New Finds

Other Types:
Things to see and do

By Lorraine Caputo

The desert around Chiclayo continues to prove itself as one of Peru’s most archaeologically rich regions. Year after year, with the patient brushing away of sand, more ruins come to the light of modern day.

How do archaeologists make these discoveries? Sometimes it’s just like out of a novel of spies, crimes and intrigues. Someone may notice pottery, jewelry and other artifacts starting to hit the black market, the fruits of huaqueros. Sleuthing around, the archaeologist may—with luck—find the source of those riches. This is the history of Walter Alva and the Lord of Sipán. Or, the periodic El Niño rains also reveal new sites.

One recent discovery on the horizon for ruins rats is Huaca Venterrón. In August 2007 Walter Alva and his team of young scientists began working to uncover this 4,000-year-old temple. A broad, 11-level staircase leads to the top platform. Decoratioons of the adobe holy place include red zig-zag bands and murals of deer catured in nets. Another is a tomb that's discovery was announced in July 2008 by Bruno Alva Meneses and Canadian Steve Bourget. The 1,700-year-old Mochica tomb is in the Úcupe archeological complex, some 40 kilometers (24 miles) from Chiclayo. So far, a body, gold jewelry and ceramics have been unearthed.

The Úcupe site cannot presently be visited. Visits to Huaca Ventarrón are semi-restricted. Write to Dr. Walter Alva, director of the Museo de Tumbas Reales de Sipán in Lambayeque, expressing the reason for wanting to see the ruins and a date / time for the visit.