Lake of the Condors

From Wiki Sumaq Peru

Archeological complex composed of six mausoleums, presents architectural features of the Chachapoyas Civilization and is decorated with paintings in which were found close to one hundred bales funeral, fine fabrics, wooden carved ceramics, decorated quipus mates, crowns and various objects of great value. It is located in the district of Leymebamba. To reach the site, it is necessaryto to go by horse an average of ten hours from Leymebamba.

To visit all the archeological site, 3 days are required not only becuase of the location of the archaeological ress but also because of the rough area.

It's called "Lake of the Condors" because the first people who discovered it, stated that over the impressive lake, whose waters are blue-green, in previous years Condors flying could be appreciated . Around this beautiful lagoon are the old buildings (mausoleums) and in its interiors were found funerary bales, objects and crafts, which have now been transferred to the museum of Leymebamba.

Description

Covered by the cloud forest in the eastern flanks of the Andes, hangs a row of graves on the waters of a lagoon. Hidden in a narrow natural shelter, l00 meters above the lagoon of the Condors, the structures remained abandoned for almost 500 years. Composed of six chullpas or tombs (Mausoleums), and the foundations for a seventh, the funeral site is one of 18 sites documented in the limestone cliffs that are hovering on the Lake of the Condors. Despite that, the workers who discovered the site in late 1996, removed almost all the mausoleum, cutting with knifes funeral bundles and destroying valuable information context, the more than 200 mummies recovered, and a quantity of offerings, dates Chachapoyas (800-1470 AD), Chachapoya-Inca (1470-1532) and early Colonial (1532-1570).

The builders took advantage of a natural ledge of the cliff, modifying it, leveling the floor and creating cornices smaller in the crag, where they built low stone walls and mortar of clay, which served as a backup to the back of the roof of the graves. Each tomb measures about 3 meters high and is divided into two levels with a platform of small logs. The structures are essentially quadrangular, built in blocks of limestone settled with mud mortar. All have windows that overlook the lagoon and into the old settlement Llaqtacocha.

First Expedition

When knowing of this forgotten necropolis the archaeologist Federico Kauffmann Doig, thanks to news disseminated by the anthropologist and journalist Alvaro Rocha, immediately proceeded to organize an expedition.

Towards that solitary place went Kauffmann Doig, in May 1997, in the first shipment with professional archaeologists, after the inspection by officials of the National Institute of Culture (INC in Spanish) based in the city of Chachapoyas. The expedition was led by Kauffmann and was sponsored by the government of Peru through Promperu.

Llaqtacocha

In 1999 the Center Mallqui conducted excavations in the old residential site on the north side of the lagoon. Known today as Llaqtacocha or "people on the lagoon, the site covers nearly 33 hectares and includes the remains of about 130 structures, the majority are circular rooms, probably places of the people buried in chullpas. The excavations have revealed Chachapoya and Inca -provincial- pottery, indicating that Llaqtacocha and the site of the chullpas, in the opposite margin of the lagoon, are contemporaries. The site could have been founded in times as early as 1200 AD, and includes rectangular structures associated with the occupation Inca, as well as possibly buildings constructed in early colonial times.

Llaqtacocha has been severely damaged as a result of deforestation for seeking pasture for the livestock. Limestone blocks of buildings were destroyed under the impact of downed trees and forest fires. The few remnants of walls were thrown down by the free-ranging cattle, trampling the old drainage systems on the site. As a result, few walls in Llaqtacocha stand now over 1 meter. Llaqtacocha presents a particularly elaborate drainage network. Cobbled Channels go through the settlement, and small bridges of stone allowed access to the cornices.

The mausoleums

A high crag overlooking the Black Lagoon was used by the Chachapoyas as a place for the construction of monumental burial chambers.

The mausoleums founded are almost intact: mummies some of them covered by wooden coffins, spears and wooden idols, abundant and diverse pottery and suggestive paintings are part of this fascinating legacy. Each of the burial chambers housed a large number of bales, for several generations of individuals probably related. Ceremonial dresses with rich iconography Chachapoyas and Inca were used as wrappers, along with pieces of cloth. The evidence found shows that the same space was occupied not only by Sachapuyas (Chachapoyas), but also by Incas and Chimu. In fact, The Incas led by Tupac Yupanqui conquered the region around the year 1470. The presence of the Incas could be explained by the system of mitimaes (entire populations moved away from their place of origin) who were used by the Quechuas to maintain better control of peoples subjugated.

Today, despite the seemingly fluid contact maintained in the past by these diverse peoples, reaching the domains of the Lake of the Condors is not an easy task, even for the experienced expeditionary. In the way that stars on Leimebamba, the walker has to pass circumvented swamps, steep mountains and cold and desolate mountain ranges to get to the jungle where these mausoleums lie, wrapped by the fog and partially covered by a curtain of water coming down from the summit.

The Quipus

In 1996, a major repository of mummies was discovered in a group of burial sites located above the Lake of Condors, 32 quipus were found.

After the initial discovery, the tombs were looted with the aim of finding precious. All the mummies and artifacts were removed from the caves, many of funeral bundles were cut with Knifes. Because of this, the original correspondence between bales of mummies, khipus and other devices with their original Chullpas of mauseluem has been irretrievably lost. In 1997, the Bio-anthropology Foundation of Peru - Mallqui Center under the leadership of Dr. Sonia Guillen and Adriana Von Hagen, along with the Common Wealth of Leymebamba conducted a vigorous rescue operation, moving objects from the lake to the community. They are now safe and protected in the Museum of Leymebamba.

The collection and provision of Quipu from this finding is one of the most important collections in existence of these devices. Despite prove impossible to correlate any particularly Quipu with some mummy, researchers and scholars -for the first time- have access to a group of Quipus whose archaeological context is well known. Within the collection there are two groups that were found bundled or keep in the tomb together. Additionally, recent analysis using the Quipu Database has found a game or set of three Quipus not physically connected which are closely related and have consistent numerical sequences. The collection of Quipus from Chachapoyas inspires new questions about the use of these record devices to register same files or data, and on the reasons for rolling or tie and thus connect certain quipus with other. Over time, through a carefully study this important Quipu file may perhaps reveal answers to questions concerning techniques and practices keeping records in this ancient devices.

References

khipukamayuq.fas.harvard.edu (Spanish)
centromallqui.org.pe (Spanish)
Cementerio de Cultura Chachapoyas - Terrae Antiqvae
Momias de la cultura Chachapoyas - Terrae Antiqvae

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