Bolivian tombs reveal human remains and Inca artefacts from 500 years ago

Tombs contained remains of more than 100 people and vessels used by Incas for performing death rites

Archeologist Jedu Sagarnaga holds a skull as part of an archeological finding, dated approximately 500 years ago, in Mazo Cruz, near Viacha, Bolivia, November 12, 2018 (REUTERS/David Mercado)

Tombs containing human remains and Inca artefacts from more than 500 years ago have been discovered in Bolivia.

Archaeologists say the remains, which were found at a quarry about 12 miles from La Paz, belonged to more than 100 people from an indigenous civilisation.

They were buried with more than 30 vessels used by the Incas for performing death rites.

“The vessels are whole and are Incan,” said Jedu Sagarnaga, an archaeology professor at Universidad Mayor de San Andres, who led the investigation.

The site near the modern-day town of Viacha also contained elongated skulls that may have been stretched to differentiate the social rank of individuals, he said.

The cemetery carved into limestone appears to have been built by the Pacajes people, whose cities were conquered by the Incas towards the end of the 15th century.

Jedu Sadarnaga shows pottery on November 15, 2018 from one of the tombs found at a Bolivian quarry near the capital of La Paz. The tombs contained remains belonging to more than 100 individuals and were buried with more than 30 vessels used by the Incas. (AP/Luis Gandarillas)

The Pacajes formed part of the Aymara kingdom and developed around the year 1200 after the decline of the Tiwanacu people in the Andean highlands.

Julio Condori, an archaeologist who runs the Archaeological and Anthropological Research Centre in Tiwanacu and was not involved in the excavation, said: “This finding reaffirms our identity and culture and shows that not only was there an influence from the Incas, but from other people as well.”

Bolivian Minister of Culture Wilma Alanoca called it an “unprecedented discovery”.

Jedu Sadarnaga shows jewellery on November 15, 2018 from one of the tombs found at a Bolivian quarry near the capital of La Paz. The tombs contained remains belonging to more than 100 individuals and were buried with more than 30 vessels used by the Incas. (AP/Luis Gandarillas)

The site was excavated months ago, but the findings were not made public until this week.

Mr Sagarnaga said that in addition to the bones, the burial site held more than 150 decorative bronze objects including necklaces, bracelets, ornaments for women’s hair, large broaches, and two horseshoe-shaped headbands used by nobles.

“These were personal favourites of the deceased, whereas the vessels were more for the community,” he said.

The archaeologist said the site had been looted in the past, but the tombs were interesting because they held the remains of men and women from different social status.

The remains were taken to an archaeological centre for further study and will eventually be returned to a museum in Viacha.