Lord of Sipán
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The Lord of Sipán (El Señor de Sipán) is a mummy found in Sipán by Peruvian archaeologist Walter Alva in 1987. The tomb is in Sipán's Huaca Rajada, an area in Chiclayo.
The Lord of Sipán tomb is a Moche culture site in Peru. Some archaeologists hold it to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries in this region of the world in the last 30 years, because the main tomb was found intact and untouched by thieves.
Sipán is located in the northern part of Peru, close to the coast, in the middle of the Lambayeque Valley, 35 km east of Chiclayo, Peru. Four tombs have been found in Sipán's Huaca Rajada, a mausoleum built by the Moche culture that ruled the northern coast of Peru from around 1 AD to 700 AD.
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Location
Sipán is roughly around 20 miles East of the city of Chiclayo and 45–50 miles away from Lambayeque.
The discovery was made in the town of Sipan and Saltur annex belonging to the district Zaña. The site belonged to the Moche (Mochican) culture that mainly worships the god Ai Apaec (Ayapec) as "principal" god or deity.
His clothing
The clothing of this warrior and ruler suggest he was approximately 1.67 m tall. He probably died within three months of governing. His jewelry and ornaments which indicate he was of the highest rank, include pectoral, necklaces, nose rings, ear rings, helmets, falconry and bracelets. Most were of gold, silver, copper, gold and semi-precious stones. In his tomb were found more than 400 jewels.
Found on the Lord of Sipán, was a precious necklace with beads of gold and silver in the shape of maní, or peanut kernels to represent the tierra, the earth. The peanut kernels represented the earth to signify that man came from the land, and that when they die, they return back to the earth; the Moches harvested peanuts and knew that they came from the ground, therefore they were symbolic. The necklace itself has 10 kernels to the right that are gold which signifies masculinity and the sun god, while the kernels that are located on the left side are silver to represent femininity and the moon god.
Grave
Because of his high rank this ruler was buried along with eight people, apparently his wife and two other women (possibly concubines), a military commander, a watchman, a banner holder and a child. Among the animals found was a dog.
The priest
Below the tomb of the Lord of Sipan, two other tombs were found, a priest and the Old Lord of Sipan.
The priest, by DNA analysis carried out, was contemporary with the Lord of Sipan. In the pieces that accompanied him stand out as religious symbols, the cup or bowl for the sacrifices, a metal crown adorned with an owl with its wings extended, and other items for worship of the moon.
The Old Lord of Sipan
DNA analysis of remains of The Old Lord of Sipan has proved that the Old Lord was a direct ancestor of the Lord of Sipan.
In his tomb was found the remains of a young woman, and sumptuous costumes filled with gold and silver.
For a 3D simulation of the funeral, click here [1]
DNA Testing
Thanks to archeological research and DNA testing, it has been possible to deduce certain characteristics of the Lord of Sipán, such as skin colour, the form of his lips, hair, eyes and other facial features. It was also possible to provide an accurate estimate of his age at death, allowing for a more accurate facial reconstruction.
Museum
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The Royal Tombs Museum of Sipán houses most of the important findings that Dr. Walter Alva Alva found in 1987. He was the one who prompted the construction of a museum (Royal Tombs of Sipán) which was inaugurated in 2002. The museum is located in the town of Lambayeque, Peru (which also happens to be in the "state" of Lambayeque) in Peru. The museum itself is constructed to look similar to the ancient Moche tombs (with the exception of giant golden figures on the side). What is unique about the museum is that Dr. Alva lives very close to the museum and his first wife, with whom he found the Lord of Sipán, is buried beneath the front lawn of the museum.
The museum's main attraction is the Lord of Sipan and his eight guests that went to the afterworld with him. The warriors that were buried with him were buried with amputated feet so they couldn't run away from the tomb. The women were dressed in their ceremonial clothes. Dogs, llamas, and 80+ huacos (Peruvian pottery) were also buried in the tomb.
