still unsure how these individuals died.
Within the grave, archaeologists discovered one skeleton “still in anatomical position” and another skeleton in disarray. This finding suggests that ancient peoples buried their dead immediately after death, while some were interred after a period of time.
