Ancient Three-Dimensional Rock Mural Unearthed in Peru Raises Mysteries About a Lost Civilization 3,000 Years Ago
She added that the team did not expect to find such a unique piece of history, either. The discovery was made during planned excavations as part of the Early Ecodynamics Archaeological Program, which Mauricio has led since 2012, but finding this mural was a complete shock.
“We didn’t expect to find something of this magnitude,” Mauricio said. “This mural is a surprise, something we hadn’t anticipated.”
Part of the reason for this surprise was that the mural was most likely inaccessible in previous years. The excavation work was prompted by an increasing number of looters at the site, but as it turned out, holes left by those looters also enabled the team to find the mural. At the same time, the discovery only further emphasizes the need to address immediate conservation concerns about the site.
How Looting And Crops Are Threatening The Future Of Huaca Yolanda
Despite being a rich archaeological site, Huaca Yolanda faces significant risk from looters and, perhaps more pressingly, agricultural expansion, which is gradually encroaching on the site.
“Heavy machinery, such as tractors, used for farming is seriously damaging the huaca,” Mauricio said.
Unfortunately, without additional funding, there is little Mauricio and other archaeologists can do to help preserve Huaca Yolanda — especially after such an unexpected discovery.
Pontifical Catholic University of PeruAn aerial view of the Huaca Yolanda archaeological site near the northwestern coast of Peru.
“When it happens, specialists in mural conservation are needed, and that requires an additional budget to pay experts, purchase materials to stabilize the mural, and rebury it following the necessary technical guidelines under specific conditions, such as bringing in clean sand, desalinating it, and adding extra protective layers to the mural,” she said.
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