Cerro Pátapo ruins

Northern Wari ruins
—  Ruins  —
Northern Wari ruins Approximate location in Peru
Coordinates: 6°43′17″S 79°38′41″W / 6.72139°S 79.64472°W / -6.72139; -79.64472Coordinates: 6°43′17″S 79°38′41″W / 6.72139°S 79.64472°W / -6.72139; -79.64472
Country	Peru
Region	Lambayeque Region
Province	Chiclayo Province
Government
– Type	None
Population
– Total	0
Time zone	PET (UTC-5)

The Cerro Pátapo ruins or Northern Wari ruins are the remains of an entire prehistoric city relatively near where site of present-day Chiclayo, Peru. The ruins are primarily of the Wari (Huari) culture. The discovery was announced on 16 December 2008 by the lead archeologist, Cesar Soriano. The ruins present the first evidence of Wari influence found in Northern Peru and show this was an important site.^[1] Located 14 miles (23 km) from Chiclayo, the ruins stretch over an area of 3 miles (4.8 km).^[2]

The Wari pre-Columbian civilization was predominantly based in south Peru between the 7th and 12th centuries (600 to 1100 CE.) It was known for its network of roads, and had a territory nearly as large as that of the later Inca Empire.^[1][3] Scholars note its complex, distinctive architecture, monuments and roadbuilding as evidence that it was an empire.^[4]

Discovery

The city was part of the Wari Empire, which ruled parts of the Andes mountains, mostly in south-central Peru, between the 7th and 12th centuries CE. The site is remarkably well preserved due to the dry desert climate. Among the artifacts are pottery sherds. The site also includes evidence of human sacrifice, with special spots set aside and a pile of bones at the bottom of a cliff. Well-preserved remains have been found of one young woman.^[1][2]

The ruins are expected to help scholars fill the gap in knowledge about pre-Columbian South America, which was dominated by the Wari culture and the earlier Moche culture. The Moche began at AD 100 and perished around AD 600.^[5]

Earlier in August 2008, archeologists at the Huaca Pucllana ruins in Lima (located some 500 miles / 800 kilometres south of Chiclayo) discovered a mummy that is also thought to be Wari.^[2][6] This was a more typical location for such a find, within the territory known to be Wari.

See also

Peru portal

• Wari ruins

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "'Ancient city unearthed' in Peru". BBC. 17 December 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7787053.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Archeologists in Peru unearth ancient Wari city". Reuters. 16 December 2008. http://uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUKTRE4BF7NY20081216. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
3. ^ "Ancient city ruins found in northern Peru". Guardian. 17 December 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/17/northern-peru-ancient-city. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
4. ^ > Katharine Schreiber, "Wari Empire - Excavations at Wari, Ayachucho, Peru", JRank, accessed 3 Nov 2010
5. ^ "Ancient Buried City Showing Signs Of Human Sacrifice Unearthed In Northern Peru". All headlines news. 17 December 2008. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013438496. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
6. ^ Ford, Dana (27 August 2008). "Pre-Incan female Wari mummy unearthed in Peru". Reuters. http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-35186820080827. Retrieved 2008-12-19. 

External links