James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on January 29, 2021 by James Bustamante
The Lord of Sipan has always intrigued visitors who are visiting the Northern area of Peru.
Commonly, the main focus for travelers is the Machu Picchu hike which is located in the Andean region of Peru.
Northern Peru also has plenty to offer travelers, this includes a visit to this iconic site.
There are several programs that include traveling up North and it is usually included within a 10 day Peru itinerary.
Lord of Sipan Discovery
The Lord of Sipan (El Señor de Sipán) is the name given to the first of several Moche mummies.
These were discovered by archaeologist Walter Alva in 1987 at Huaca Rajada, Sipan, Peru.
This incredible discovery is considered by many to be amongst the most important in South America in the last 30 years.
This is mainly due to the principal tomb being found untouched and in a pristine condition.
The Royal Tombs Museum of Sipan was constructed in nearby Lambayeque.
It holds some of the rarest and most fascinating artifacts of Peru’s ancient Moche civilization.
Tourists may visit the museum and see some of these artifacts first hand.
The Decorations of Lord of Sipan
This important person had illustrious jewelry and ornaments, which among other items included headdresses, a face mask, and an incredibly detailed pectoral plate made entirely of gold.
It was also adorned with carvings illustrating the head of a man and the body of an octopus.
Also buried with the Lord of Sipan were many ceremonial utensils such as tropical sea shells, silver and gold rattles, knives, golden death-masks.
It doesn’t end there, there were gold bells showing a deity that is severing human heads.
There were three other headdresses and hundreds of beads. According to specialists in this ancient Northern culture.
This is all strong evidence that this man was a high ranking Moche warrior-priest.
This also suggests that he was a preeminent ruler of the Lambayeque valley.
This mighty noble, was probably viewed by his people as having god-like powers.
He is known as the Lord of Sipan, which seems to be the reason for the next amazing fact.
What Else is Buried with Lord of Sipan
The Lord of Sipan was buried with many amazing things, none as amazing as the six other people that were buried with him!
Visitors can gain insight into the Moche people as a guide explains who these people were.
Among them were three young women dressed in ceremonial robes who seem to have been either wives or concubines, two robust males with amputated feet on the long sides (possibly warriors who were sacrificed to accompany their lord), and a child of about nine or ten years of age, placed at the head of his coffin.
The remains of a third male were later found on the roof of the burial chamber sitting in a niche overlooking the chamber.
There was also a dog, which may have been the Lord of Sipan’s favorite pet, and two llamas, which were probably offerings.
Conclusion
Remember, there are amazing places to visit throughout the entirety of Peru, Machu Picchu travel is just the icing on the travel cake.
You can literally go from Lima to Machu Picchu and then fly to Northern Peru to see The Lord of Sipan in Northern Peru within the same itinerary.
This is only a small but amazing part of your Machu Picchu trip. There are many other places to see as well as many other events to witness.
Don’t miss out on Peru’s rich history and its sensational landscapes; contact us for a free itinerary of your dream Peru tour package today!
Some more information on Norther Peru: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiclayo
