‘On behalf of the Pacopampa Archaeological Project, I ask your permission to open this tomb where you have been laid to rest. We pledge to analyse the tomb with diligence in order to study the formation of Andean civilisation.’ On 26 August 2022, I and Daniel Morales Chocano, Peruvian co-director of the project, made this vow at the Pacopampa archaeological complex in Peru, in front of a large stone that had appeared at a depth of 80cm in a shaft. We expected a burial to lie beyond it, although finding out whether we were right proved to be anything but easy. Not only did the stone weigh several tons, but it also fitted snugly into the roughly 1m diameter of the shaft, blocking it without leaving any gaps. Even if heavy machinery had been available, there was no obvious way to secure this formidable obstacle with rope or chains. After consulting the villagers, who were experienced stone-workers, we hatched a plan to create room for lifting-gear by cutting into the side of the shaft. This work took a full day.
Finally, with the help of pulleys, one end of the large stone was lifted clear, and a cheer from our team rose with it. I was filming the moment, and froze as a piece of human bone and a white, round object suddenly appeared in shot beneath the stone. For the first time, we could be certain that the stone did indeed seal a tomb. What is more, a red pigment, thought to be cinnabar – which is only found in the tombs of nobles – was visible on the back of the stone. Excited, Juan Pablo Villanueva, head of excavation, and I flashed an instruction to the workers to be careful. Peering into the dimly lit space, I saw that the white, round object was not a skull, but a shell: specifically, a Strombus shell (Strombus galeatus). These shellfish do not live in Peru, as the coastal currents are too cold. Instead, their shells are usually found off the coast of Ecuador, where the sea is rather warmer. As such, finds of Strombus shells are rare in Peru, although they are known from various ancient archaeological sites, including Chavín de Huántar and Kuntur Wasi. Both of these sites are roughly contemporary with Pacopampa, with all three belonging to an era that Andean archaeologists call the Formative Period (c.3000 BC-AD 1). I can still remember feeling goosebumps as I recognised the shell – it looked as though we stood on the threshold of unearthing something amazing.
Ceremonial setting
Our discovery is the latest major find from a long-running project examining Pacopampa. This large ceremonial centre is located 2,500m above sea level in the Chota Province of the Cajamarca Region, in the northern highlands of Peru. Such ancient gathering places are a signature feature of the Formative Period, when the construction of monumental centres and the group rituals conducted at them are credited with creating the social conditions that allowed the earliest Andean civilisations to rise. Pacopampa is prominent among these centres, as it is the largest in the Andean highlands. The site spans about 4ha and comprises a three-tiered platform supported by masonry walls, rising from a natural mountain ridge. The most important buildings were placed on the uppermost platform.
Archaeology as immersive historical simulation